MARIA SHARAPOVA: How The World's Highest-Paid Female Athlete Makes And Spends Her Millions

Maria Sharapova has been the talk of the U.S. Open and now she won't even be playing in it because of a shoulder injury. But before she was sidelined, she flirted with the idea of changing her name to Maria Sugarpova to promote her candy company during the U.S. Open.
It was an absurd idea, but it highlights that fact that Sharapova — the highest-earning female athlete in the world — is a multi-million dollars brand.
That money has allowed her to live a globetrotting lifestyle with fancy clothes, expensive cars, and a young new boyfriend.

Sharapova made $27.1 million last year

$5.1 million of that came from on-court winnings. She has made $25 million in winnings in her career

She makes the real money ($20+ million per year) in endorsements with a long list of companies

She signed an 8-year, $70 million deal with Nike in 2010

Her latest big deal with a three-year agreement with Samsung

Last year she launched a candy company called Sugarova. It sells gum balls shaped like tennis balls, and other sweets

She threatened to change her name to "Maria Sugarpova" to promote the candy, but ultimately decided against it

Beyond business, her good looks have allowed her to cross over to the fashion world

She's been on all sorts of magazine covers, including Shape this month

All that money allows her to do some pretty wild things — like reportedly give away a $105,000 Porsche to her new boyfriend

This is Grigor Dimitrov, Maria's new boyfriend

He's a 21-year-old Bulgarian tennis player who is racing up the world rankings (he's #28 right now)