Iga Swiatek Surpasses Venus Williams in WTA Prize Money Rankings

Iga Swiatek has etched her name even deeper into tennis history after reaching a remarkable financial milestone of surpassing Venus Williams to become the second-highest prize money earner in WTA history.

Swiatek’s $83,250 payday in Wuhan brought her career total to $42,945,490, edging past Venus’ $42,867,364. Only Serena Williams remains ahead, with an unmatched $94,816,730.

A Strong 2025 Season for Swiatek

Although she has not had her most dominant season in 2025, Iga Swiatek has once again proven why she remains among the very best in the world. Currently ranked World No. 2 and sitting second in the live race behind Aryna Sabalenka, the Polish star has amassed a 61-15 win-loss record this season.

As the greatest clay-court player of her generation, Swiatek surprisingly went without a title on her favorite red clay this season, which is also her first full season working with coach Wim Fissette, as the pair continues to fine-tune her game to succeed across all surfaces.

But even in a season without her typical clay dominance, Swiatek’s achievements are still impressive. She won titles at Wimbledon, Cincinnati, and Seoul, pushing her 2025 prize money earnings past $9.4 million. Her Wimbledon victory, a historic 6-0 6-0 dismantling of Amanda Anisimova in the final, not only gave her her first title at the All England Club but also her sixth Major title overall.

Top 10 All-Time WTA Prize Money Leaders

With Swiatek rising on the leaderboards, here are the top 10 career prize money earners in WTA history:

1. Serena Williams – $94,816,730
2. Iga Swiatek – $42,945,490
3. Venus Williams – $42,867,364
4. Aryna Sabalenka – $42,480,621
5. Simona Halep – $40,236,618
6. Victoria Azarenka – $38,890,473
7. Maria Sharapova – $38,777,962
8. Petra Kvitova – $37,653,615
9. Caroline Wozniacki – $36,479,231
10. Angelique Kerber – $32,545,460

Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

While Swiatek’s numbers are extraordinary, they’re also a testament to decades of progress in women’s sports. Pioneers like Billie Jean King fought for equal pay and recognition, while the Williams sisters pushed women’s tennis into a new era of global popularity and commercial success.

Of course, comparisons across generations are complicated; inflation, media exposure, and tour structure all play a role, but Swiatek’s rise to second on the all-time list symbolizes a powerful continuation of that legacy. Her success is part of a broader story of how women’s tennis has become one of the most lucrative and respected sports worldwide.