Serena Williams becomes the first athlete to make Forbes' Richest Self-Made Women list

"She's now the first athlete ever to hit Forbes' annual list of the World's Richest Self-Made Women."

Serena Williams

Serena Williams has made the 'Forbes' Richest Self-Made Women list Source: Getty Images Europe

A mother, a 23-time Grand Slam champion and an astute businesswoman - Serena Williams continues to make history, becoming the first athlete to ever land on .

The 37-year-old athlete has an estimated fortune of USD$225 million.

Appearing on the cover of the Forbes issue, the magazine introduced her as "the first athlete ever to hit Forbes' annual list of the World's Richest Self-Made Women, with an estimated fortune of $225 million, the vast majority of it having come via her brain and brand rather than her backhand."

Williams is more than just a kick-ass sportsperson, she's an impressive businesswoman - having started in 2014, a company that focuses on funding and launching other businesses, as well as releasing her .
"I want to be a part of it," Williams told Forbes of her approach to business.

"I want to be in the infrastructure. I want to be the brand, instead of just being the face."

Of all the companies Serena Ventures has invested in, 60 per cent are led by women or people of colour. This is all part of Williams' long game.

"I want to create a brand that has longevity, kind of like my career," she said.

"It’s not fancy, it’s not here, it’s not out, it’s not trendy, it’s a staple, like my tennis game."

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Published 5 June 2019 9:45am
By Samuel Leighton-Dore


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