Eileen Gu, Emma Raducanu and Naomi Osaka are among Forbes’ five highest-paid female athletes in 2023, maintaining a collective record from last year.
Rankings: The publication’s list of “The World’s Highest-Paid Female Athletes 2023,” released on Thursday, saw Gu, also known by her Chinese name Gu Ailing, take second place after a total earning of $22.1 million this year. The freestyle skier made about $22 million off-field.
British tennis star Raducanu took fourth place with her total earnings of $15.2 million ($15 million off-field, $0.2 million on-field), while Japanese tennis legend Osaka came next with total off-field earnings of $15 million.
Sources of earnings: Gu reportedly earned most of her money through brand deals with Mengniu Dairy, Louis Vuitton, Victoria’s Secret and Chinese sportswear maker Anta. Raducanu, on the other hand, had deals with British Airways, Christian Dior and HSBC.
Osaka, who took a break from tennis but is now gearing up for a comeback, made all her money through sponsorship deals with such companies as organic infant formula-maker Bobbie and children’s furniture seller Crate & Kids, as well as her media company Hana Kuma, according to Forbes.
Previous rankings: Osaka dropped from being the No. 1 highest-paid female athlete in 2022, while Gu climbed up one spot from No. 3. Raducanu maintained her fourth-place spot.
Other top earners: Taking the No. 1 spot from Osaka is Polish tennis star Iga Świątek, who made a total of $23.9 million this year ($14 million off-field, $9.9 million on-field). American tennis player Coco Gauff placed third with $21.7 million ($15 million off-field, $6.7 million on-field).
