Inside Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian’s whopping net worth – how the tennis legend and Reddit co-founder make and splash their US$330 million fortune on mansions, dates and their daughter

Sep 2 , 2022

Tennis legend Serena Williams, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian and their daughter Alexis Olympia make one happy – and wealthy – family. Photo: @alexisohanian/Instagram

Serena Williams, who announced that she will retire after the 2022 US Open, made US$45 million from brand endorsements this year alone, through deals with Aston Martin, Beats by Dre and Gatorade

Meanwhile, tech guru Alexis Ohanian sold social media platform Reddit for millions in his mid-20s; now he enjoys life with his superstar wife in a luxury mansion in Miami

In 2015, Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian went on their first date, a six-hour walk through Paris before the French Open. At the time, it may have seemed strange: a tennis great and a tech guru taking a stroll through one of the most romantic cities in the world. But today, they’re recognised as one of the richest and most famous couples in the US, with an estimated combined net worth of US$330 million.

But how does the power couple make and spend their money?

Co-founder of Reddit Alexis Ohanian and Serena Williams attend the HBO New York premiere of Being Serena at Time Warner Center in New York City, in April 2018. Photo: AFP

Alexis Ohanian: from Reddit to smart investments

When he was just 22, Ohanian co-founded the social media platform Reddit with his friend Steve Huffman. In 2006, they reportedly sold it for at least US$10 million. In 2014, Ohanian rejoined the company as an executive chairman. Today, his creation is the sixth most visited website in the US and the ninth most visited website in the world, valued at US$10 billion as of August last year, according to Business of Apps.

Alexis Ohanian speaking at the South by Southwest festival in 2022. Photo: @alexisohanian/Instagram

He’s also branched out from Reddit, confounding Initialized Capital, a venture capital firm that manages US$500 million in assets. He’s also worked with Breadpig and Hipmunk. Ohanian paid tribute to his heritage with the 2018 launch of Shakmat, an Armenian brandy. In 2018, his net worth totalled US$9 million. Just a year later, that jumped all the way up to US$70 million, per Forbes.

Serena Williams: tennis success, endorsements and businesses

Meanwhile, Williams’ net worth in 2022 is an estimated US$260 million, also per Forbes, compared to US$180 million in 2018.

Her financial success comes as no surprise. With the most Grand Slam titles of any player, Williams dominates the sport. Throughout her career, she’s won 73 titles, winning 857 matches and only losing 154, according to The Sporting News.

Tennis players make a lot of money when they win a tournament title. Just for reference, in 2018, US Open winners were awarded US$3.8 million each. Williams’ career prize money alone totals US$94 million, according to Forbes, which is twice as much as any other professional women’s tennis player. She recently announced that she will retire after this year’s US Open, to focus on her businesses and expanding her family.

Serena Williams has made bank from her legendary tennis career. Photo: @serenawilliams/Instagram

But she makes even more from sponsorship deals. In 2004, she signed a five-year, US$40 million endorsement deal with Nike, and she’s since signed other deals for undisclosed amounts. Williams also has sponsorships with Gatorade, Beats by Dre, Aston Martin, Intel, Wilson and more. Forbes estimated that she earned US$45 million from endorsements this year alone.

And she’s turned some of that money into other business opportunities. She and her sister Venus bought stakes in the Miami Dolphins and the UFC, and she even launched her own clothing line.