Maria Sharapova Better Than Serena Williams in Top Female Earner's List
Maria Sharapova, who won the French Open last year, collected USD 6.7 million in prize money, but her total estimated earnings were USD 29.7 million, according to Forbes.
Tennis star Maria Sharapova again tops the list of highest earning female athletes over the past year, according to Forbes. (Sharapova Gives Tennis Tips To Boyfriend)
For the 11th consecutive year, the Russian heads a list dominated by tennis players, who occupy seven of the top 10 spots. (Sharapova Targets Olympics)
The 28-year-old Sharapova, who won the French Open last year, collected USD 6.7 million in prize money, but her total estimated earnings were USD 29.7 million, according to Forbes.
The Forbes list also includes earnings from appearances, licensing and endorsements, personal business interests and, in some cases, salary.
World number one tennis player Serena Williams is second at USD 24.6 million, while motor racing driver Danica Patrick is the top non-tennis player, in fourth place with USD 13.9 million.
The only other non-tennis players in the top 10 are number eight Ronda Rousey (mixed martial arts) and number nine Stacy Lewis (golf).
Tennis is one of the few big-money sports where the earnings of women are somewhat comparable to men, though Sharapova's income nonetheless was significantly less than the USD 67 million earned by Roger Federer, the top tennis player on the latest Forbes men's list.
Boxers Floyd Mayweather (USD 300 million) and Manny Pacquiao (USD160 million) head the latest men's list, followed by Portugal and Real Madrid soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo (USD 79.6 million).
The female earnings were calculated from June 1 of last year until the same date in 2015.