Top 5 tennis tournaments with highest prize money

The four Grand Slam tournaments in tennis offer some of the biggest prize money in the sport. They award equal prize money to men and women and are widely considered the most prestigious and financially rewarding events on the calendar.

Behind the Grand Slams come the ATP and WTA 1000 events, which also offer significant prize pools. However, the majors still lead the way when it comes to total prize money.

The promise of bigger payouts — especially for players who lose in the early rounds — is a major reason why so many competitors prioritize these tournaments. Grand Slams attract everyone from rising players chasing a breakthrough to established stars who have already won multiple titles.

Even within the Grand Slams, prize money can vary from tournament to tournament — but they are always among the most lucrative events in tennis. Importantly, all four majors award equal prize money to both men and women.

Outside of the Slams, however, things look a bit different. Events such as WTA 1000, WTA 500, and WTA 250 tournaments are still working toward closing the pay gap between the women’s and men’s tours, each following its own path and timeline to achieve greater parity.

In this article, let’s take a closer look at the tennis tournaments that offer record-breaking prize money to players.

5. ATP Finals / WTA Finals – $15.0+ million each 

Unlike the Grand Slams, which feature huge 128-player draws, the ATP Finals and WTA Finals are far more exclusive. Only the top eight singles players and doubles teams of the season earn a spot in these year-end championships.

While each of the ATP Finals and WTA Finals offers a $15 million prize pool—less than what’s awarded at the Grand Slams—the money is divided among far fewer players.

As a result, the payout per match is extremely high. In fact, players often earn more for a single win at the ATP and WTA Finals than they would at almost any other tournament on the professional tour.

4. French Open – $65.4 million

Roland Garros has increased its total prize money for 2025 to €56.35 million (about $65.4 million), marking a 5.2% rise compared to last year.

Although it remains the lowest-paying tournament among the four Grand Slams overall, this year’s figure is the highest prize pool in the event’s history.

What stands out is how the increases were distributed. Tournament organizers chose to significantly boost prize money in the first three rounds of the singles draw. That means players who reach the Round of 32 — and even those eliminated earlier — are taking home noticeably more than in previous years.

In 2025, the singles champions each earned €2,550,000 (around $2.9 million), while the runner-up received €1,275,000 (about $1.45 million), maintaining an exact 50% difference between first and second place.

3. Wimbledon – $72.7 million 

In 2025, Wimbledon, the oldest Grand Slam in tennis, offered a record total prize fund of £53.55 million (about $72.7 million).

The singles champion took home £3,000,000 (around $4.09 million), while the runner-up earned £1,520,000 (about $2.07 million).

That’s a 7–8% increase from last year — a significant jump that reflects ongoing calls from top players for a larger share of the tournament’s growing revenues.

Although singles players still receive the biggest payouts, prize money has also risen meaningfully in doubles, mixed doubles, and wheelchair events. The increases help spread the financial rewards more evenly across the tournament field, benefiting a wider group of players.

2. Australian Open – $74.9 million

The Australian Open is going all out in 2026, unveiling a record-breaking prize pool of AUD $111.5 million (about $74.9 million). That’s a huge 16% increase from 2025 — the biggest year-on-year jump in the tournament’s history.

Importantly, much of that extra money is being directed toward players outside the top ranks. Early-round exits and qualifying players are seeing significant pay rises, with qualifying prize money alone up 55% since 2023.

At the top end, the singles champion earned a record A$4.15 million — a 19% rise from last year — while the runner-up took home A$2.15 million.

Overall, it’s a major financial boost across the board, especially for players working their way up the rankings.

1. US Open – $90 Million

The US Open is now the richest tournament in tennis. In 2025, it raised its total prize money to an incredible $90 million — a huge 20% increase from the year before. Over the past decade, what the tournament pays its players has nearly doubled.

The singles champions will each earn $5 million, the biggest winner’s paycheck the sport has ever seen. Even the runner-up will take home $2.5 million — more than what some players earn for actually winning other major events.

And it’s not just the stars at the very end of the tournament who benefit. The US Open has also put serious money into supporting players earlier in the draw. Millions of dollars go toward travel and accommodation stipends, helping lower-ranked players cover their expenses. That support makes competing in the tournament far more realistic — and financially worthwhile — for a much wider group of players.

Cover Credits - ATP Tour