Maria Sharapova, 36, has changed dramatically after retiring from tennis in 2020 due to injuries to become an entrepreneur and mother.
Maria Sharapova has changed dramatically after retiring from tennis
According to Forbes, when the 36-year-old retired from tennis in 2020, her $39 million (£31 million) in prize money ranked third all-time on the WTA Tour; she earned more than $300 million (£237 million, pre-tax) off the court.
Since retiring from the sport that catapulted her to international fame, the 6ft 2in beauty has made considerable advances towards growing her riches, as well as changing her hair color, which has revolutionized her appearance.
With 4.5 million Instagram followers, it’s safe to assume the former world number one isn’t far from the public’s mind.
Her most recent upload on the platform features her in a breezy ensemble consisting of a bra, a jacket, a skirt, and a pair of high heels so that, according to the tennis champion, her photo album can include a few more photographs of her.
“When your photo album has a few new photos other than your child,” she captioned the collection.
Sharapova became world No. 1 at the age of 18 in August 2005, and she retained that position four more times during her career.
She won five major titles – two at the French Open, one each at the Australian, US, and Wimbledon – and 36 in total.
Despite her achievements on the court, her appearance drew just as much, if not more, attention away from it.
People magazine named her one of the world’s 50 most beautiful celebrities in April 2005.
For the fourth year in a row, Maxim named Sharapova the hottest athlete in the world.
She appeared among 25 other supermodels in a six-page bikini photographic spread in the 2006 Valentine’s Day issue of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
Because of her tennis success and attractiveness, she was able to get commercial endorsements that far outweighed the value of her tournament prizes.
From March 2006 until 2016, Forbes magazine ranked her as the highest-paid female athlete in the world, with the majority of her earnings coming from endorsements and partnerships.
Sharapova is currently engaged to businessman Alexander Gilkes.
The couple started dating in 2018, when the Russian star was nearing the conclusion of her professional playing career.
The British businessman proposed to the 36-year-old two years after their relationship began, and the couple has been engaged since.
In July 2022, the couple welcomed their first child, Theodore.