At almost 40, Serena Williams remains one of the greatest tennis players of all time. She has been World No. 1 for 319 weeks in total, ranking third in the Open Era among female players. Yet over the years, she has also been an inspiration off the court. She is outspoken when it comes to body positivity, female empowerment, and the Black Lives Matter movement. But she is also a successful businesswoman, and was the first-ever female athlete to be included in the 2019 Forbes list of America’s wealthiest self-made women, with an estimated fortune of over $200 million.
Williams began playing tennis at only three years old and won her first U.S. Open at age 17. Her tennis career is backed up by an astonishing trophy collection, including 23 Grand Slam single titles and four Olympic gold medals. But despite her success, she has faced body-shaming critics and racist comments her whole life, experiences which she molded into activism. She pushed for equal pay in tennis, especially for women of color, not shying way from calling out discrimination in her sport.
In 2014, she launched Serena Ventures, which invests in early-stage entrepreneurs and particularly women and minorities. She is convinced that Silicon Valley is making a mistake by not investing in startups founded by black women.
“Tennis is a small play in the whole scheme of things,” she said. “In this society, women are not taught or expected to be that future leader or future CEO. The narrative has to change. And maybe it doesn’t get better in time for me, but someone in my position can show women and people of color that we have a voice, because Lord knows I use mine. I love sticking up for people and supporting women. Being the voice that millions of people don’t have.”
Since 2019, she has also invested in and serves as a global adviser for the Bumble dating app, that encourages women to “make the first move” in their lives. Their partnership has blossomed into several initiatives that empower women. In 2020, she teamed up with Procter & Gamble-owned personal care brand, Secret Deodorant, to further promote equality in sports.
Without contest, Williams has a presence on and off the tennis court, not turning away from social issues or her opponents, and she is now chasing a record 24th Grand Slam title at the Australia Open in 2021.