Serena Williams’ career comes with a “big cost” to her personal life. This revelation comes as the sports icon continues to juggle her business ventures and family responsibilities after retiring from professional tennis.
The 43-year-old has been on top of the world — claiming 23 grand slam titles and becoming the world’s No. 1 women’s singles player — with her tennis career, as well as becoming a successful businesswoman with her WYN Beauty make-up range. Her remarkable career spans more than two decades, during which she revolutionized women’s tennis with her powerful playing style and distinctive personality.
However behind closed doors, the superstar, who has two daughters, Alexis, 7, and Adira, 18 months, with her husband Alexis Ohanian, has been battling the pros and cons of how her professional-making decisions could impact her family and relationships her “whole life.” Williams and tech entrepreneur Ohanian have been married since 2017, with their relationship often celebrated for balancing two high-powered careers.
“Yeah, it definitely costs a lot,” Williams, who lives in Florida, told PEOPLE at her WYN Beauty x Shopify pop-up event in Los Angeles on April 11. The beauty brand, launched recently, represents Williams’ expansion into the competitive beauty industry.
“I’m here [in California] without my kids, and that’s a big cost for me because I spend a lot of time with my children, and they’re very attached to me, which a part of me loves,” she said. “So, it’s always some cost.”
Williams has frequently spoken about the challenges of motherhood while maintaining her various business interests and philanthropic work.
The four-time Olympic gold medalist has said the decisions she has made in her career have been “very expensive” and has had to take a lot of time to figure out if they are “worth it” in the long haul. Her Olympic medals showcase her remarkable longevity at the highest level of sport.
“My whole life I’ve had to kind of weigh, like, ‘If I wanna win a championship, well what is that going to cost me?'” she added. Throughout her career, Williams has won numerous WTA singles titles, establishing herself as one of the greatest players of all time.
“It’s going to cost me time with my family, it’s going to cost me friends, it’s going to cost me relationships. And they’re very expensive. You have to decide if it’s worth it for you.” This balance has become increasingly important to Williams as she transitions from full-time athlete to entrepreneur and mother.
Williams has previously admitted she never really cared about the money side of being a tennis star; she just wanted to win. Her career prize money makes her one of the highest-earning female athletes in history.
“I never really spent a lot of money,” Williams explained, after being asked about getting her first $1 million paycheck during a 2024 episode of “Hot Ones.” The popular YouTube show features celebrities answering questions while eating increasingly spicy chicken wings.
“I went through the drive-thru … and the guy was like, ‘Uh, I think you need to come inside for this,’ and I was like, ‘Oh, OK.'” This anecdote highlights Williams‘ grounded approach despite her enormous success and wealth.
“I never played for money. I played ’cause I loved the sport … I don’t even know if I wanted to play to be the best, I wanted to win.” This competitive drive helped Williams stay at the top of women’s tennis for many years, including extended periods as world No. 1.
“So my tax guy, he would be like, ‘You didn’t get your money?’ and I’d be like, ‘Oh, I didn’t get that one in Zurich’, ‘Oh, I forget that one in Moscow’… I was just playing to win, and if I didn’t win, I wasn’t thinking – I was just so angry that I wanted to find a way to get better and win the next time.” Williams competed in hundreds of professional matches during her illustrious career, maintaining an impressive winning record.
Her candid reflections on the sacrifices required for success resonate with many high-achieving professionals balancing career ambitions with personal life. Williams continues to inspire not only through her athletic achievements but through her honest discussions about the realities of pursuing excellence while maintaining meaningful family connections.
