Venus Williams Signs Richest Endorsement Contract Ever For Female Athlete

Jet, Jan 8, 2001

Tennis superstar Venus Williams recently signed a grand slam of a deal.

She inked a five-year endorsement contract with Reebok International for $40 million--the richest such contract for any female athlete.

"This is a big moment in my life," said Williams, whose previous endorsement contract with Reebok ended last April. "This is another part of reaching out for my dreams."

Williams, 20, is the first Black woman to win both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, and Olympic gold medals in singles and doubles in the same year (2000).

Reebok will highlight Williams' style, success and confident persona in its new global brand campaign, "Defy Convention," scheduled to launch Super Bowl Sunday, January 28, 2001. The campaign will also include other television and print ads, retail marketing programs, Reebok events and various public appearances. The vibrant tennis star will co-design her signature apparel and footwear collections scheduled to debut in the 2002 tennis season.

Williams isn't new to endorsement deals.

Within a few weeks of finalizing this megadeal with Reebok, she signed a three-year agreement with Wilson's Leather to create her own line of leather products and help with company promotion. The line is expected to be in Wilson's stores next fall.