Net Worth Ranker
What Is Steffi Graf’s Net Worth?
Steffi Graf, the celebrated German former World No. 1 tennis player, boasts a net worth of $145 million. This substantial figure represents the combined financial standing of Steffi Graf and her husband of over 20 years, Andre Agassi, who is also a retired professional tennis player. Steffi Graf accumulated significant wealth throughout her illustrious tennis career through tournament winnings, endorsements, and strategic financial management.
Steffi Graf’s Tennis Career and Earnings
During her remarkable career, Steffi Graf secured 22 Grand Slam singles titles, placing her third in history for this achievement. She held the world number one ranking for a record-breaking 377 total weeks, as recognized by the Women’s Tennis Association. To put this in perspective, Serena Williams ranks second on this list with 319 weeks. Steffi Graf stands alone as the only tennis player to have won each Grand Slam tournament at least four times. Across her career, she amassed an impressive 107 singles titles. Her Grand Slam victories include:
- Australian Open: 1988, 1989, 1990, 1994
- French Open: 1987, 1988, 1993, 1995, 1996
- Wimbledon: 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996
- US Open: 1988, 1989, 1993, 1995, 1996
Steffi Graf’s career earnings from tournament prizes totaled $21 million. Adjusting for inflation, this amount is equivalent to approximately $40 million in today’s dollars. Beyond tournament winnings, she significantly augmented her income through various endorsement deals. While specific figures for individual endorsement contracts are not publicly available, it is estimated that these endorsements contributed tens of millions of dollars to her overall earnings. Her partnerships with major brands enhanced both her financial portfolio and her global recognition.
Tax Issues and Legal Matters
In 1995, Steffi Graf faced accusations of tax evasion from German tax authorities. The situation escalated when authorities arrested her father, Peter Graf, who managed her finances, for allegedly failing to report income on $25-35 million of her earnings. This sum represented nearly all of her professional tennis earnings up to that point. The Grafs were also accused of improperly deducting $700,000 in legal and other expenses, purportedly related to covering up an extramarital affair involving Peter. Steffi was questioned but maintained that her father was solely responsible for managing her finances. Peter Graf was eventually convicted and sentenced to 45 months in prison, ultimately serving 25 months. Steffi was required to pay 1.3 million Deutsche Marks in penalties and fines. During a Wimbledon match in July 1996, amidst this controversy, a fan humorously proposed marriage, prompting Steffi to reply, “How much money do you have?!”
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Stefanie Maria Graf was born on June 14, 1969, in Mannheim, West Germany, to parents Heidi Schalk and Peter Graf. Her father, Peter Graf, was an aspiring tennis coach. He introduced Steffi to tennis at the age of three, teaching her how to use a wooden racket. By age four, she was practicing on the court and entered her first tournament at age five. She quickly achieved success in junior tournaments. In 1982, Steffi participated in her first professional tournament, losing her first-round match to US Open champion Tracy Austin. In 1983, at age thirteen, she began her first full professional year, ranked world number 124. Although she did not win any titles in the following three years, her ranking steadily improved, reaching world number six in 1985.
Rise to Prominence and Grand Slam Success
In April 1986, Steffi won her first Women’s Tennis Association tournament. By 1987, she had secured six tournament victories leading up to the French Open. She surpassed Martina Navratilova to claim the world number one ranking, which she held for 186 consecutive weeks. In 1988, Steffi began the year by winning the Australian Open without losing a set, defeating Chris Evert in the final. She then won the tournament in Berlin, defended her title at the French Open, and won Wimbledon by defeating Navratilova. Winning the US Open completed her Grand Slam title, the only such title in history completed across three surfaces: clay, hard court, and grass. At the Summer Olympic Games in Seoul, Steffi defeated Gabriela Sabatini in the gold medal match, becoming the first and only Golden Slam winner in history.
Continued Dominance, Injuries, and Retirement
After experiencing injuries and losses, Steffi Graf returned to prominence in 1993, winning three of four Grand Slam events and the Virginia Slims championships. She won her first French Open since 1988 and defeated Jana Novotná to win Wimbledon. In 1994, she won the Australian Open and various other tournaments. While competing in San Diego, Steffi aggravated a back injury and developed a bone spur. From 1994 to 1996, injuries and surgeries disrupted her career, causing her to withdraw twice from the Australian Open. Despite these setbacks, she won Wimbledon in 1995. The final match is remembered as one of the most exciting in women’s major finals history, featuring a dramatic third set with a 16-minute, 13-deuce game. From 1997 to 1999, further injuries to her knees and back led to a loss of her world number-one ranking and the Grand Slam title. After a few high-profile wins, Steffi retired from the women’s tour in 1999, citing a loss of motivation.
Exhibition Matches and Personal Life
As part of her farewell tour in 1999 and 2000, Steffi Graf participated in a series of global exhibition matches against former competitors, including Amanda Coetzer in South Africa, Jelena Dokic in New Zealand, and Sánchez Vicario in Spain. She also participated in exhibitions in Tokyo, Berlin, and Washington, DC. Throughout her career, Steffi divided her time between Brühl, Germany; Boca Raton, Florida; and New York City, where she owned a penthouse in the former Police Headquarters Building. From 1992 to 1999, Steffi dated racing driver Michael Bartels. In 2001, she married fellow professional tennis player Andre Agassi. Steffi and Andre Agassi have two children and live in the Summerlin community in the Las Vegas Valley.
Philanthropic Endeavors and Legacy
Steffi Graf is the founder and chairperson of Children for Tomorrow, a non-profit foundation supporting traumatized children. In 1999, the Associated Press named Steffi Graf the 20th century’s greatest female tennis player. In 2012, the Tennis Channel chose Steffi as the greatest female tennis player of all time. She was named International Tennis Federation World Champion for seven years, Women’s Tennis Association Player of the Year for eight years, and German Sportsperson of the Year for five years. In 2004, Steffi Graf was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, and in 2008, she entered the German Sports Hall of Fame.
