World No. 3 and two-time Grand Slam champion Coco Gauff is the new global ambassador for Mercedes-Benz. This announcement follows her recent recognition as Sportico’s highest-paid female athlete for the third consecutive year.
The German carmaker shared the news on social media, posting a series of photos. The images feature the 21-year-old looking relaxed in a leather jacket and jeans, posing with and inside a black, four-door Mercedes sedan, according to Tennis.com.
The announcement post, which was captioned, “Power. Precision. Play without limits,” stated that the brand was proud to welcome Gauff to their family.
Gauff expressed in a statement that her personal values and the principles of Mercedes-Benz are in harmony, noting they share the “same drive and belief in pushing boundaries.”
“For me, tennis has always been about more than just winning. It’s about growth, passion and determination. That’s why this partnership with Mercedes-Benz feels so special,” she said on Instagram.
She now stands alongside the legendary Roger Federer, who also serves as a global ambassador for the German car brand.
Gauff secured the top spot in the 2025 rankings, earning an estimated $31 million and narrowly surpassing fellow tennis player Aryna Sabalenka, who earned $30 million, according to AfroTech. The outlet also notes that Gauff is among an elite group of only four women, including Sabalenka, Naomi Osaka, and Serena Williams, to achieve over $30 million in earnings in a single year.
The world of women’s sports continues to see substantial financial growth, as evidenced by the annual earnings list. This year, all 15 athletes featured, including high-profile names such as Caitlin Clark, Naomi Osaka, Simone Biles, and Venus Williams. They earned a minimum of $10 million. According to Sportico, this marks an increase from 11 athletes in 2024 and just six in 2023. Tennis remains the leading sport for top earners, accounting for 10 of the top 15 highest-paid athletes.
Gauff secured her position as the highest-paid female athlete in 2025 primarily through her off-court earnings. According to the source, she earned $8 million in prize money, which was significantly augmented by $23 million from endorsements, bringing her total earnings to $31 million.
Expanding her influence beyond the court, Gauff has also pursued business ventures. Before winning her second major title at Roland Garros in June, Gauff left the Team8 agency, which was co-founded by Roger Federer. This was to launch Coco Gauff Enterprises, which is “powered” by WME. Gauff explained that this move would allow her to take “greater ownership” of her career as she “continues to grow as an athlete, entrepreneur and change-maker.”
In an Instagram post announcing the business, Gauff wrote, “From the moment I first picked up a tennis racket, I’ve always believed my purpose extended far beyond the court. Today, I’m thrilled to announce CoCo Gauff Enterprises, a venture that reflects my passion for making an impact — not just in tennis, but in business, philanthropy, and beyond.”
Gauff also told Forbes, “As I’ve gotten older, I don’t want to just be a face of brands, but also be the brand. My dad has always said that this was his plan for me when I was younger, and it was up to me if I wanted to hop on board or not. And when I became 18, I knew that this is something that I wanted to work for.”
READ ALSO: Why Coco Gauff’s $2.9 million French Open prize money was cut in half
