Anna Leigh Waters Has the Highest Salary in Pro Pickleball
Last Edited
Oct 02 2024
Category
News
You may know 17-year-old Anna Leigh Waters as "the Young GOAT," the number one ranked player on the pro pickleball circuit.
Now, you’ll know her as the sport's biggest earner. According to her agent, she's set to rake in over $3 million this year, surpassing even her Mixed Doubles partner Ben Johns' $2.5 million salary.
If you ask her agent, Kelly Wolf, this is just the beginning.
“She’s the face of pickleball,” Wolf tells Forbes. “Nobody else out there has all these deals that she has right now.”
From Prodigy to Pro
Her pickleball journey kicked off almost by accident. Fleeing Hurricane Irma in 2017, the Waters family relocated to Pennsylvania, where Anna’s grandfather introduced her to the sport.
At 11 years old, she wasn't just playing pickleball—she was winning. When a partner bailed on her mom, Leigh Waters, in a doubles tournament, Anna stepped in.
More Than Just a Player: A Brand Magnet
This year is shaping up to be a banner one for Waters, both on and off the court. She holds the top ranking in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles worldwide, and the business side of pickleball is taking notice.
Fila, Paddletek, Carvana, Lock Laces, Shiseido, Cetaphil—the list of brands she's partnered with reads like a shopping cart full of top-tier products.
Wolf confirms that these deals, along with Waters’ tournament earnings, will comfortably push her past the $3 million mark this year.
Fast Facts About Anna Leigh Waters
- Waters is the highest-paid pickleball player in 2024, with projected earnings over $3 million.
- Fila, Paddletek, Carvana, and more—Waters has signed deals with major brands that elevate her profile and income.
- The 17-year-old started playing at 11, filling in for her mom in a Dallas pro doubles tournament—and she’s dominated ever since.
- Waters holds the top ranking in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles globally, making her the face of the PPA and MLP tours.
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