Serena Williams, widely regarded as the greatest female tennis player in history, is on the brink of achieving a remarkable net worth valuation of nearly $300 million. 

According to data monitored by Nairametrics on Forbes, Serena Williams was listed among America’s Self-Made Women in 2023 with a net worth of $260 million.

However, in the time that has passed since then, her net worth has surged to $290 million. 

At age 41, Serena has been recognized as one of the world’s highest-paid athletes, with a winnings of approximately $300,000.

She also has endorsements valued at a staggering $45 million. 

After retiring from professional tennis in 2022, Serena Williams, a mother of two, who just welcomed her second baby concluded a remarkable career during which she earned nearly $95 million in prize money. 

Retired from sports, she has channelled her wealth into venture capital investments in startups across the globe. 

Serena Williams’s Investments in Nigerian Startups 

Serena Williams established a $111 million venture fund a year ago through Serena Ventures, an investment fund founded in 2014. Serena Ventures has since backed 30 companies spanning e-commerce, fashion, and social goods, aligning with its mission of supporting enterprises that champion diverse leadership, individual empowerment, creativity, and opportunity. 

Andela, a company that aligns with these said values, also received support from Serena Ventures. Known for its diverse team of co-founders and executives and local lead directors in the countries where it operates.  

In addition to Andela, Serena Ventures has extended its support to Coinbase, the San Francisco-based cryptocurrency exchange, Masterclass, the online learning platform, and Wave, a remittance service available in five African countries. 

In a noteworthy move, Serena Williams’s venture capital firm injected $3.3 million into Stears Inc., a Nigerian data and insights firm, last year.

This funding initiative was spearheaded by Serena Ventures and received support from MaC Enterprise Capital, Omidyar Group’s Luminate Fund, Melo 7 Tech Companions, and Cascador, as reported by Bloomberg. 

Serena Williams revealed that this investment in Stears Inc. marked just the beginning of Serena Williams’s growing interest in African companies.

She expressed her intention to focus more on investments in the continent following her retirement from tennis after the US Open in September. 

Other sources of Serena Williams’s wealth 

Even as she embarks on her second act, Serena Williams maintains endorsement deals with over a dozen prominent brands and remains active as an investor through her firm, Serena Ventures. 

Furthermore, she co-founded Will Perform, a startup launched in December 2022 dedicated to creating products for topical pain relief and muscle and skin care.

In April 2023, Serena expanded her horizons by launching Nine Two Six Productions, a multimedia company aimed at bolstering her role as a producer.

Additionally, she made a cameo appearance in the 2022 film “Glass Onion.” 

Her contributions extend to the literary world, with her first children’s book released in September 2022.

Serena Williams also holds a minority stake in the Miami Dolphins, rounding out her multifaceted and impressive portfolio of achievements. 

US Open 2015 was set to be a historic tournament for Serena Williams. The American crowd favorite was chasing history, a calendar Grand Slam, in front of her home crowd but the dream turned into a nightmare at the semi-finals. Roberta Vinci, the world number 43 at the time, caused a huge upset with a 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 win over the American. Vinci played that game of her life and dealt a heartbreaking loss to Williams, who described it as the toughest loss of her career.

This was also the only time that Roberta Vinci could beat Williams and it was one of the best matches of her career. The Italian could not reach similar heights, of a Grand Slam final, again in her career. This is also often looked at as the start of a bit of a downfall for Williams, who could only win two more Majors following this.

Serena Williams misses chance for calendar slam

2015 was a dream year for Serena Williams. The American was the undisputed best women’s player in the world and stamped her authority by winning all the Grand Slams before US Open. She won the Australian Open, The Wimbledon and The French Open convincingly before aiming for the rare feat of a calendar slam.

Williams was heavy favorite to win going into the semi finals where she faced Vinci, who was in her maiden semi-finals at a grand slam. The American won the first set 6-2 before losing the next two sets and getting knocked out at the semi finals stage.

Williams was clearly dejected while talking to the press post match and mentioned how Vinci played ‘out of her mind’ on the night to beat the-then world number 1. The American further mentioned how Vinci was an inspiration for her, after her performance at the age of 33. Talking about her own game, Williams felt that she did not play badly at all, but could have avoided some unforced errors.

“I think she (Vinci) played very well. Probably the best match of her career. She played literally out of her mind and credit goes to her. She is 33 now and she is giving it her all at the end of her career, she’s an inspiration for sure. I don’t think I played too badly, but I could have avoided some unforced errors,”

Roberta Vinci could not follow up her incredible victory against Williams, as she lost the US Open 2015 final to Flavia Pennetta 7-6, 6-2. This all Italian final was the dream ending for Pennetta, who retired at the end of the season after winning the US Open, in what was also her first and only Grand Slam singles title.

Never again for Williams

The heartbreak of 2015 would last with Williams for a life-time, as the American never got a shot at winning a calendar Grand Slam again. Titles and Grand Slams started to dry up for the American star as well, as she could only muster 2 more Grand Slam titles before eventually hanging up her racquet in 2022.

Williams will forever be known in the history books as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, but she would be the first to admit that she could have won much more. The American did win a record 23 Grand Slam titles, but would have expected to win more given her dominance in the women’s sport.

“I feel loved and relaxed,” the expecting mom said in her new YouTube video documenting the special day

Serena Williams is relaxing ahead of the birth of her second child!

The retired tennis player, 41, who is expecting another daughter with husband Alexis Ohanian, was given the ultimate pregnancy present — a surprise spa day with her loved ones.

Williams shared a behind-the-scenes look at the fun-filled day on her YouTube channel, where she has been documenting pregnancy milestones like her “baby shower-slash-gender reveal” party, during which she and Ohanian, 40, revealed that they are having a baby girl.

In the new video, titled “It’s a Pre-Push Party,” the tennis great began by telling the camera, “Today, we are having an amazing spa day that’s been planned by my friends and my sister.”

Over footage from the gathering, which the expecting mom dubbed a “pre-push party” — “I’m coining that phrase” — and shared that she was treated to a manicure, facial and foot massage.

She added that the event had “great friendships and great champagne… if you’re drinking it,” she joked.

Williams’ daughter Olympia, 5, also joined in on the spa action, taking a break from the pool to enjoy a relaxing facial like her athlete mom.

Later in the video, the Olympic gold medalist chatted with the camera in a confessional-style moment, reflecting on whether she feels ready for the arrival of her second child.

“Baby No. 2 is on the way after, you know, lots of time waiting,” she said. “So, how am I feeling about it? Excited, anxious, nervous, happy … all of the above.”

The retired tennis player went on to say that while she is “actually not quite ready today,” — “I don’t have my stuff ready, like the crib and the changing table and a plethora of other things” — she is “mentally ready-ish.”

More footage from the relaxing gathering shows Williams with friends and family — including her mom, Oracene Price, and friend Lara Shriftman, who organized the spa day — in matching orange pajama outfits, laughing and posing for photos together.

“I feel so loved today,” Williams said in the video. “Everyone’s here. Family’s here. We’re all just relaxed. I feel loved and relaxed.”

Outside of pool time and facials, Olympia has been keeping busy while her baby sister is on the way.

Earlier this month, the 5-year-old worked on her DIY skills after a special father-daughter trip to Home Depot with dad Ohanian, which the tech entrepreneur documented on X (formerly known as Twitter).

“The ‘Home Depot trip with Papa’ is a rite of passage — unlike my dad,” Alexis wrote alongside photos of the youngster standing in the store and screwing in a nail on what appeared to be a small wooden house — clad in an orange Home Depot apron, of course.