By Sandra Harwitt

This will come as no secret – If you’re a top talent in the world of tennis you’re rolling in the dough. Dough as in money, cash, liquid capital.

That’s the reward for all those years of practice, practice, practice.

Of course, not everyone becomes a multi-millionaire via prize money and endorsement earnings from being a mega-star.

That said, it came as no surprise that when Forbes released their 2015 Top 100 List of Richest Athletes  – this list talks in annual earnings – the world of tennis was represented. Surprisingly, however, not even a tenth of the list comprised of tennis players. The seven players who made the cut were (in alphabetical order) Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal, Kei Nishikori, Maria Sharapova, and Serena Williams.

Interestingly, status in the game, i.e. ranking, had little to do with your stature on the Forbes list.

Proving that you don’t have to be No. 1 to be making the most dollars and cents, Federer was the highest listed player, coming in at No. 5. His annual earnings: an overall $67 million with $9 million attributed to prize money and $58 million in endorsements. Popularity definitely rules.

Next on the list was current world No. 1  Djokovic who came in at No. 13 with an overall $48.2 annual earning. The breakdown was $17.2 million for prize money and $31 million for endorsements.

Nadal came in next at No. 22 with an overall earning of $32.5 million broken down into $4.5 in prize money and $28 million for endorsements.

It’s finally a women’s turn with Sharapova weighing in at No. 26 having earned an overall $29.7 million with $6.7 million assigned to prize money and $23 million to endorsements. Contrary to what many might believe the $23 million endorsement amount does not include Sugarpova – Sharapova’s candy company – simply because she is the sole owner of the brand.

The top-ranked Williams just made it into the Top 50 by being No. 47 on the list. She earned an overall $24.6 million with $11.6 coming from prize money and $13 million from endorsements. For sure, some of that $13 million is being earned from her Chase Bank commercials currently airing in the U.S.

Murray places No. 64 with overall earnings of $22.3 million broken down to $6.3 million in prize money and $16 million of endorsements. Is that new Under Armour contract leading the endorsement financial picture for the Scotsman?

And last but not least, it’s Kei Nishikori just qualifying for the Forbes list at No. 92 with an overall pot of annual gold earnings at $19.2 million with $4.5 million for prize money and 15 million from endorsements.