The first of many. A 17-year-old Williams beats Martina Hingis at the 1999 US Open in straight sets to win her first major title.
The first of many. A 17-year-old Williams beats Martina Hingis at the 1999 US Open in straight sets to win her first major title.
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Conquering clay. Serena beats sister Venus at Roland Garros 7-5 6-3 in 2002 to claim her second grand slam at the French Open.
Conquering clay. Serena beats sister Venus at Roland Garros 7-5 6-3 in 2002 to claim her second grand slam at the French Open.
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A few weeks later, Serena makes it a hattrick of grand slams with victory over Venus at the Wimbledon final in July 2002.
A few weeks later, Serena makes it a hattrick of grand slams with victory over Venus at the Wimbledon final in July 2002.
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Serena comes out on top after another final with Venus, beating her sister in straight sets to win her second US Open title in 2002.
Serena comes out on top after another final with Venus, beating her sister in straight sets to win her second US Open title in 2002.
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A grand slam of grand slams -- the first "Serena Slam." Serena wins a first Australian Open title -- and a fourth major on the trot -- by beating Venus in three sets in 2003.
A grand slam of grand slams -- the first "Serena Slam." Serena wins a first Australian Open title -- and a fourth major on the trot -- by beating Venus in three sets in 2003.
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Serena wins the 2003 Wimbledon final 4-6 6-4 6-2 against sister Venus to defend her crown.
Serena wins the 2003 Wimbledon final 4-6 6-4 6-2 against sister Venus to defend her crown.
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A second Australian Open title for Serena and a seventh grand slam after a 2-6 6-3 6-0 victory over compatriot Lindsay Davenport in the 2005 Melbourne final.
A second Australian Open title for Serena and a seventh grand slam after a 2-6 6-3 6-0 victory over compatriot Lindsay Davenport in the 2005 Melbourne final.
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Victory over Maria Sharapova in the 2007 final secures a third Australian Open title for Serena.
Victory over Maria Sharapova in the 2007 final secures a third Australian Open title for Serena.
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Serena on Times Square with the US Open trophy, a title she won without dropping a set at the 2008 tournament.
Serena on Times Square with the US Open trophy, a title she won without dropping a set at the 2008 tournament.
Mike Stobe/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Ten years of grand slam success and a 10th major for Serena as she beats Dinara Safina in straight sets at the Australian Open final in 2009.
Ten years of grand slam success and a 10th major for Serena as she beats Dinara Safina in straight sets at the Australian Open final in 2009.
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Another victory over sister Venus in a Wimbledon final and Serena clinches her third title at SW19 in 2009.
Another victory over sister Venus in a Wimbledon final and Serena clinches her third title at SW19 in 2009.
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Serena poses with the Daphne Akhurst Trophy in 2010, her fifth Australian Open title.
Serena poses with the Daphne Akhurst Trophy in 2010, her fifth Australian Open title.
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A two-year wait, but Serena notches a 14th major with yet more success at Wimbledon. She beats Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska 6-1 5-7 6-2 in the 2010 final to level with sister Venus with five Wimbledon titles.
A two-year wait, but Serena notches a 14th major with yet more success at Wimbledon. She beats Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska 6-1 5-7 6-2 in the 2010 final to level with sister Venus with five Wimbledon titles.
Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
Wimbledon 2012 was Williams' first grand slam since spending almost a year out of action between summer 2010 and 2011 with a leg injury and subsequent pulmonary embolism.
Wimbledon 2012 was Williams' first grand slam since spending almost a year out of action between summer 2010 and 2011 with a leg injury and subsequent pulmonary embolism.
Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
Thirteen years after her first US Open title, Serena grabs a fourth by beating world No.1 Victoria Azarenka in the final
Thirteen years after her first US Open title, Serena grabs a fourth by beating world No.1 Victoria Azarenka in the final
Al Bello/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Serena with the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen trophy in front of the Eiffel Tower after victory over Sharapova in the 2013 final.
Serena with the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen trophy in front of the Eiffel Tower after victory over Sharapova in the 2013 final.
Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
Another US Open for Serena, beating Azarenka in the 2013 final for the second successive year.
Another US Open for Serena, beating Azarenka in the 2013 final for the second successive year.
Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
Victory at the US Open in 2014 moves Williams to joint-fourth in the all-time list of major winners, alongside Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert.
Victory at the US Open in 2014 moves Williams to joint-fourth in the all-time list of major winners, alongside Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert.
TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Another fine start to a year as Williams wins the 2015 Australian Open -- once again beating Sharapova in a major final.
Another fine start to a year as Williams wins the 2015 Australian Open -- once again beating Sharapova in a major final.
Scott Barbour/Getty Images AsiaPac/Getty Images
A second grand slam of the year and a third French Open after a 6-3 6-7 6-2 win over Czech Republic's Lucie Safarova in 2015.
A second grand slam of the year and a third French Open after a 6-3 6-7 6-2 win over Czech Republic's Lucie Safarova in 2015.
MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
A third major title of the year thanks to a straight-sets win over Spain's Garbine Muguruza in the 2015 Wimbledon final. But there was to be no "Serena Slam'"of four majors in the same calendar year.
A third major title of the year thanks to a straight-sets win over Spain's Garbine Muguruza in the 2015 Wimbledon final. But there was to be no "Serena Slam'"of four majors in the same calendar year.
Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
A seventh Wimbledon title for the then world No.1 and now equal with Steffi Graf's Open era record of major titles. "This court definitely feels like home," says Williams after her straight sets win over Angelique Kerber in 2016.
A seventh Wimbledon title for the then world No.1 and now equal with Steffi Graf's Open era record of major titles. "This court definitely feels like home," says Williams after her straight sets win over Angelique Kerber in 2016.
Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
At the start of 2017, sister Venus is beaten in straight sets as a seventh Australian Open is secured and an Open-era record 23rd Grand Slam singles title won. Later we would find out she won while pregnant with her first child.
At the start of 2017, sister Venus is beaten in straight sets as a seventh Australian Open is secured and an Open-era record 23rd Grand Slam singles title won. Later we would find out she won while pregnant with her first child.
WILLIAM WEST/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Serena Williams: 23 grand slams and history

Story highlights

Williams earned just $62,000 in prize money in the last year

Eight of top 10 athletes are tennis players

Earnings of top 10 down 28% from five years ago

CNN  — 

Even though Serena Williams won just $62,000 in prize money during the last 12 months the tennis great has still topped Forbes’ list of the world’s highest-earning female athletes.

The $18.1 million the 23-time grand slam champion earned in endorsements was enough for her to top the list for a third straight year despite not playing competitively for 14 months after revealing in January 2017 that she was pregnant with her first child.

The 36-year-old made twice as much off the court than any other female athlete, while only 16 male athletes have earned more than Williams over the past 12 months from sponsorships.

The top 10 females earned a combined $105 million from June 2017 to June 2018 – down 4% from last year and 28% from five years ago.

In comparison, the combined earnings of the world’s top 10 highest-paid sports stars, who are all male, tops a billion dollars.

372178 11: FILE PHOTO: Sisters Serena, left, and Venus Williams shake hands after a game 1991 in Compton, CA. Serena and Venus Williams will be playing against each other for the first time July 6, 2000 in the tennis semifinals at Wimbledon. (Photo by Paul Harris/Online USA)
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The most successful family affair in tennis
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Forbes’ rankings of the world’s top 100 highest earning athletes of 2018 did not feature a woman after Williams’ earnings fell as she went on maternity leave.

The company attributes the downturn in the total earnings of the highest-paid women to the retirement of popular tennis players Li Na and Ana Ivanovic and race car driver Danica Patrick, who is ranked ninth on the list.

Maria Sharapova’s off-the-court income, meanwhile, is still 50% down as the fallout from her 16-month suspension for doping continues.

READ: No women in Forbes’ richest 100 athletes list

READ: Men ‘always expect a bit less from a girl’

Eight of the top 10 are tennis players, with Indian badminton player PV Sindhu and Patrick the others on the list.

Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki is second with total earnings of $13 million, while reigning US Open champion Sloane Stephens ($8.7 million) is third.

Visit cnn.com/sport for more news and videos

Forbes’ top 10

  1. Serena Williams (tennis) – $18.1m
  2. Caroline Wozniacki (tennis) – $13m
  3. Sloane Stephens (tennis) – $11.2m
  4. Garbine Muguruza (tennis) – $11m
  5. Maria Sharapova (tennis) – $10.5m
  6. Venus Williams (tennis) – $10.2m
  7. P. V. Sindhu (badminton) – $8.5m
  8. Simona Halep (tennis) – $7.7m
  9. Danica Patrick (race car driving) – $7.5m
  10. Angelique Kerber (tennis) – $7m
Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark celebrates winning a point in her women's singles final against Simona Halep of Romania at the Australian Open on Saturday, January 27.
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Caroline Wozniacki: "I have more belief" now
02:27 - Source: CNN