Inside Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian’s whopping net worth – how the tennis legend and Reddit co-founder make and splash their US$330 million fortune on mansions, dates and their daughter
In 2015, Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian went on their first date, a six-hour walk through Paris before the French Open. At the time, it may have seemed strange: a tennis great and a tech guru taking a stroll through one of the most romantic cities in the world. But today, they’re recognised as one of the richest and most famous couples in the US, with an estimated combined net worth of US$330 million.
But how does the power couple make and spend their money?
Alexis Ohanian: from Reddit to smart investments
When he was just 22, Ohanian co-founded the social media platform Reddit with his friend Steve Huffman. In 2006, they reportedly sold it for at least US$10 million. In 2014, Ohanian rejoined the company as an executive chairman. Today, his creation is the sixth most visited website in the US and the ninth most visited website in the world, valued at US$10 billion as of August last year, according to Business of Apps.
He’s also branched out from Reddit, confounding Initialized Capital, a venture capital firm that manages US$500 million in assets. He’s also worked with Breadpig and Hipmunk. Ohanian paid tribute to his heritage with the 2018 launch of Shakmat, an Armenian brandy. In 2018, his net worth totalled US$9 million. Just a year later, that jumped all the way up to US$70 million, per Forbes.
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Serena Williams: tennis success, endorsements and businesses
Meanwhile, Williams’ net worth in 2022 is an estimated US$260 million, also per Forbes, compared to US$180 million in 2018.
But she makes even more from sponsorship deals. In 2004, she signed a five-year, US$40 million endorsement deal with Nike, and she’s since signed other deals for undisclosed amounts. Williams also has sponsorships with Gatorade, Beats by Dre, Aston Martin, Intel, Wilson and more. Forbes estimated that she earned US$45 million from endorsements this year alone.
And she’s turned some of that money into other business opportunities. She and her sister Venus bought stakes in the Miami Dolphins and the UFC, and she even launched her own clothing line.
How did their relationship start?
The couple’s combined success allows them to lead opulent lives. They met in 2015 at the Rome Cavalieri Hotel, which houses Rome’s only three-Michelin-starred restaurant. A month later, they had their first date – that jaunt in Paris. After the date, Williams would go on to win the French Open to complete her 20th Grand Slam.
Their luxurious wedding and family life
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A month after their daughter was born, the couple tied the knot in a luxurious wedding in Louisiana. Serena wore US$3.5 million worth of jewellery and changed designer dresses three times. Their guests included Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, Kim Kardashian West and many more. The power couple even had a roundabout in the middle of the room.
And don’t forget philanthropy …
For all of their opulence, the duo is very philanthropic. Williams started the Serena Williams Fund to promote equity for all people. She’s also a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador and has supported Colin Kaepernick’s activism. Ohanian is outspoken about digital rights and was part of a group that donated US$1.75 million to a non-profit that teaches tech skills.
Since that walk in Paris, they’ve been extremely successful, but they know that family comes first.
Williams revealed: “It was definitely hard, but it’s also so fulfilling. I just feel like life is just better now, even though I’ve had so much success in my life. I just feel like it’s just better now.”
- Serena Williams, who announced that she will retire after the 2022 US Open, made US$45 million from brand endorsements this year alone, through deals with Aston Martin, Beats by Dre and Gatorade
- Meanwhile, tech guru Alexis Ohanian sold social media platform Reddit for millions in his mid-20s; now he enjoys life with his superstar wife in a luxury mansion in Miami