Novak Djokovic has not been motivated by money for some time, but the player who sits at the top of the men’s tennis prize money list could get a chance to break through a remarkable cash milestone over the next month.
The 24-time Grand Slam legend has collected a staggering $194,656,816 in a career that has seen him top the world rankings for longer than any other player and also win more ATP Masters 1000 titles than anyone else.
His nearest challengers in the prize money charts are his great rivals Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, who won $134,946,100 and $130,594,339 respectively in their careers.
These figures are likely to be eclipsed in years to come, with prize money increasing at a rapid rate and the US Open set to reveal an increase on their record-breaking $5m top prize that was handed out to the men’s and women’s champions in New York last year.
But for now, Djokovic is the prize money king and he could become the first player in tennis history to move through the $200m barrier for winnings if he has a big month on US hard courts.
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Djokovic will be one of the favourites to win the Cincinnati Masters after world No 1 Jannik Sinner and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz pulled out due to injury.
If he was to win that tournament, Djokovic would collect $1,151,380 and if then won the US Open a couple of weeks later, he would sail the $200m prize money barrier.
Of course, Djokovic has earned much more money than just his on court earnings, as long-running sponsorship deals with Head, Lacoste, Asics and plenty more companies have swelled his bank balance well beyond the point he will ever have to worry about finances again.
Djokovic was asked about money in an interview with Piers Morgan last year and he insisted it has never been his biggest motivator.
“You know, we live in a very materialistic society these days. It’s nothing against you but I am not like that,” he stated in the interview.
“I don’t want to give all the information about what I am worth and what my investments are, it’s none of their business. Why should I disclose that? For what reason? There are things that are disclosed like prize money and people know about or contracts, but other things, no.
“Money is important. It’s very important and it does bring security, no doubt about it. It’s one of the driving forces in society today, you cannot neglect the importance of money.
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“But if money is the only thing you are thinking about, in my experience as an athlete, for me it’s more of a meritocracy model – if I win a tournament, I get rewarded with sponsorship deals.
“But it’s about the mentality and the brand you want to create around yourself. I don’t like to talk about this but I did refuse a lot of the big brands and big paycheques in my career, because I cannot represent something I do not believe in. I have always tried to play the long game.”
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