NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 11: Ben Shelton of the United States celebrates after defeating Frances Tiafoe of the United States in their Men’s Semifinal match on Day Thirteen of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 11, 2026 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
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Ben Shelton will earn $5.5 million if he wins his first Grand Slam singles title in Sunday’s U.S. Open final against Alexander Zverev.
That’s more than the $3,569,098 he has earned on court in all of 2026. And it’s more than one third of his career earnings of $15,061,439.
The huge-serving 23-year left-hander from Atlanta earns money off the court as well from his sponsorship deals with On (which is up at the end of the year), Yonex, Rolex, Thorne and Ralph Lauren Fragrances, but he says he isn’t chasing money and sponsorships as his career evolves.
“For me, one, it’s all about timing,” Shelton, who beat fellow American Frances Tiafoe in four sets in Friday’s all-American semifinal, explained in a Boardroom interview with Rich Kleiman. “And then two, it’s doing the right thing with the right people. I’m not somebody who really chases money or chases a number of deals. I just want to be with a few select partners that I believe in the company, they believe in me, and it’s a real authentic partnership.”
“I don’t want to just go hold up some product that I don’t believe in for the money and have my whole calendar booked up with shoots throughout the whole year, and then look back and have not won any matches this year and be like, ‘What am I doing?’”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 11: Ben Shelton of the United States hugs Frances Tiafoe of the United States after their Men’s Semifinal match on Day Thirteen of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 11, 2026 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
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“For me, the tennis piece always comes first. I think everything that I want from a business perspective will come with that. Being able to be patient and bet on yourself and take your time with the business side of things is the most important.”
“Having the right people around you who tell you those things and not to just chase all the time and burn yourself out.”
“I feel like the greats who have built amazing brands for themselves over the years have always been patient and bet on themselves and waited for the right thing. That’s the mindset that we’ve adopted as well.”
Shelton is the first Black American man to each the U.S. Open final since Arthur Ashe in 1972.
On Sunday, he will play Zverev in Arthur Ashe Stadium as he attempts to become the first American man to win a major since Andy Roddick at the 2003 U.S. Open.
Win or lose, but especially if he wins, he’ll surely have more endorsement opportunities ahead.
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