Roger Federer has been sponsored by Rolex since 2006 and has a massive Rolex collection, but how much do they pay him?
Swiss tennis star Roger Federer scored his Rolex sponsorship in 2006 for an alleged $15 million over ten years. This deal came to a close in 2016 but was renewed, offering Federer a massive $8 million per year.
Read on to learn more about Rolex and their lucrative partnership with Roger Federer.
Time is Money
No business deal has ever made better sense than the one between Roger Federer and Rolex watches. In his own words, Federer was “the first Swiss to be World Number One”.
When he burst onto the professional tennis circuit, it was only a matter of time before he was scooped up by Rolex. The Swiss watchmaker with their illustrious history made a fantastic pairing with the suave and charming tennis marvel.
Federer has allegedly had a long and fruitful relationship with Rolex, especially considering it’s his favorite brand of a timepiece. In an article on Rolex’s website, he explains that he was wearing a Rolex when he broke the all-time Grand Slam record in 2009.
It made for a fantastic promotional opportunity. The number one tennis player in the world, a record-breaker, lifting the trophy with a Rolex adorning his wrist.
The watch he was wearing at the time was a Yacht-Master II, created with a white-gold design. This twenty-thousand dollar watch was instantly recognizable, offering an instant boost to Rolex’s profile.
An article published in GQ discusses the luxurious Rolex watches Federer has worn to lift trophies. He doesn’t play wearing the watches of course – he puts them on specifically for the photo opportunity.
That’s probably why Rolex has no issues paying such exorbitant sponsorship fees. His first ten-year deal scored him a tidy $1.5 million every year.
They scored his initial cooperation way back in 2006, for a reported $15 million. It’s likely the partnership has paid off in dividends, considering the strong and loyal following Federer boasts.
However, the closure of this ten-year contract in 2016 brought around a renewal. In 2017, a new agreement was signed, this time with no real end date in sight.
This time, Federer was set to earn $8 million every single year from his Rolex partnership.
Partnerships Paying Off
Roger Federer might be a huge fan and lifelong ambassador of Rolex, but it isn’t his only partnership.
In fact, the vast majority of his income is amassed from the many sponsorship deals he’s a part of. These include the likes of Lindt, Uniqlo, Mercedes-Benz, and Moet & Chandon.
The biggest of the collection is his sponsorship with the Japanese clothing line, Uniqlo. In 2018 Federer signed an incredible three hundred million dollar deal to promote their clothing.
He’s enjoyed a lucrative and visual partnership with German motoring manufacturer Mercedes since 2008. He signed a deal worth a massive $5 million every year, which was extended time and again as the years wore on.
Other Swiss brands have also shown interest in Federer, with Lindt signing an endorsement deal in 2009. The Swiss chocolatier was all too happy to have Federer bolster their PR ranks.
In 2019, Roger Federer made more than one hundred million dollars, most of which came from endorsements and sponsorships. At his peak, he was reportedly the highest-paid athlete in the world.
Easy Endorsements
Federer is by no means alone in the sponsorship stakes. There are countless partnerships in the sporting world between athletes and popular brands.
One of the most valuable deals in history was between Adidas and NBA player Derrick Rose. In 2011 he was lucky enough to sign a ten year deal with Adidas worth a staggering $260 million.
However, the top of the pile is reserved solely for Lebron James and his Nike deal. In 2003, he was being fought over by top brands for exclusive endorsement deals.
In the end, he settled with Nike, who offered him a lifetime partnership for a mind-blowing one billion dollars. There hasn’t ever been a bigger endorsement deal in history.
It’s easy money, particularly for talented athletes. There’s almost a God-given fact that athletes with a large following will increase the sales of the product they endorse.
This certainly includes Roger Federer and his passion for advertising Rolex watches.