Roger Federer Enters Billionaire Athletes’ Elite Club via Shoe Investment, Joins Ronaldo in Eight-Member Rank

Roger Federer Joins Elite Billionaire Athletes’ Club Through Strategic Brand Investment

Tennis legend Roger Federer, retired since 2022, has reached a new milestone: becoming a billionaire. With a net worth of $1.1 billion (£813 million), the 44-year-old joins an exclusive group of athletes-turned-billionaires, thanks largely to his savvy investment in Swiss footwear brand On.

From Court to Commerce
Federer’s partnership with On, established in 2019, proved transformative. The brand went public in 2021 and now boasts a market value of nearly $15 billion (£11.1 billion), with Federer’s 3% stake valued at over $375 million (£277 million). On’s roster also includes stars like Iga Swiatek, Ben Shelton, and João Fonseca.

[Image suggestion: Federer wearing On apparel during a public appearance.]

During his 24-year career, Federer earned $131 million (£97 million) in prize money and amassed $1 billion (£739 million) off-court through sponsorships. Notable deals included a 20-year Nike partnership ($150 million) and a landmark $300 million (£228 million) deal with Uniqlo in 2018. This switch allowed him to collaborate with On for footwear, a partnership that catalyzed his financial ascent.

The Billionaire Athletes’ Club
Federer is now the eighth athlete to achieve billionaire status. Others include:

• Ion Tiriac (Tennis/Romania, $2.7 billion): Sport’s first billionaire through investments in real estate and banking.
• Michael Jordan (Basketball/USA, $3.8 billion): Earnings from Nike’s Jordan Brand and NBA ownership.
• Tiger Woods (Golf/USA, $1.3 billion): Wins and partnerships with Nike and Rolex.
• Cristiano Ronaldo (Football/Portugal, Undisclosed): Boosted by a $665 million (£492 million) Al-Nassr contract.
• LeBron James (Basketball/USA, $1.2 billion) and Magic Johnson (Basketball/USA, $1.5 billion).

[Image suggestion: Collage of Jordan, Woods, and Ronaldo.]

Legacy Beyond Tennis
Federer’s sustained earnings—even post-retirement—highlight his business acumen. Sponsors like Rolex, Lindt, and Moët & Chandon further solidify his financial portfolio. Remarkably, he, Ronaldo, Woods, and James are among the few to hit the billion-dollar mark while still active in their sports.

[Image suggestion: Federer at a sponsor event with luxury brands.]

As athletes increasingly leverage branding and equity stakes, Federer’s journey from Grand Slams to boardrooms sets a new benchmark, blending sporting excellence with entrepreneurial vision.

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Images suggested: 3-4 key visuals highlighting Federer’s brand partnerships, On athletes, and fellow billionaire sports icons.