Millionaire Gen Z tennis star Elena Rybakina turned down 15 colleges to keep playing tennis—against her dad’s wishes. Now she’s no. 1 in the world

Elena Rybakina, a tennis star from Moscow, has become the world's top-ranked female player after winning the U.S. Open in 2025. However, her journey to this title began when she was just 15 years old, faced with a major decision: attend college or focus on her tennis career. Despite her father's concerns about her safety and the financial implications, Rybakina chose to stay committed to tennis, turning down 15 college offers from across the United States.

This choice paid off handsomely, as she went on to become a three-time Grand Slam champion, securing 14 singles titles in 10 countries. After switching from Russia to Kazakhstan and changing her citizenship, Rybakina made significant progress in her career, culminating in her first major title at Wimbledon in 2022. Her success continued with her first Australian Open title in 2023, and in 2025, she clinched the WTA Finals title, earning a record-breaking $5.235 million.

With her latest U.S. Open victory, Rybakina has now earned a total of $11.4 million on the court and $6 million off-court, making her the 10th highest-paid tennis player globally.