Maria Sharapova has revealed that her first major purchase after winning Wimbledon in 2004 was a $10,000 mattress, a buy she still has today.
The Russian star, aged 17 at the time, stunned Serena Williams to claim her first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2004. She went on to reach No. 1 in the world and won four more Major titles before retiring in 2020.
Now 39 and a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, Sharapova recalled the unusual purchase on an episode of her podcast, Pretty Tough, speaking to Mellody Hobson.
The $10,000 Mattress Purchase
Sharapova said: "The first big purchase I made after I got my really big cheque after winning my first Grand Slam, I went to a mattress shop and I spent so much money."
She added: "I am so embarrassed to say it! I was with my mum buying it, but I came home and my dad asked, 'Where were you girls?' I was like, 'We went shopping'. He's like, 'What bag did you buy?'"
"'No, we didn't buy a bag. A mattress. Dad, it cost us $10,000'. The look on his face was priceless. But guess what? I still have the mattress!"
Career Earnings and Business Success
The mattress cost just under £8k of her £560,500 winners' cheque. Sharapova banked £29,270,963 ($38,777,962) during her career, making her the seventh-highest earner in WTA history based on prize money alone.
Only Serena Williams, Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Venus Williams, Simona Halep, and Victoria Azarenka have earned more than the five-time Major champion. According to Forbes, Sharapova was the highest-paid female athlete in the world for 11 straight years, with deals including Nike, Prince, and Porsche.
Today, the 39-year-old is a businesswoman with a successful confectionary brand, Sugarpova. According to Forbes, she has a net worth of £166million ($220million).
Hall of Fame Induction
When inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2025, Sharapova thanked her long-time agent, Max Eisenbud, who has also worked with Emma Raducanu.
"You played a role far more significant than what's written on your resume. You were my shield, the ultimate punching bag, the one who unapologetically said 'no' on my behalf over and over again," Sharapova told him.
Reflecting on her career, she added: "My journey was a winding one, complete with the highest of highs, the lowest of lows, and all the uncertain ground in between. Believe it or not, there's no playbook on how to navigate those twists and turns – on how to be great for the long haul. But if there's one single quality that can guide you to greatness in the absence of that playbook, I believe it's grit."
