Wimbledon Prize Money Through The Years

The Uniqueness Of Wimbledon 

Wimbledon has long been an outlier in the world of tennis. It is the only Grand Slam played on grass and unique for its strict ‘all white’ dress code, but what may have escaped the notice of many spectators, is that compared to other slams it is mainly void of commercial sponsorship. 

Yes, there are subtle nods to brands such as Rolex, Evian, and Slazenger, but these companies’ presence is more about ‘product placement’ than overt advertising. 

Consequently, Wimbledon’s revenues are compromised to an extent and fall short of those enjoyed by other Grand Slam tournaments. However, thanks to extensive broadcasting rights, AELTC (All England Lawn Tennis Club) still offers its champions a life-changing prize at the end of Wimbledon fortnight.

Wimbledon Prize Money – The Early Years 

The oldest tennis tournament in the world, Wimbledon was first played in 1877. The format and field were significantly different compared to today’s spectacle with just 22 amateur men mainly playing for pride alone.

A women’s championship was introduced in 1884 but recognisable prize money did not become a feature until 1968 when professional players were first allowed to compete. 

In the first Wimbledon of the professional era players contested for a prize fund totaling £26,150. The 1968 men’s champion won £2000 and his female counterpart just £750 – a theme of disparity that would continue until 2007.

Consistent Growth 

Since 1968 Wimbeldon’s prize fund has increased almost every year, undoubtedly in correlation with the growing popularity of the sport and the widening audience thanks to advancements made in broadcasting and social media. 

By 1978, the total prize fund had swelled by over ten times that of 1968’s level (£279.203) with the men’s winner grabbing £19,000 and the women’s champion taking home £17,100.

And by 1988, a further decade forward, a similar ‘10X’ extrapolation applied with a fund of £7.2m giving the men’s champion £165,000 and the ladies’ winner £148,500. 

Naturally, this level of growth would slow down, but almost each new Championship still manages to eclipse the last in terms of prize money as we can see in this summary per decade since 1988.

Unsurprisingly, the only year in which Wimbledon Prize Money regressed was in 2021 with the tournament returning after a 2-year hiatus due to the Covid Pandemic. The prize fund was reduced by 5.2% compared to 2020 as the Championship recovered from a year-off while only allowing limited attendees to the 2021 tournament. 

Gender Parity at Wimbledon – The Championships

In terms of prize money, parity between genders has long been a hot topic and for years women have lobbied for equal pay compared to male players. A quest spearheaded by the legendary Billie Jean King who famously said that she wanted women players to ‘have the cake, the icing and the cherry on top’ when it came to prize money. 

In 1973 the US Open listened to Billie Jean King and her brave cast of supporters known as the ‘original nine’ by offering both male and female players equal prize money, followed thereafter by the French Open and US Open. 

However, it took Wimbledon 34 years to follow the example set by the USTA with the AELTC’s penchant for tradition being taken maybe too far.  

Ultimately, Wimbledon’s decision to invoke equal pay for both sexes in 2007 was warmly received but many felt that it took far too long for the staunch traditionalists to evolve.

The Future of Wimbledon Prize Money

While Wimbledon’s prize fund will inevitably grow further, the exponential growth seen since the tournament’s inception cannot continue on the same trajectory. Compared to the three other Grand Slam tournaments Wimbledon trails behind both Roland Garros and the US Open in terms of prize money, but as discussed, those who run Wimbledon eschew commercialism in favor of retaining a sense of tradition.  

Of course, all of this creates an undeniable sense of mystique and prestige that comes with winning Wimbledon.

A unique ‘specialness’ that transcends numbers on a winner’s cheque. And while winning at SW19 will make you a multi-millionaire, the broader rewards are maybe more valuable – all of those extra endorsement deals and a place on the most revered winner’s roll-call in tennis.

In short, the money is unquestionably nice but few players think about that when entering the grounds each June. A potential place in the history books is what players yearn for most.

How Wimbledon Prize Money Supports The Greater Game

As we have seen, Wimbledon’s love affair with tradition has been both a blessing and a curse at times, but what cannot be denied is the Championship’s support of tennis as a whole.

Post-tax, 90% of surplus revenue garnered by each Championship is given to the LTA (Lawn Tennis Association), the governing body that oversees tennis at all levels within the UK. 

The LTA uses this revenue to support the development of tennis at all levels, helping to improve facilities and nurture talent from grass root to elite levels of tennis.

Consequently, thanks to Wimbledon, future generations will not only have an opportunity to participate in tennis but also have the coaching and facilities necessary to excel as far as their talent allows

Wimbledon Prize Money – Conclusion 

Clearly, the numbers are staggering and to suggest that money isn’t a factor is somewhat disingenuous. Nonetheless, it is a measure of Wimbledon’s unique position in the world of tennis that we still speak more of tradition, history, and the sheer prestige of winning at SW19.  

Ultimately and most reassuring, however, while a winning fortnight in South West London will make players multi-millionaires, it will also help create a legacy that benefits all levels of tennis – maybe even the Championship winner in 2050! 

Want to know what the prize money is like on the ATP, WTA, and Challenger tours? Read all about how much the elite payers earn in our detailed breakdown.