Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer are two of the most successful tennis players in history and are also among the richest – but they are both out-earned by ex-pro Ion Tiriac
While tennis legends like Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic might be the first names that come to mind when thinking of the sport’s wealthiest stars, it’s actually former pro Ion Tiriac who takes the top spot.
Despite Federer and Djokovic boasting net worths of £453m and £189.3m respectively, Tiriac trumps them both with a staggering wealth of £1.6bn ($2bn), more than double their combined value, according to Forbes. Federer, who hung up his racket in September 2022 after clinching 20 major single titles, has amassed an impressive fortune not only from his on-court victories, but also through numerous sponsorship deals.
Meanwhile, Djokovic, still playing at the ripe age of 37, is the highest earner in tennis history, having pocketed £140m in prize money alone. He’s now eyeing the record for most majors ever won as he battles at the Australian Open, while his off-court deals have further boosted his bank balance, though not quite to Federer’s level.
However, when it comes to the richest figures in tennis, Tiriac is the unexpected ace. The majority of his wealth comes from his savvy business ventures, including founding the Ion Tiriac Bank – the first private bank in post-Communist Romania.
Currently at the helm of the Tiriac Group, which has stakes in real estate, auto, financial services and more, Tiriac transitioned into coaching top tennis players like Guillermo Vilas, Marat Safin and Boris Becker after retiring from the sport in the 1970s, reports the Express. He embarked on his investment journey in the 1980s, eventually establishing the group he is now famously associated with.
His extravagant wealth is showcased through numerous luxury purchases, including a massive collection of over 400 cars and motorcycles, some of which were previously owned by notorious gangster Al Capone, Brat Pack star Sammy Davis Jr. and legendary singer-songwriter Elton John. From 1998 to 2004, Tiriac served as the president of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee.
However, there’s another contender for the title of ‘wealthiest tennis player’ – Jessica Pegula. Often referred to as the ‘world’s richest tennis player’, she is the offspring of American sports tycoons Terry and Kim Pegula, who own the Buffalo Bills in the NFL and NHL’s Buffalo Sabres.
The parents of the 30-year-old tennis star boast a staggering net worth exceeding £5.4billion. Pegula herself has amassed a substantial fortune, earning over £10m from her tennis career, and while she stands to inherit her parents’ wealth, Tiriac’s position among the wealthiest tennis players is unique as he built his fortune independently.
Despite never clinching a major as a singles player, Tiriac did rack up 34 career titles on his own, with his best performance at a major being a quarter-final departure at the French Open in 1968, he also reached the Australian Open second round in 1977. However, it was in doubles where he truly shone.
The Romanian ace bagged the French Open doubles title in 1970 and made it to the final of the U.S. Open’s competition that same year. He also reached the semi-final of Wimbledon with his partner and fellow countryman Ilie Nastase, making it a banner 12 months for the Romanian.
A true maverick some would say, Tiriac even represented Romania in ice hockey before making the switch to tennis, and took part in the 1964 Winter Olympics.
