While tennis legends Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic are often considered the wealthiest players in the sport, former professional Ion Tiriac actually holds that distinction. Despite Djokovic and Federer having impressive net worths of $240 million and $550 million respectively, Tiriac surpasses them both with a staggering $2 billion, according to Forbes.
Federer, who retired in September 2022 after winning 20 major singles titles, has amassed his fortune not only from his on-court achievements but also through various lucrative sponsorship deals. At 37, Djokovic continues to dominate the tennis scene and holds the record for the highest career prize money in the sport, having earned $170 million.
He is also aiming to set a new record for the most Grand Slam titles won at the Australian Open. While his wealth has been significantly enhanced by endorsements and off-court ventures, it doesn’t quite match Federer’s earnings.
Although Djokovic and Federer are commonly recognized as the wealthiest tennis players, Tiriac remains somewhat of an underdog. The bulk of his fortune comes from his business endeavors, particularly his founding of Ion Tiriac Bank, the first private bank in post-Communist Romania. He currently leads the Tiriac Group, a diversified conglomerate with interests in real estate, automotive, financial services, and more. After retiring from tennis in the 1970s, Tiriac shifted to coaching, mentoring top players like Guillermo Vilas, Marat Safin, and Boris Becker. In the 1980s, he ventured into investing, ultimately founding the group that bears his name today.
Tiriac’s considerable wealth is reflected in his extensive collection of over 400 cars and motorcycles, including items once owned by notorious figures such as gangster Al Capone, Brat Pack star Sammy Davis Jr., and iconic musician Elton John. Additionally, Tiriac served as the president of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee from 1998 to 2004.
Another strong contender for the title of wealthiest tennis player is Jessica Pegula, daughter of American sports mogul Terry Pegula, who owns the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and NHL’s Buffalo Sabres. With her parents’ combined net worth surpassing $6.5 billion, Pegula also boasts a substantial fortune of her own, having earned over $12 million from her tennis career.
Although Pegula stands to inherit a portion of her family’s wealth, Tiriac’s position as the wealthiest tennis player is distinct, as he built his fortune entirely on his own. While he never won a singles major, Tiriac achieved 34 career titles. His best singles performance was reaching the French Open quarter-finals in 1968, but he was a standout doubles player, winning the French Open doubles title in 1970 and advancing to the U.S. Open final and Wimbledon semi-final in the same year.
Tiriac, known for his nonconformist nature, also represented Romania in international ice hockey before transitioning to tennis and even competed in the 1964 Winter Olympics.
