Roger Federer is one of only six athletes to cross $1 billion in career earnings while still active – he once had a massive deal with Nike
Back in 2018, Roger Federer left behind a $10 million annual sponsorship deal with Nike and turned it into a $600 million-plus payday. When it was time for Federer to renew the $10 million annual deal, Nike had to let the tennis player walk away to protect their margins. There is an unwritten rule in the world of sponsorships — you don’t spend over 10% of overall revenue on athlete sponsorship deals.
After leaving Nike, Federer ‘shocked the world by signing a 10-year, $300 million deal with Uniqlo, which included two stipulations; there was no retirement clause, meaning Federer would earn $30 million at age 46 even if he retired five years prior; and the deal only covered apparel, not shoes.
With no shoe deal in place, Federer continued to wear Nike trainers, without being paid for them, before he discovered the footwear brand On Running while training, after which he signed an equity deal and became a global ambassador for the Swiss brand. Federer reportedly owns about 3% off On Running, and two years after the athlete got on board the business went public and is now valued at $10 billion, meaning Federer’s stake is worth about $300 million.
Roger Federer is one of the highest-paid athletes in the world
Roger Federer finds himself in 8th place on the list of the world’s highest-paid athletes, topped by LeBron James. Federer, Serena Williams, and Naomi Osaka are the only tennis players featured in the top 100 list of the world’s highest-paid athletes. The list is topped by basketball icon, LeBron James. Football superstars Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Cristiano Ronaldo feature in the top five.
Roger Federer is placed 8th on the list while Japanese star Naomi Osaka is 20th and tennis legend Serena Williams finds herself in the 52nd spot. The legendary Roger Federer who is placed eighth on the list is reportedly earning $85.7 million, mainly from his endorsements and brands, with the Swiss man having quite a few luxury watch brands to choose from at home.
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