Serena Williams: Life, fortune, siblings, Wimbledon & more
Serena Williams embodies courage, power and style and has overcome almost insurmountable obstacles in her career to win 23 Grand Slam titles.
In 2022, she ended her exceptional career in front of 24,000 fans at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York at the US Open - an occasion for us to look back on her successes. And beyond her sporting achievements. Because her successes off the court in the areas of fashion, social commitment and business make her one of the most well-known and inspiring icons in the world. She is also a family person: she has been married to Alexis Ohanian since 2017. In the same year, they became parents to daughter Alexis Olympia. At the beginning of 2019, Serena also founded her own VC company, Serena Ventures.
This is the power woman Serena Williams!
Serena Williams was not only a real powerhouse on the tennis court until the end of her career in 2022. The top athlete also scored with genuine emotion and social commitment. Poignant moments such as the Wimbledon press conference in 2019, where she promised never to stop fighting for social justice, make the tennis icon a role model and particularly popular with her fans. The former competitive athlete, who is also the mother of a young daughter, is also considered a true heroine.
Williams not only shows full commitment on the court
The fact that Serena Williams is a fighter on the tennis court is controversial. But the tennis icon is also fully committed off the court. Williams has been fighting for women's rights and equality for a long time and does not stop at denouncing discrimination in tennis. Time and again, she has spoken out clearly against the double standards in sport, the pay gap between men and women and sexist comments.
Women empowerment
The tennis star is committed to equality and invests in female entrepreneurs of color. In early 2019, Serena founded her own VC firm, Serena Ventures, whose mission is to invest in companies that promote diverse leadership, individual empowerment, creativity and equal opportunity. Serena Ventures supports 30 companies, including women-led businesses Brandless, The Wing and Billie.
In 2017, Serena Williams became the mother of a daughter. A major event in the American's life that changed many things. She openly and honestly admits that it is not always easy to give your all in sport and be a good mother at the same time. Serena is convinced that many mothers also struggle with the balancing act between raising children and working life. "You are the real heroines," says Williams.
Serena Williams competed in the Grand Slam for the last time at the 2022 US Open and tearfully announced the end of her career. She has won 23 Grand Slams to date, just one short of the record held by Australian Margaret Court. So is a comeback a possibility after all? Williams replied in the press conference: "I don't think so, but you never know." Looking ahead to the Australian Open in early 2023, she added with a smile: "I've always loved Australia."
Serena Williams was born on September 26, 1981 in Saginaw, Michigan, the daughter of Richard Williams and Oracene Price. She was the youngest of five sisters. She had three half-sisters Yetunde, Lyndrea and Isha Price on her mother's side and a full sister Venus Williams.
Serena was an exceptional talent and started playing tennis at the young age of four together with her sister Venus. A short time later, the siblings attended Rick Macci's tennis academy. There, her skills and talent were encouraged and further developed.
By 1991, she had achieved a 46-3 record on the United States Tennis Association Junior Tour.
Serena Williams is one of the richest and most influential sportswomen in the world in 2025, with an estimated fortune of around USD 350 million - the highest for a female tennis player. She has built the majority of her wealth through her post-career business activities, including advertising revenue (USD 15-20 million annually), sponsorship deals with brands such as Nike and Gucci, as well as her investments and entrepreneurship.
With her investment fund "Serena Ventures", she supports over 60 start-ups, mainly in the fields of technology, women's health and education. Serena Williams also owns a fashion line, is co-owner of a women's soccer team and invests in real estate.
Serena Williams is the only tennis player ever to have won a career Grand Slam gold in singles and doubles. She has won a total of 39 Grand Slam titles: 23 in singles, 14 in women's doubles and 2 in mixed doubles. Her record of Grand Slam victories places her third in the world rankings and second in the Open Era.
Together with her sister Venus, she won a record 3 doubles gold medals at the Olympics as a team. In 2013, she became the oldest No. 1 player at the age of 31 years and 4 months. Serena Williams is the only tennis player in history (women and men) to have won the singles title at least six times at three of the four Grand Slam tournaments (Australian Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open). She holds the record for having won the most women's singles matches at the Grand Slams.
Grand Slam singles victories: Australian Open (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2017), French Open (2002, 2013, 2015), Wimbledon (2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016), US Open (1999, 2002, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014)
Grand Slam doubles victories: Australian Open (2001, 2003, 2009, 2010), French Open (1999, 2010), Wimbledon (2000, 2002, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2016), US Open (1999, 2009).
| Date of birth: | September 26, 1981 |
| Nationality: | America |
| Height: | 175cm |
| 1st professional season: | 1995 |
| Playing hand: | Right, two-handed backhand |
| Net worth: | Approx. 350 million USD |
| Former coach: | Patrick Mouratoglou |
| Grand Slam titles: | 23 (singles), 14 (doubles) |
| Husband: | Alexis Ohanian |
| Followers on Instagram: | 18 million |
