Look, I've been following tennis since I was twelve, and nobody—and I mean nobody—commanded attention quite like John McEnroe.

The guy they called "Superbrat" back in the day? He's pulling down serious cash these days for talking into a microphone at Wimbledon. And honestly, after digging into his finances for this piece, I'm wondering if I chose the wrong career path entirely.

The Numbers That Made My Jaw Drop

McEnroe's official prize money sits at around £10 million ($12.5 million). Which sounds massive until you realize that's basically pocket change compared to what he's worth today. Back in 2019, I remember watching him commentate and thinking "this guy's probably making more per match than most players earn in a year."

Turns out I wasn't wrong.

His career record was absolutely bonkers: 877-198 in singles, 532-103 in doubles. During 1979 alone—and I had to double-check this because it seemed impossible—he won 10 singles titles and 16 doubles titles. That's basically winning every other month for an entire year.

BBC Pays Him WHAT for Two Weeks?

Here's where it gets interesting. The BBC's salary disclosures for 2023/24 show McEnroe earned between £195,000 and £199,999 for his Wimbledon commentary work. For two weeks of work! My friend Dave (who's an accountant) calculated that out to roughly £14,000 per day, assuming he works every day of the tournament.

"That's more than I make in six months," was Dave's exact response when I told him.

But here's the kicker—that's just his BBC money. ESPN and NBC are reportedly paying him around £7.3 million annually for his commentary work across all their tennis coverage. At this point, I'm seriously considering a career change to professional complaining about line calls.

Real Estate Empire (Because Of Course)

The prize money and commentary fees are just the beginning, though. McEnroe's been playing the real estate game since the early '90s, and he's apparently really good at it.

He owns an art gallery in Manhattan. His Malibu oceanfront property in Paradise Cove? £15.4 million. The Hamptons place he bought back in 1999 for £3.1 million is probably worth triple that now, considering how property values have exploded out there.

I spent way too much time on Zillow looking at comparable properties in that area. Big mistake. Now I'm depressed about my own housing situation.

Netflix Money Doesn't Hurt Either

Then there's his Netflix work. McEnroe narrates "Never Have I Ever"—this coming-of-age comedy about an Indian-American teenager. Weird choice for a tennis legend, but it totally works. The show ran from 2020 to 2023, and while Netflix doesn't disclose what they pay narrators, industry insiders suggest it's substantial.

Plus he's appeared in countless documentaries, TV shows, and specials over the years.

The Final Tally Will Make You Cry

So what's Johnny Mac actually worth? Current estimates put his net worth at around £73.1 million ($100 million).

Let me put that in perspective: that's roughly 8,000 times what I made last year. Not that I'm bitter or anything.

The crazy part is how he built this fortune. Sure, he was an incredible player—seven Grand Slam singles titles, nine doubles majors, and that insane 149 total titles that still stands as an Open Era record. But the real money came after he stopped playing.

Smart investments, that Manhattan art gallery, strategic real estate purchases, and leveraging his personality (which, let's be honest, is pretty unique) into a media empire. The guy turned being famously difficult into a £73 million brand.

Not bad for someone whose most famous phrase was "You cannot be serious!"

Frequently Asked Questions

How important are mental and psychological factors in tennis training for you?

Mental and psychological training is as paramount as physical training in tennis. Players must learn to manage stress, maintain focus, and handle the emotional highs and lows of competition. Techniques such as visualization, goal-setting, and mental rehearsals are common practices. Working with a sport psychologist can help players develop resilience, learn coping techniques for pressure situations and improve their mental performance to match their physical abilities on the court.

What is the daily schedule of a professional tennis player?

The daily training regime of a top-level tennis player is both rigorous, and meticulously organized. It usually involves several hours of court time, with an emphasis on tactical drills, technical drills and match situations. In addition, players participate in fitness sessions designed to increase strength, agility and endurance. This is complemented by recovery activities such as stretching or massage. Nutrition and psychological coaching play a major role in ensuring that athletes perform at their best both physically and mentally.

How can a tennis player balance school and intense training requirements?

Balance between academic obligations and intensive training schedules can be difficult for aspiring players. This requires good time management skills, prioritization and creative scheduling. Online education and flexible academic programs are a great way to accommodate the hectic training and travel schedules that young athletes have. Support from parents, coaches and educational establishments is essential to ensure that players can achieve their goals while maintaining their education.

What role does video analysis play in training top tennis players?

Video analysis can be a valuable tool to train and develop top tennis players. It allows a detailed analysis of opponent patterns, technique, and match play. Coaches and players utilize video analysis to dissect strokes, pinpoint areas for improvement, and strategize against future opponents. It helps identify tendencies and patterns which might be missed during a competition. This allows more targeted and efficient practices.

How important is diet and nutrition in the training of an elite tennis players?

Tennis players do not fall short of the requirements for a healthy diet and nutrition. Dietary intake is important for intensive training because it provides energy, facilitates recovery and reduces the risk of injury. An elite player's diet typically includes a balanced mix of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, along with essential vitamins and minerals. The importance of hydration cannot be overstated, as a healthy fluid balance is vital to maintain concentration and prevent fatigue.

Statistics

• Strength and conditioning coaches emphasize core strength, noting that an increase in core stability can improve shot accuracy by up to 43%.
• Research indicates that junior tennis players who compete in international tournaments gain significant psychological advantage and experience, with participation leading to a 50% better transition into professional rankings.
• Statistical trends indicate that top tennis players usually have at least 5 people in their support team, including coaches, fitness trainers, and physiotherapists.
• Engaging in structured video analysis sessions has been shown to improve a player's tactical decision-making by approximately 35%.
• On average, it's estimated that only 1 in 5000 high-level junior tennis players will develop into internationally ranked professionals.

External Links

topendsports.com

• Topend Sports Fitness Testing

tennisfitness.com

• Tennis Fitness

myprocoach.net

• MyProCoach is a tennis training plan that you can use.

optimumtennis.net

• Tennis Training Optimum

usta.com

• USTA Tennis Psychology

How To

How to Use Video Analysis to Improve Your Tennis Game

Video analysis is an effective tool for improving tennis. Record your matches and practice sessions from various angles so that you can capture every aspect of your game. Review the footage to identify technical flaws in your strokes or tactical errors in your gameplay. Focus on your positioning, shot choices, and movements around the court. Analyze the footage with your coach and receive objective feedback. You can analyze your technique using freeze-frames and slow-motion. Incorporating video analysis regularly into your workouts will help you monitor your performance and make improvements that are based on your data.