Source: Statista

Maria Sharapova announced she was retiring from tennis at 32 years old. She was previously a No. 1 player who became a wealthy and globally recognized athlete. She won five Grand Slams but struggled to compete on the same level after she was suspended in 2016 for using a banned substance. When she returned to tennis two years later, Sharapova battled injuries that left her in near-constant pain, the New York Times wrote. In February 2020, she decided to put the racket down for good.

“I look at photos of myself and of the motion where I’m just about to hit the ball, and I’m in the air or just as I’m making contact,” she said in her statement, “and I can’t even look at it because it makes me cringe. I have so much pain.”

Despite her scandal and injuries, Sharapova remained one of the most well-paid female athletes of 2019, with most of her money coming from endorsements. According to Forbes, she made $1 million in prize money from tennis and $6 million from endorsements. At the top of the list was Serena Williams, who made $4.2 million in prize money and $25 million from endorsements.