Venus Williams (Tennis) – Bio, Age, Height, Husband, Career, Net Worth, Grand Slam Titles, Andrea Preti & Facts
Venus Williams is one of the greatest tennis players of all time — a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, four-time Olympic gold medalist, and a pioneering force who helped reshape women’s tennis with her power, athleticism, and unshakable competitive spirit. At 46 years old in 2026, she continues to defy expectations on the court while building an empire off it. From her legendary rivalry with sister Serena Williams to her recent marriage to Italian actor Andrea Preti, Venus remains one of the most fascinating and influential figures in sports history.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Venus Ebony Starr Williams |
| Nick Name | V, Venus |
| Profession | Professional Tennis Player, Entrepreneur, Fashion Designer |
| Birth Date | June 17, 1980 |
| Age | 46 years 2 months old |
| Birth Place | Lynwood, California, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Known For | 7x Grand Slam singles champion, former world No. 1, equal pay advocate |
| Ethnicity | African American |
| Zodiac Sign | Gemini |
| Height | 6 feet 1 inch (185 cm) |
| Weight | 165 lbs (75 kg) |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Qualification | B.S. in Business Administration, Indiana University East (2015); Associate Degree in Fashion Design, Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale (2007) |
| Religion | Jehovah’s Witness |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse | Andrea Preti (m. September 18, 2025) |
| Parents | Richard Williams (father), Oracene Price (mother) |
| Siblings | Serena Williams, Yetunde Price (deceased), Lyndrea Price, Isha Price, Richard Williams III, Ronner Williams |
| Hobbies | Fashion design, interior design, golf, business ventures, dancing |
| Current Work | WTA Tour player, Met Gala 2026 co-chair, entrepreneur |
| Years Active | 1994–present |
| Net Worth (2026) | Estimated $95–$100 million |
| Coach | Diego Ayala (2025–present) |
| Current WTA Ranking | No. 479 (April 2026) |
| Prize Money | $42,874,504 (4th all-time in WTA history) |
Related Tennis Legends: Fans of Venus Williams also follow Serena Williams, Coco Gauff, Iga Świątek, Aryna Sabalenka, Naomi Osaka, and Carlos Alcaraz.
Early Life & Education
Venus Ebony Starr Williams was born on June 17, 1980, in Lynwood, California, to Richard Williams and Oracene Price. She grew up in Compton, California, alongside her younger sister Serena and four half-sisters — Yetunde, Lyndrea, Isha, and another from her father’s previous relationship. Tragically, her older sister Yetunde Price was killed in a drive-by shooting in 2003.
Richard Williams, Venus’s father, famously taught himself tennis from books and videos and began coaching Venus and Serena on public courts in Compton when Venus was just four years old. His unorthodox methods and fierce belief in his daughters’ potential became the foundation of their legendary careers.
The family moved to West Palm Beach, Florida, when Venus was ten so she and Serena could attend Rick Macci’s tennis academy. Venus turned professional in October 1994 at age 14, making her WTA debut at the Bank of the West Classic in Oakland.
Despite her intense tennis schedule, Venus prioritized education. She earned an Associate Degree in Fashion Design from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale in 2007, and later completed her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Indiana University East in 2015 through a joint program with the WTA.
Career Journey
The Rise of a Champion (1994–2002)
Venus burst onto the professional scene with a game unlike anything women’s tennis had seen before. Standing at 6’1″ with a powerful serve that regularly clocked over 120 mph, she brought unprecedented athleticism and aggression to the sport.
Her breakthrough came at the 1997 US Open, where as a 17-year-old unseeded player, she reached the final — becoming the first woman since 1978 to reach a Grand Slam final on her debut. Though she lost to Martina Hingis, the tennis world knew a star had arrived.
The 2000 and 2001 seasons were Venus at her absolute peak. She won Wimbledon and the US Open in both years, claiming four of the five Grand Slam singles titles contested across those two seasons. She also captured the 2000 Sydney Olympics singles gold medal and the doubles gold with Serena, beginning one of the most dominant partnerships in tennis history.
On February 25, 2002, Venus became the first African American woman to be ranked world No. 1 in the Open Era. She held the top spot for a total of 11 weeks.
Continued Success and Health Battles (2003–2017)
Venus added a fifth Wimbledon title in 2005, a sixth in 2007, and a seventh in 2008 — her last Grand Slam singles triumph to date. She also won the 2008 WTA Tour Finals and continued to compete at the highest level well into her 30s.
However, her career was increasingly interrupted by health issues. In 2011, she was diagnosed with Sjögren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disease that causes debilitating fatigue, joint pain, and dryness. She withdrew from the 2011 US Open and saw her ranking plummet outside the top 100 for the first time since 1996.
Venus adapted her diet to veganism to manage her symptoms and staged remarkable comebacks. In 2017, at age 37, she reached two Grand Slam finals (Australian Open and Wimbledon) and returned to the top 5 — becoming the oldest player to rank in the top 10 in WTA history at that time.
Injuries, Return, and Marriage (2018–2026)
The years following 2017 were marked by injuries and health setbacks. In 2023, she suffered a painful knee injury at Wimbledon and later tore her hamstring, forcing her to withdraw from the US Open.
In 2024, after a 16-month absence, Venus underwent surgery for uterine fibroids (a myomectomy) that had caused excessive bleeding, anemia, and nausea for years. The procedure was life-changing. She returned to competition in July 2025, defeating Peyton Stearns at the D.C. Open to become the second-oldest woman to win a WTA singles match in the Open Era.
In 2026, Venus has continued to compete using wildcard entries at tournaments including the Auckland Open, Hobart International, Australian Open, and Madrid Open. Though she has struggled to advance past early rounds — including a historic 10-match singles losing streak that made her the first former world No. 1 to lose 10 successive matches since rankings began — she remains determined to compete.
She also reached the doubles quarterfinals at the 2025 US Open with Leylah Fernandez, her first Grand Slam doubles quarterfinal since 2017.
Career Stats at a Glance
| Category | Statistic |
|---|---|
| Career Singles Record | 819–281 (74.5%) |
| Career Singles Titles | 49 |
| Grand Slam Singles Titles | 7 (5 Wimbledon, 2 US Open) |
| Grand Slam Doubles Titles | 14 (all with Serena Williams) |
| Mixed Doubles Titles | 2 |
| Olympic Gold Medals | 4 (1 singles, 3 doubles) |
| Highest Singles Ranking | No. 1 (February 25, 2002) |
| Total Weeks at No. 1 | 11 weeks |
| Career Prize Money | $42,874,504 (4th all-time) |
Personal Life
Marriage to Andrea Preti
In September 2025, Venus Williams married Andrea Preti, a Danish-born Italian actor and former model, in a romantic ceremony on the island of Ischia, Italy. The couple held a second courthouse ceremony in Palm Beach, Florida on December 19, 2025.
The two met at the Gucci show during Milan Fashion Week in 2024. Preti, born June 6, 1988, in Copenhagen and raised in Italy, is an actor who studied at the Susan Batson Academy in New York. His credits include One More Day, A Professor, and Temptation.
Venus revealed that Preti encouraged her to continue playing tennis during her comeback. “There were so many times where I just wanted to coast and kind of chill. Do you know how hard it is to play tennis? He encouraged me to get through this, and it’s wonderful to be here.”
They got engaged on January 31, 2025.
In May 2026, Venus served as a co-chair of the Met Gala alongside Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, and Anna Wintour.
Family
Venus remains extremely close to her family, particularly her sister Serena Williams, who retired from professional tennis in 2022. The Williams sisters made history together as the most successful doubles pair in Grand Slam history. Venus also maintains strong bonds with her half-sisters Lyndrea and Isha Price.
Her father, Richard Williams, and mother, Oracene Price, were instrumental in shaping her career. Richard’s coaching methods, though controversial, produced two of the greatest tennis players ever.
Hobbies and Interests
Beyond tennis, Venus is passionate about fashion and interior design. She founded her own activewear brand EleVen and interior design firm V Starr Interiors. She enjoys golf — she is an investor in the LA Golf Club — and has taken up dance classes in recent years.
Controversies
Venus Williams has largely maintained a clean public image throughout her career, but she has faced a few notable controversies:
- 2017 Car Accident: Venus was involved in a fatal car crash in Florida that resulted in the death of a 78-year-old man. She was initially found at fault, though no criminal charges were filed. The case was eventually settled out of court.
- Equal Pay Advocacy: While not a controversy in the negative sense, Venus’s vocal campaign for equal prize money at Wimbledon drew criticism from some traditionalists in the tennis world. Her 2006 essay in The Times of London and persistent lobbying ultimately led to Wimbledon awarding equal pay in 2007 — a historic victory for women’s sports.
- Father’s Coaching Methods: Richard Williams’s unconventional and sometimes controversial coaching techniques — including keeping his daughters out of junior tournaments — drew criticism from tennis establishment figures. However, the results speak for themselves.
- 2026 Losing Streak Scrutiny: In April 2026, Venus made unwanted history by becoming the first former world No. 1 to lose 10 consecutive singles matches since the WTA rankings were introduced in 1975. While not a scandal, it sparked debate about whether she should retire.
Awards & Achievements
| Year | Award/Achievement |
|---|---|
| 1997 | First Grand Slam final (US Open) |
| 2000 | Wimbledon champion, US Open champion, Olympic singles & doubles gold |
| 2001 | Wimbledon champion, US Open champion |
| 2002 | First African American woman ranked world No. 1 |
| 2005 | Wimbledon champion |
| 2007 | Wimbledon champion |
| 2008 | Wimbledon champion, WTA Tour Finals champion |
| 2017 | Oldest player to reach Grand Slam final in Open Era (Australian Open, age 36) |
| 2021 | Inducted into the Women’s Sports Foundation Hall of Fame |
| 2025 | Second-oldest WTA singles match winner (D.C. Open, age 45) |
| 2026 | Met Gala co-chair |
Olympic Medals:
- Gold: Sydney 2000 (Singles), Sydney 2000 (Doubles), Beijing 2008 (Doubles), London 2012 (Doubles)
- Silver: Rio 2016 (Mixed Doubles)
Physical Statistics
| Attribute | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Height | 6 feet 1 inch (185 cm) |
| Weight | 165 lbs (75 kg) |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Build | Athletic, muscular |
| Shoe Size | Not publicly disclosed |
| Distinctive Features | Powerful serve, long limbs, athletic frame, signature beaded hairstyles (early career) |
Quotes
“I’m not here to prove anything to anyone; if I’ve returned, it’s solely for myself, so I have nothing to prove.”
— On her 2025 comeback at age 45
“There were so many times where I just wanted to coast and kind of chill. Do you know how hard it is to play tennis?… He encouraged me to get through this.”
— On her husband Andrea Preti’s support during her comeback
“I don’t focus on what I’m up against. I focus on my goals and I try to ignore the rest.”
— On her competitive mindset
Favorites
- Favorite Tennis Surface: Grass (Wimbledon is her most successful Grand Slam)
- Favorite Fashion Designers: Gucci, her own brand EleVen
- Favorite Food: Vegan/plant-based cuisine (she follows a vegan diet to manage Sjögren’s syndrome)
- Favorite Hobbies: Interior design, fashion sketching, golf, dancing
- Favorite Vacation Spot: Italy (where she married)
- Favorite Music: Not publicly specified
- Role Model: Her father, Richard Williams
Earnings
Venus Williams’s estimated net worth in 2026 is between $95 million and $100 million. Her income sources include:
- Tennis Prize Money: $42,874,504 in career earnings (4th all-time among women)
- Endorsements: Past deals with Reebok ($40 million, 2000), Wilson, Ralph Lauren, Kraft, Lacoste (global ambassador since 2022), and more
- EleVen by Venus Williams: Her activewear brand founded in 2006
- V Starr Interiors: Interior design firm founded in 2002
- Happy Viking: Plant-based superfood nutrition company founded in 2020
- Asutra: Health and wellness brand (part owner & Chief Brand Officer)
- Miami Dolphins: Minority investor alongside Serena (first Black women to invest in an NFL franchise)
- LA Golf Club: Investor in Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s TMRW Golf League
- Topspin Consumer Partners: Operating partner at private equity firm
At her peak, Venus earned between $5–$10 million annually from endorsements alone.
Interesting Facts
- Venus and Serena became the first African American women to own a stake in an NFL franchise when they invested in the Miami Dolphins in 2009.
- She turned down a $3 million Nike deal early in her career, as depicted in the movie King Richard. She later signed a $40 million deal with Reebok in 2000.
- Venus’s serve was once clocked at 129 mph — one of the fastest ever recorded in women’s tennis.
- She has been living with Sjögren’s syndrome for over a decade and manages it through a vegan diet and medication.
- She designed her sister Serena’s South Florida home through V Starr Interiors, which was featured in Architectural Digest.
- Venus and her coach Diego Ayala began working together in June 2025. Ayala, 46, previously trained Jelena Janković and Robby Ginepri.
- At the 2026 Madrid Open, Venus and Tatjana Maria set a WTA record for the highest combined age of a match at 84 years.
Did You Know?
- Venus has won 14 Grand Slam women’s doubles titles — all with her sister Serena. They have never lost a Grand Slam doubles final.
- She is the most decorated female tennis player in Olympic history with four gold medals.
- Venus spent three hours a day on the court training with Diego Ayala during her 2025 comeback.
- She speaks Italian very well, which helped her connect with her husband Andrea Preti.
- Venus’s father, Richard, wrote a 78-page plan before she and Serena were even born, detailing how he would raise them to become tennis champions.
- She was the first woman to earn equal prize money at Wimbledon in 2007, following her years of advocacy.
Social Media Links
- Instagram: @venuswilliams
- Twitter/X: @Venuseswilliams
- Facebook: Venus Williams
- YouTube: Venus Williams
- Website: EleVen by Venus Williams
- Wikipedia: Venus Williams
- IMDb: Venus Williams
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Venus Williams?
Venus Williams was born on June 17, 1980, making her 46 years 2 months old years old as of 2026.
Who is Venus Williams married to?
Venus married Andrea Preti, a Danish-born Italian actor and former model, on September 18, 2025, in Ischia, Italy. They held a second ceremony in Palm Beach, Florida, on December 19, 2025.
How many Grand Slam titles has Venus Williams won?
Venus has won 7 Grand Slam singles titles (5 Wimbledon, 2 US Open), 14 Grand Slam women’s doubles titles (all with Serena), and 2 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles — for a total of 23 Grand Slam titles.
What is Venus Williams’s net worth?
As of 2026, Venus Williams’s estimated net worth is between $95 million and $100 million.
What illness does Venus Williams have?
Venus was diagnosed with Sjögren’s syndrome in 2011, an autoimmune disease that causes fatigue, joint pain, and dryness. She also underwent surgery in 2024 to remove uterine fibroids that had caused years of pain and anemia.
Is Venus Williams still playing tennis in 2026?
Yes. Though she has struggled with early-round losses and a 10-match singles losing streak, Venus continues to compete on the WTA Tour using wildcard entries. She is currently ranked No. 479 and is coached by Diego Ayala.
How tall is Venus Williams?
Venus Williams is 6 feet 1 inch (185 cm) tall.
Conclusion
Venus Williams is far more than a tennis legend — she is a symbol of perseverance, a champion for equality, and a successful entrepreneur who has built a lasting legacy both on and off the court. From her seven Grand Slam singles titles and four Olympic gold medals to her groundbreaking advocacy for equal pay and her thriving business empire, Venus has consistently defied expectations for over three decades.
In 2026, at age 46, she continues to compete against players half her age while embracing a new chapter as a married woman and Met Gala co-chair. Whether she chooses to retire tomorrow or keeps swinging for another year, Venus Williams has already secured her place as one of the most influential athletes in history.
If you enjoyed this in-depth look at Venus Williams’s life and career, share this article with fellow tennis fans and keep following her incredible journey. The queen of the court isn’t done yet.
