Maria Sharapova Reveals What She Did with Her First Prize Money Paychecks

One of the top earners in the women’s game in her playing days, former Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova has made as much money, if not more, as a full-time entrepreneur since retirement.

She may have added millions upon millions to her personal wealth, but the five-time Grand Slam champion is still nostalgic about her first prize money and what she did with it.

Maria Sharapova reveals how she spent her first prize money

The 33-year-old Russian recently took to her Instagram handle to share the enduring memory of her first paycheck and what she gifted herself with it.

The two-time French Open champion revealed that she bought herself some glittering pieces of creation by renowned Italian jewelry designer Elsa Peretti with her “first prize money checks for tournaments”.

Sharing an image of Perretti immersed in her work, the Russian tagged it with a message, saying, “I collected Elsa Perreti’s @tiffanyandco pieces with my first prize money checks from tournaments (sad and broken heart emojis).”

While she made rapid strides up the women’s tennis charts after clinching her maiden Grand Slam title, the 2004 Wimbledon, at the age of 17, Sharapova also emerged as a global fashion icon with her gorgeous red-carpet appearances.

Maria Sharapova picked up an interest in fashion and interior designing during her travels as a player

In a recent interview, Sharapova revealed how she had picked up an interest in fashion while crisscrossing the globe for tournaments and getting a first-hand feel of diverse cultures and sartorial choices.

She also revealed how she was drawn to architecture during her travels.

Sharapova also recalled taking photographs of the buildings of celebrated fashion designer duo Frank-Kerry as she was “attracted to the look and how different they were and they were mostly set against old architecture and there was something so fresh and different about them”.

Taking her love for design to the next level after bidding adieu to tennis, she has teamed up with an architectural group that does interiors at hotels, fitness and wellness centers across the globe.

Read More: Maria Sharapova Reveals How She Dealt with Challenging Times

This, apart from managing her global candy-line ‘Sugarpova’, majorly keeps her busy these days.