Agent says Waters will earn over $3 million in 2024 as pickleball's highest-paid athlete
It shouldn't come as much of a surprise that Anna Leigh Waters is earning serious money.
All she does is win, and her fan base is growing exponentially with every tournament appearance.
Who wouldn't want to be associated with the top-ranked female player on the planet?
According to a story published by Forbes on Wednesday, the 17-year-old will be the highest-paid pickleball athlete - male or female - in 2024.
"She will earn more than $3 million this year," confirmed Waters' agent, Kelly Wolf, in a phone interview with Forbes contributor Adam Zagoria. "She has become the face of pickleball and both the PPA Tour and MLP know that."
Zagoria writes that Waters has endorsement and sponsorship deals with a host of companies that contribute to her impressive income.
He cites Fila (clothing and shoes), Paddletek (pickleball paddles), Carvana (motor vehicle sales), Lock Laces (elastic shoelaces), Pickleball4America (events including the US Open Pickleball Championships), Shiseido (suncare products), Cetaphil (facial cleansing products and moisturizers), Biofreeze (topical pain relief) and Collectbobbles (bobblehead).
"There’s nobody else out there that has all these deals that she has right now,” said Wolf. "Anna Leigh is her own little cottage industry, to be quite honest."
Earlier this year, pickleball's most decorated male player, Ben Johns, confirmed to CNBC that he's earning at least $2.5 million from his pickleball salary and endorsement deals this year.
Related articles
Leigh and Anna Leigh Waters Recapture Old Magic, Land in Final
The mother-daughter duo are back in Championship Sunday after a two year hiatus.
5 hours ago
-Pickleball.com Staff
Tyra Black and Jorja Johnson are into Championship Sunday
Incredible defense, lobs, drop shots, and overheads were on display
6 hours ago
-PPA Staff
The Johns Brothers Announce Split for 2025
Ben and Collin Johns declare their decision to split as a team after nearly four years of play and 33 total titles together on the PPA Tour.
15 hours ago
-Pickleball.com Staff
PPA Tour, Major League Pickleball enjoy record 2024 season
Over 320,000 fans attended PPA Tour and MLP events this year.
3 days ago
-Pickleball.com Staff