Some of us never quite get over that silver medal we won back in high school trampolining, others just win, and win, and win again.
One of those men is Rafael Nadal – and his net worth isn’t the only reason he’s always smiling.
Nadal’s record in professional tennis is exceptional. We’re talking 22 Grand Slam men’s single titles, 92 ATP-level singles titles, and a record-breaking 14 French Opens (with an absolutely ridiculous 112-4 career record there).
He was first or second favorite with tennis sportsbooks to win the French open for an astonishing 16 years straight from 2006 to 2021.
The man even has a couple of Olympic gold medals buried somewhere beneath his boxes of trophies.
One major benefit of all that success is a healthy bank account. Let’s slice through Nadal’s net worth and see what we’re dealing with.
Rafael Nadal’s net worth
Brace yourselves, as Nadal’s net worth might shock you.
His total net worth is estimated to be in the region of $220 million. That’s enough for him to pay all the prize money to every player at the Wimbledon Championships for three years straight and still have enough left over to buy a 100ft superyacht.
And all he had to do was be the number one tennis player in the world for 209 weeks, including one spell of over a year straight. Easy.
Career earnings
Nadal’s net worth includes around $135 million in prize money alone since he turned pro in 2001.
It’s not surprising when you consider how many titles he’s amassed in both singles and doubles tennis.
Nadal had been part of the top three tennis players in the world for more than a decade alongside Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
For years, those three, along with Andy Murray made the game look easy – and working out how to bet on tennis easier still.
Nadal bagged his first Grand Slam, and the first on that record-breaking streak of French Open wins back in 2005.
He was just 19. In fact, had the tournament been held a week earlier, he’d have only been 18.
And he might not be done yet. Although Nadal previously suggested he might retire after the current season, he more recently indicated that he was “enjoying playing tennis” and wasn’t ready to “close, 100 per cent, the door”.
Sounds like the King of Clay still has some oil in the tank.
Endorsements and Business Ventures
As one of the ‘big three’ in tennis for so long, and boosted even more by his famous rivalry with Djokovic, there aren’t many sports fans who don’t know the name Rafael Nadal.
His net worth has certainly benefited from this celebrity status, even when not among the favorites for Wimbledon and other major tournaments.
Nadal’s business ventures are impressive. He’s enjoyed a slew of sponsorships and endorsements over the years, covering everything from high-end fashion (Emporio Armani) to cars (Kia Motors).
One particularly interesting partnership Nadal signed was with PokerStars, one of the most popular online poker sites in the world.
This has given players a chance to see another side of Nadal, taking him on at the digital felt and sitting across from him at live tournaments.
You could even have won a weekend away to Majorca with the former world number one to play some poker, break bread, and hit a few balls on the court.
We almost forgot – he also has a $10 million deal with little-known sportswear outfit Nike.
He’s done his own thing, too. Nadal opened the Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy in 2016, delivering a tennis experience mainly aimed at youngsters.
Visitors can check out the museum, engage in one-on-one tennis coaching and much more. And all for the low, low price of more than $60,000 per year.
Conclusion
When you’re the best in the world at anything, whether it’s sports, cooking or dancing, there’ll always be a queue of people lining up to pay for your expertise.
Nadal’s net worth is a testament to his immense skill, dedication, and incredible achievements in the world of tennis.
The 38-year-old pro is in the later years of his career, as reflected by his current world ranking which is way down the list, around the 250-mark.
He is due to play for Spain at the 2024 Olympics in Paris in what may be his final tournament.
Although his net worth of $220 million isn’t going to skyrocket from career earnings from now, between the Nadal academy and his other business ventures, it’s safe to say the tennis legend has a few aces up his sleeve yet.
