Roger Federer, the legendary Swiss tennis star, has officially joined the exclusive billionaire club.
Forbes revealed that Federer’s net worth now stands at around $1.1 billion (approximately R18.3 billion).
ROGER FEDERER BECOMES A BILLIONAIRE
This milestone comes from a combination of his sporting success and savvy business investments. Roger Federer, 44, is among the greatest tennis players of all time.
Across his 24-year career in professional tennis, he won 20 Grand Slam titles and earned about $1.95 billion ZAR (Roughly R375 million) in prize money alone.
This places him just behind Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in career earnings. But, it wasn’t just earnings from tennis that pushed Federer’s fortune to new heights, according to People.
ROGER FEDERER’S INVESTMENTS
His breakthrough came from a 2019 investment in a Swiss sportswear brand called On. The company, which specialises in running and tennis apparel, has grown impressively since then.
Federer holds a 3% stake in On. Thanks to its strong stock market debut on the New York Stock Exchange in 2021, the company’s value has soared to nearly $15 billion (R249 billion).
Roger Federer’s share is now worth over $375 million (around R6.2 billion).
‘ON’ AND OTHER BUSINESSES
Roger Federer’s connection to On began through his wife, Mirka, who started wearing their shoes. He soon contacted the founders and took an equity position.
“I saw huge potential in the brand,” Federer said. “It felt right to be part of something I truly believe in.”
Beyond On, Federer has also profited from major sponsorship deals with global giants like Uniqlo, Mercedes-Benz, Rolex, and Moët & Chandon.
In 2018, he signed a 10-year, $300 million (R4.98 billion) contract with Uniqlo after ending his long-term deal with Nike.
Nike had paid him roughly $150 million (R2.49 billion) over two decades.
BILLIONAIRE’S GROUP
Roger Federer has also invested in other companies such as private jet operator NetJets, eyewear brand Oliver Peoples, and Swiss banking giant UBS.
Together with his business partner Tony Godsick, he co-founded the management group Team8 in 2013.
This achievement makes Federer only the second tennis player ever to become a billionaire, joining former player and businessman Ion Tiriac.
Federer’s remarkable transformation into a billionaire cements his legacy far beyond tennis courts worldwide.
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