Net Worth Ranker
What Is Richard Williams’ Net Worth?
Richard Williams, the patriarch of the Williams tennis dynasty and a prominent figure in the world of sports, has accumulated a net worth of $10 million. This sum reflects his diverse roles as a tennis coach, author, and the driving force behind the careers of his daughters, Venus and Serena Williams. While the exact breakdown of his assets isn’t publicly available, it’s understood that his net worth primarily stems from his earnings related to tennis coaching, book royalties, and potential earnings from the film “King Richard,” which chronicles his life.
Richard Williams’ Early Life and Family Details
Richard Dove Williams Jr. was born on February 14, 1942, in Shreveport, Louisiana. Details about his early schooling and specific addresses where he lived are not widely publicized. However, it’s known that he eventually moved to California, marking a significant shift in his life trajectory. In 1965, Richard married Betty Johnson, and together they had five children: Sabrina, Richard III, Ronner, Reluss, and Reneeka. Before their divorce in 1973, Betty also had a daughter named Katrina from a previous relationship, who was raised alongside their children. In 1979, Richard met Oracene Price, also known as “Brandy,” who had two daughters from a previous marriage. Richard and Brandy married in 1980 and had two daughters, Venus (born on June 17, 1980) and Serena (born on September 26, 1981). The family resided in Compton, California, before eventually moving to Palm Beach, Florida, in 1991, to facilitate the girls’ tennis training. Richard and Brandy divorced in 2002. Later, Richard married Lakeisha Juanita Graham in 2010, and they had a son in 2012. This marriage ended in divorce in 2017. Information regarding specific financial settlements from these divorces is not publicly accessible, but they likely impacted his overall net worth.
Richard Williams’ Tennis Coaching Career
Richard Williams’ foray into tennis began in 1978 when he watched the French Open and was struck by the $40,000 prize money awarded to the winner, Virginia Ruzici. In today’s dollars, this would be equivalent to approximately $170,000 after adjusting for inflation. Inspired, Richard developed an 85-page plan to guide Venus and Serena Williams to tennis stardom. He started training them on public tennis courts in Long Beach, California, with practice sessions sometimes lasting from 6 am until dark. Although specific details of Richard Williams’ earnings from coaching Venus and Serena are not available, it is evident that he played a crucial role in their early training. In 1991, the Williams family relocated to Palm Beach, Florida, to allow Venus and Serena to train full-time. Here, Rick Macci, a local coach, recognized the potential of the sisters and started to train them more professionally. Venus turned pro in 1994 at the age of 14, while Serena went pro the following year. In 1998, the sisters famously competed against each other in their first major professional match at the Australian Open, where Venus won in straight sets. In 1999, Serena won the US Open at the age of 18, and in 2000, Venus won Wimbledon at the age of 20. There are no publicly available contracts that specify how much Richard earned as his daughters’ coach.
Venus and Serena Williams’ Accomplishments
Venus and Serena Williams have achieved extraordinary success in their tennis careers, winning more than 120 singles titles, including 30 Grand Slam singles titles. Together, they have won 22 doubles titles, 14 of which are Grand Slams. Their combined tournament prize money earnings exceed $175 million. The exact figures for their endorsement deals are not fully disclosed, but they are estimated to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars. While Richard Williams’ financial gains from his daughters’ success are indirect, his role in their development has undoubtedly contributed to his net worth through recognition and potential earnings from projects such as his book and the film “King Richard.”
Richard Williams’ Book and the Film “King Richard”
Richard Williams co-authored a book titled “Black and White: The Way I See It,” published in 2014. The specific royalties he received from book sales are not publicly known. In November 2021, Warner Bros. Pictures released “King Richard,” a biographical film about Richard Williams, with Will Smith portraying him. Although the exact financial details of the agreement between Richard Williams and Warner Bros. for the rights to his life story are not public, it is reasonable to assume that he received a significant sum for the film rights. Additionally, he may receive a percentage of the film’s profits. “King Richard” grossed approximately $30.1 million domestically and $9.4 million internationally. While the exact amount Richard Williams earned from the movie remains undisclosed, this contributed to Richard Williams’ net worth.
Richard Williams’ Personal Life and Marital History
Richard Williams has been married three times and has several children from these unions. In 1965, he married Betty Johnson, and they had five children: Sabrina, Richard III, Ronner, Reluss, and Reneeka. They divorced in 1973. In 1980, Richard married Oracene Price, who had two daughters from a previous marriage. Together, Richard and Oracene had Venus and Serena Williams. They divorced in 2002. In 2010, Richard married Lakeisha Juanita Graham, and they had a son in 2012. They divorced in 2017. Details of the divorce settlements between Richard and his former wives are not publicly accessible, but it is plausible to think that the divorce settlements affected his Richard Williams’ net worth.
Richard Williams’ Post-Tennis Interests
In addition to his involvement in tennis, Richard Williams is interested in photography. Specific details about his photography work, such as exhibitions or sales, are not widely available. His focus on photography is his main focus when he isn’t following his children’s tennis careers. There aren’t any public records of him acquiring other assets such as real estate, investment portfolios, or any involvement in business ventures, that add to his Richard Williams’ net worth. It is important to note that Richard Williams has not been actively involved in coaching Venus and Serena in recent years, although he is regularly seen cheering them on from the stands. It is evident that the substantial Richard Williams’ net worth is a reflection of his role in nurturing the Williams sisters’ extraordinary tennis success, coupled with earnings from various ventures such as book royalties and the film “King Richard”.
