Amongst many things, Roger Federer is one of the most talented tennis players in the history of sports, and also the wealthiest one. Throughout his eventful career, he has won 20 Grand Slam single titles worldwide, in addition to winning the Wimbledon men’s singles a total of eight times since 2003. Alongside his titles, Federer has committed to several sponsorships and partnerships that have made him the highest-paid athlete in the world in 2019. Read on to find out how he became the successful tennis player, husband, father, and millionaire he is today.
He Was A Ball Boy When He Was Young
Federer was born in Basel, Switzerland, which is where his family is based to this date. He was born to Rober Federer, a Swiss-German resident of Berneck, and to Lynette Federer, a South African from Kempton Park, Gauteng. When he was young, he served as a ball boy during 1992 and 1993 at the Basel tournament and the Swiss Indoors, which deeply contributed to igniting his passion for tennis. Though he always loved tennis, he was an avid sports player in several modalities during his earlier years, playing both basketball and badminton.
He Started His Career Really Early
Federer started playing tennis when he was eight-years-old. By the age of 14, he was already a junior champion in Switzerland and was set to continue breaking milestones. He went on to win the Wimbledon junior singles championship in 1998 and later won the Miami Orange Bowl junior tournament. In 1999, Federer made history when he became the youngest tennis player ever to end the year as part of the top 100 worldwide.
His Big Break
In 2000, he won the bronze medal at the Sydney Olympic Games and went on to compete in Wimbledon the year after. Though one would say that Federer had several “big breaks” his official big break came in 2003, when he was 21. Federer won the Grand Slam title at Wimbledon against one of the most commendable tennis players ever, Mark Philippoussis. At the time, he received £575,000 ($714,460 at the time) as a prize for his victory.
Reaching Number One In 2004
Federer continued to win titles around the world, with the label “youngest-ever” often accompanying his achievements. From 2003 to 2005, Federer set another record after winning 24 straight finals. In due course, he reached number one in 2004, after winning 11 of the 17 tournaments he played. It didn’t take very long until the entire world noticed what a gifted shot-maker Federer was.
Roger Federer Endorsements
Thanks to his fame and immense talent, Federer has managed to close some of the biggest endorsements any sports player has ever secured. One of his most loyal and oldest endorsers is Rolex, striking a $15 million deal with them. He also works with other huge companies including Credit Suisse, Sunrise, Lundt, and Uniqlo. In fact, the latter was reported to be worth approximately $300 million. The combination of these endorsements plus his very profitable career has added to an incredible net worth of $450 million.
He’s A Huge Charity Man
Federer is widely known for his charity work around the world, especially after founding the Roger Ferderer Foundation in 2003. To this date, the foundation has raised about $40 million, funding the education of one million African children by the end of 2018. Throughout the years, he has made several trips around the continent to meet some of the children he funds through the charity.
He Is Married To A Former Tennis Player
Federer met his wife, Mirka Federer, during the 2000 Summer Olympics, while both were representing Switzerland. Mirka is a successful former tennis player who retired in 2002 after unluckily getting the same foot injury several times. The best Grand Slam of her performance years was in 2001 when she made it to the third round of the US Open. After retiring, she became her husband’s public relations manager, touring with him and regularly seen managing and supporting him in his matches. The loving couple has two sets of twins together.