Can the defending champion retain his Wimbledon crown? (Getty)
Novak Djokovic will be gunning for his ninth Grand Slam and third Wimbledon title in SW19 over the next fortnight. He currently leads the 2015 ATP Rankings, has won the ATP Tour Finals the last three years in a row, is the current World No.1 and has a career win rate of 84%. But has he turned his on-court success into piles of cash off it? You’re damn right he has.
1. He’s won $72 Million in Prize Money
Winner. (Getty)
Djokovic tops the ATP Prize Money list so far in 2015, with just shy of $7 million in the bank: that’s nearly as much as first round Wimbledon opponent Philipp Kohlschreiber has earned in his entire 14-year career.
If Djoker can add a third Wimbledon Championships to his haul, he’ll bring in another $2.9 million to his total, taking his all-time ATP Tour Prize Money kitty to $82 million. Roger Federer tops the rankings with $90.5 million.
2. He Earns $31 Million a Year in Endorsements
Pressing the flesh (Instagram)
Forbes estimates that Djokovic pocketed $31 million in 2014 from endorsements and sponsorship agreements. Djokovic has a 5-year, EUR40 million deal with Uniqlo, which he signed in 2012. The Japanese clothing company snared Djokovic from small Italian sportswear firm Sergio Tacchini after they failed to make bonus payments following four Grand Slam wins for the Serb. Djokovic duly terminated the contract. With Adidas concentrating on Andy Murray (who has since switched to Under Armour), Uniqlo had a free path to sign up Djoker.
Off the court, Djokovic has lucrative contracts with French car-maker Peugeot and watch-makers Seiko, for whom he’s starred in some truly terrible adverts.
He Charges $1 Million a Turn for His Impressions
Watch the above and you’ll see why the organizers of exhibition tournaments are prepared to cough up $1 million a pop to have Djokovic play at their events. As well as being a natural draw by dint of his status as World No.1, he’s also incredibly entertaining. Djoker has impersonations of fellow pros such as Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and even Maria Sharapova down to a T.
He’s a big fan of Donkey Cheese (who isn’t?)
(Instagram)
Djokovic owns a chain of cafés, named Novak Café, throughout his native Serbia, as well as a restaurant in Belgrade. In 2012, Djokovic purchased Serbia’s entire supply of donkey cheese for 2013 to ensure his restaurants and Cafés had sufficient stock. Honestly, we’re not making this up. He’s also recently launched his own health foods brand, Djokolife, which he says “offers a range of products that reflect my idea for a better lifestyle and diet.”
All in, Djokovic’s net worth is estimated at $120 million; still some way shy of the $300 million amassed by Roger Federer.
He Giveth as Well as Taketh
Ricky Gervais at the Novak Djokovic Foundation New York Gala in 2013 (Getty)
Djokovic established the Novak Djokovic Foundation in 2007 with the aim of supporting under-privileged children in Serbia and war-torn Kosovo. The Foundation is run by his wife, Jelena. In May 2014, Djokovic donated the entirety of his $750,000 prize money for winning the Italian Open to help relief efforts in Serbia following severe flooding.
In 2013, at a gala during the US Open organized by the Foundation and attended by the likes of Anna Wintour, Naomi Campbell and Ricky Gervais, Djokovic raised $2.5 million to support education initiatives in his homeland.