Naomi Osaka Made More Money Last Year Than Canelo Alvarez and Aaron Rodgers

Updated –Aug 31, 2020

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Naomi Osaka is already making tennis history at age 22, and it isn’t just with her play on the court.

The Japanese phenom came in at No. 29 on Forbes’ list of the highest-paid athletes in 2020, edging out fellow tennis star Serena Williams for the richest female athlete in the world. Osaka made so much money from endorsements and tournament winnings that she even earned more than boxing legend Canelo Alvarez and future Hall-of-Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers, among others.

Naomi Osaka already has five tennis titles and two Grand Slams at age 22

Osaka has only been able to drink a legal beer in the United States for a year, but she’s already compiled a resume any aspiring tennis player would love to have by the end of their professional career.

At 22 years old, Osaka already has five tennis titles and two Grand Slams to her name. Osaka defeated Serena Williams to win the 2018 U.S. Open when she was just 20 years old. The win signaled the passing of the torch from Williams to Osaka as the new face of women’s tennis.

Osaka went on to win the Australian Open a few months later. She ascended to No. 1 in the world in 2019, and her massive success translated to historic financial gains in the last year.

Osaka earned $37.4 million last year, making her the 29th-richest athlete in the world

22-year-old tennis star Naomi Osaka earned $37.4 million from prize money and endorsements in the last year, making her the world’s highest paid female athlete. https://t.co/BHEhFJIQEv pic.twitter.com/zRvO1k0EHY
— The Root (@TheRoot) May 24, 2020

Osaka hasn’t just been successful on the court throughout her young career. The rising star has also accomplished great feats in terms of her bank account.

At 22 years of age, Osaka became the highest-paid female athlete in the world in 2020. She made a whopping $37.4 million last year to unseat Williams as the richest women’s tennis player in the world. Osaka ranked No. 29 on Forbes‘ list of highest-paid athletes in 2020.

Most of Osaka’s earnings came from her many endorsements. After winning two straight Grand Slams, Osaka signed endorsement deals with Nike, Nissan, MasterCard, and numerous other sponsors. She earned $34 million last year from endorsement deals alone. Only $3.4 million of her earnings came from tournament winnings.

Osaka makes more money than Canelo Alvarez and Aaron Rodgers, among many others

pic.twitter.com/BbXkAeR7Hb
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) August 28, 2020

Osaka might be the richest female athlete in the world, but what might be more impressive is the list of male athletes she surpassed in earnings.

According to Forbes, Osaka earned more money than Canelo Alvarez and Aaron Rodgers last year, but that’s not all. Damian Lillard, Chris Paul, Kylian Mbappe, Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Davis, and many more high-profile stars couldn’t touch Osaka in earnings.

Osaka is still young, and she hasn’t even reached her tennis prime yet. She has slipped in the rankings a bit in the past year, falling to No. 9 in the world after holding the No. 1 spot, but her career is just getting started.

Even if she never regains her No. 1 ranking, Osaka will always hold the title of the richest female athlete in the world.