Boardroom breaks down the cash prizes in store for the US Open, including the champions taking home a record $5 million.
For two electrifying weeks in the summer, tennis takes center stage in the Big Apple at the US Open, where world-class athletes showcase their prowess in front of millions. The Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows plays host to both daytime showdowns and late-night thrillers, making the decision of which session to attend almost as difficult as whether a honey deuce is worth the $23 splurge (answer: attend both and yes). It’s more than a tournament — the year’s final Grand Slam is a cultural event that captures the rhythm, resilience, and sheer excitement of NYC.
Beyond the grandiose magnetism, the US Open also stands out as the most lucrative tournament in professional tennis, offering the largest prize pool of all four Grand Slam events. This financial prestige is a testament to its commercial success and is driven by record-breaking attendance, global viewership, and a robust partnership program ecosystem. It also underscores its importance in the tennis calendar. For players, it’s a chance to compete for historic titles and career-defining earnings late in the season; for fans, it’s another precedent to how far the sport has come.
The USTA confirmed it will distribute $90 million to players, a significant 20% jump from the $75 million it offered in 2024. It also puts the US Open far ahead of the other three Grand Slams, as Wimbledon dished out around $71 million, Roland-Garros $65.5 million, and the Australian Open about $63 million this season.
Should Jannik Sinner and Boardroom’s August Cover Story star Aryna Sabalenka repeat as year men’s and women’s singles champions, respectively, they will each make $5 million, up from the $3.6 million they pocketed last year. For several lower-ranked singles players, simply qualifying for the main draw and losing in the first round results in a $110,000 consolation prize.
The doubles champions are incentivized to perform at their best as well, with the package increasing 23% to $4.78 million from $3.89 million in 2024. For a successful run to a title, the winning teams from the men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles tournaments will earn $1 million in prize money.
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Like other tennis tournaments, the US Open makes roughly 85% of its revenue from sponsorships, broadcasting rights, tickets, concessions, and merchandise. The 2024 US Open generated $559.7 million in operating revenue. Some of the competition’s biggest sponsors include Rolex, American Express, Chase, and Ralph Lauren. However, other significant partners include Evian, IBM, Wilson, and Emirates.
The US Open’s prestige extends far beyond the courts of Flushing Meadows. Its hefty prize package has helped elevate tennis into a truly global spectacle, setting new standards for how the sport is experienced, marketed, and celebrated. New York views the competition as a tourism draw, a media hotspot, and a source of economic vitality — all reasons why folks travel near and far for a spot inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
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