Billie Jean King was recently thanked by Novak Djokovic, following his fourth-round victory against Tim van Rijthoven at Wimbledon, for speaking and teaching him about the importance of tennis history.
King was born on 22 November 1943 in Long Beach, California where she spent her childhood with her athletic-focussed family.
She rose to fame when she won the Wimbledon doubles championship in 1961 with Karen Hantz, becoming the youngest pair to do so.
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At 78, she now holds a total of 39 Grand Slam titles and was titled World No. 1 five times.
King is also an activist, advocating for gender equality and social justice, specifically in women’s sports.
After a long prolific career, what is Billie Jean King worth?
What is Billie Jean King’s net worth?
As of 2022, Billie Jean King has an estimated net worth of $20 million (£16.5 million), according to Celebrity Net Worth.
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The tennis player started playing tennis at 11 years old after having switched over from baseball and softball as her parents deemed it a more “ladylike” sport.
At 29, King achieved her victory at the 1973 Battle of Sexes match against 55-year-old Bobby Riggs, elevating the status of women’s tennis in the public eye.
Since she retired from professional tennis in 1990, King has committed herself to activism, coaching and mentoring.
She notably campaigned for the equal distribution of prize money for men and women in the U.S. Open, in 1973, which led to it becoming the first major tournament to offer equal prize money.
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King continues to be an activist in women’s sports and raises awareness mainly through Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
She has an audience that totals over 760,000 followers.
In 2020, King and her wife Ilana Kloss, became part of the ownership group of Angel City Football Club who will be competing in the National Women’s Soccer League this year.
The tennis player now splits her time between New York City and Chicago with Kloss.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Celebrity Net Worth, Wimbledon
