A sports legend with a massive net worth, Maria Sharapova is one of the greatest tennis players in the world, and she’s got the bank account to prove it. She’s one of only ten women to make a professional career out of playing tennis. Russian-born Sharapova became a pro in 2001 and began to accumulate her fortune off of prize winnings and endorsements from advertisers. In 2004, she signed endorsement contracts with massive companies including Motorola, Tiffany and Co., Nike, Gatorade, and Tropicana.
In addition to her amazing talents, Sharapova is a natural beauty and has been featured as a model in numerous ad campaigns. Being in the spotlight, especially the sports spotlight, comes with its potential issues, though. In 2016, Sharapova was banned from the tennis courts for a total of 15 months after failing a test meant to detect performance enhancers. However, she bounced back and continues to lead an impressive professional career.
Shania Twain — $410 Million
Shania Twain’s impressive net worth is actually no surprise considering her massive repertoire of chart-topping hits. Canadian singer-songwriter Shania Twain has had an incredible country music career and has amassed quite a fortune. Beginning her career as a teenager, Twain accumulated massive acclaim after her second studio album led her to chart-topping recognition.
Iconically famous songs include “Man, I Feel Like A Woman,” and “That Don't Impress Me Much.” Continuing on in her career, Twain still has a huge fan base, continues to release new music, and keeps us all on our toes. Her $410 million net worth continues to grow to this day.
Simone Biles — $16 Million
An Olympian who’s made quite a fortune for herself based on her amazing talents, this young gymnast has already made $16 million before her 30th birthday. A fan favorite as well as the most decorated gymnast in United States history, it’s no wonder so many brands have been eager to partner with the impressive and talented Simone Biles.
By the time she was 19 years old, Simone Biles had won 18 medals between competitions in the Olympics and the World Championships. In 2016 alone, Biles received sponsorships from Kellogg’s, Proctor and Gamble, United Airlines, Hershey, and Beats by Dre. Such an amazing start at such a young age, it’s exciting to imagine what Simone will accomplish as she grows older.
Simon Cowell — $600 Million
Known for his harsh attitude and biting commentary as a judge, Simon Cowell gained his fortune from his excellent ability to tell the difference between a dud and a superstar in the music industry. Cowell’s talents as a producer and manager helped him to discern famous acts such as Five and Westlife, two popular boy bands out of the U.K.
What most people know him for, though, are his roles as a judge on the hit television shows "American Idol" and "The X Factor." Though he’s often posed as the villain on the judging panel for his rude remarks, his discerning ear has helped him to find numerous singers and transform them into pop sensations. Famous acts that Cowell is responsible for include Il Divo, Leona Lewis, Fifth Harmony, and One Direction. The proof is certainly in the pudding!
Dale Earnhardt Jr. — $300 Million
If you’re not familiar with racecar driving, you might not realize just how lucrative it is as a sport. Coming from a long line of family racecar drivers, Dale Earnhardt grew up in the world of NASCAR and has the paycheck to prove his skill and talents. Driving for about two decades, Earnhardt Jr. has won countless cash prizes from winning races, but as you might imagine, the real money comes from the advertisements you see on those cars as they whizz through the track.
As possibly the most famous NASCAR racer there is, Earnhardt Jr. gives advertisers a spot on his car for nothing less than $1 million. He also sells quite a bit of merchandise and has made a large portion of his fortune from selling items with his name on them. In fact, Earnhardt Jr.’s merchandise has outsold other NASCAR drivers by more than 25%. Though he isn’t really racing anymore, he remains quite involved in the sport and makes money by serving as a NASCAR analyst for NBC.