Monica Seles Net Worth

Monica Seles: Net Worth, Career, and Life After Tennis

Monica Seles, a name synonymous with dominance in the world of women’s tennis, left an indelible mark on the sport. This article delves into Monica Seles’s net worth, her illustrious career, and the challenges she faced both on and off the court, painting a complete picture of this tennis legend.

What is Monica Seles’ Net Worth?

Monica Seles’s net worth is estimated to be $50 million. This figure reflects her successful career, including prize money, endorsements, and other ventures. Seles’ financial success is a testament to her talent and the significant impact she made in the world of professional tennis.

Career Earnings

During her remarkable tennis career, Monica Seles amassed a substantial amount of earnings. Her prize money totaled $15 million, which equates to approximately $25 million in today’s dollars. In addition to prize money, Seles secured roughly the same amount from lucrative endorsement deals, further boosting her financial standing.

Early Life and Tennis Beginnings

Monica Seles was born on December 2, 1973, in Novi Sad, Yugoslavia (now Serbia), to parents Ester and Karolj, in an ethnic Hungarian family. Her father, a professional cartoonist, played a crucial role in her early tennis development, coaching her from the age of five. He would often draw pictures to make the sport more enjoyable for her. Her brother, Zoltan, also played a significant role in her life. At the age of 11, she won the Junior Orange Bowl tournament, which caught the eye of tennis coach Nick Bollettieri. This led to her and her brother moving to the United States to train at Bollettieri’s Tennis Academy in 1986, followed by her parents.

Early Career: The Rise to Prominence

In 1988, at the age of 14, Seles entered her first professional tournament as an amateur. She officially turned professional in February 1989, winning her first career title in Houston in May of that year. A few months later, in June, she reached the semifinals of the French Open, losing to Steffi Graf. Seles’s first year on the professional tour was marked by impressive performances, finishing ranked sixth in the world, signaling the beginning of her remarkable career.

Career Peak: Dominance in the Early 1990s

Seles’s career reached its peak in the early 1990s. In 1990, she won her first Grand Slam singles title at the French Open, defeating Steffi Graf and becoming the youngest-ever French Open singles champion at the age of 16. She finished the year ranked second in the world, setting the stage for even greater achievements. 1991 marked a period of dominance. She secured the Australian Open, defended her French Open title, and achieved the world number 1 ranking. While shin splints kept her from playing at Wimbledon, she returned to win the US Open. By the end of the year, she had won 10 of the 16 tournaments she entered. The year 1992 was equally triumphant, with Seles defending her titles at the Australian Open, French Open, and US Open. She also reached the final at Wimbledon.

Tim Whitby/Getty Images

The On-Court Attack: A Turning Point

In April 1993, while playing a match in Hamburg, Germany, Seles was infamously attacked on court by a fan of Steffi Graf. The incident, where a man stabbed her, had a profound impact on her career. Though her physical injuries healed, the psychological effects were immense, and she did not return to competitive tennis for over two years. The attack led to increased security measures at tennis events.

Later Career and Retirement

After the attack, Seles struggled with depression and a binge eating disorder. She returned to the tour in August 1995, winning the Canadian Open and reaching the US Open final, where she lost to Graf. Later in the year, she won the Australian Open, which would be her last Grand Slam title. She remained competitive, reaching the quarter and semifinals in Grand Slam tournaments until her last full year on the tour in 2002. Seles officially retired in February 2008, after suffering a foot injury. She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in January 2009.

Personal Life: Beyond the Court

Seles became a naturalized American citizen in 1994 and also received Hungarian citizenship in 2007. She released her memoir, “Getting a Grip: On My Body, My Mind, MySelf,” in 2009, detailing her personal struggles. In 2015, she became a spokesperson for Shire Pharmaceuticals, promoting a drug to treat binge eating disorder. She married Thomas Golisano in 2014, a businessman 32 years her senior.

/**/