Anna Leigh Waters is, by every available measure, the highest-earning player in professional pickleball. The 19-year-old world No. 1 reportedly grosses an estimated $6.6 million a year from league contracts, tournament prize money, and a growing portfolio of brand deals — including landmark partnerships with Franklin Sports and Nike. She turned pro at 12 and has not looked back since, raising the question: is Anna Leigh Waters the richest pickleball star of them all?
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Anna Leigh Waters is estimated to gross $6.6 million in 2026, with a take-home of roughly $4 million after taxes, fees, and expenses.
- She earns $2 million annually from the United Pickleball Association (UPA), according to CNBC.
- In January 2026, she signed with Franklin Sports (paddle deal) and Nike (apparel and footwear) — two landmark deals for professional pickleball.
- Her net worth is estimated between $3 million and $5 million across multiple sources, though that figure predates her biggest 2026 contracts.
- As of October 2026, she leads all-time professional pickleball prize money with $7,619,195 across 156 events.
Profile summary
Full name | Anna Leigh Waters |
Date of birth | 26 January 2007 |
Age | 19 |
Birthplace | Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA |
Nationality | American |
Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) |
Turned professional | 2019 (age 12) |
Plays | Right-handed |
Residence | Boynton Beach, Florida |
Mother / coach | Leigh Waters |
Father | Stephen Waters (former collegiate golfer) |
Rankings | No. 1 in singles, doubles & mixed doubles (PPA Tour) |
Estimated net worth | $3 million–$5 million (2025–26 estimates) |
Representation | Vayner Sports |
How much does Anna Leigh Waters make a year?
Anna Leigh grosses an estimated $6.6 million in 2026 and takes home roughly $4 million after taxes, agent fees, travel, and staff. That figure makes her one of the highest-earning female athletes in any racquet sport.
She currently makes $2 million annually from the United Pickleball Association, according to a person familiar with Waters' earnings, who asked to remain anonymous to speak about nonpublic matters.
Each year she spends roughly $250,000 on travel, $100,000 on coaches and physios, and $75,000 on legal and accounting. She also pays Vayner Sports an estimated $330,000 a year in agent fees.
Her agent, Kelly Wolf, confirmed her trajectory early. Via Forbes, Wolf stated on the record that Waters' earnings in 2024 were set to touch the $3 million mark.
Prize money: leading the sport's all-time list
Tournament winnings alone tell a remarkable story. As of 3 October 2026, Anna Leigh Waters leads all-time professional pickleball prize money with $7,619,195 earned across 156 events on the MLP, PPA, and USAP tours.
As of September 2026, she had won 196 PPA National Championship medals and 39 triple crowns, and was ranked No. 1 in the world for doubles, mixed doubles, and singles by the Professional Pickleball Association.
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The Franklin Sports deal
After spending seven years with Paddletek — a partnership that ended in late 2025 — she signed a long-term deal with Franklin Sports on 8 January 2026. The agreement is widely viewed as the largest contract in pickleball history.
As part of the Franklin contract — which is believed to be in the millions — Waters will assist in the design of a signature line of paddles, bags, and accessories. Adam said:
"We couldn't be more excited to welcome the undisputed number one pickleball player in the world to the Franklin Sports family,"
The Nike deal: a landmark for the sport
Anna Leigh Waters announced a landmark apparel sponsorship with Nike on 13 January 2026, making the then 18-year-old the first pickleball athlete to sign with the global clothing giant.
While financial terms remain undisclosed, the deal came as pickleball participation in the US surged 311 per cent over three years to 19.8 million players in 2024, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association.
The Nike deal, which covers apparel and shoes, is believed to be smaller from a monetary standpoint, but will undoubtedly make waves in the pickleball industry, as it signals significant interest in the sport from one of the largest brands in the world. She said:
"Growing up, I watched my idols wear the Swoosh in their biggest moments, so joining the Nike family is a dream realized... "Nike is the gold standard in performance and I can't wait to step onto the court representing a brand that believes in the same relentless pursuit of greatness that drives me every day."
Other brand partners
Beyond Franklin and Nike, Waters also holds deals with major brands including Delta Air Lines, DoorDash, and Ulta Beauty. Her broader sponsorship portfolio has included Lock Laces, Biofreeze, Carvana, Dynasty Financial, Shiseido, and Cetaphil — spanning mainstream lifestyle and sports categories that would have been unthinkable for a pickleball player just a few years ago.
Her income streams at a glance:
- UPA league salary ($2 million annually, per CNBC)
- Franklin Sports paddle deal (reported to be in the millions)
- Nike multi-year apparel and footwear partnership
- Tournament prize money ($7.6 million career total)
- Delta Air Lines, DoorDash, Ulta Beauty, and other brand deals
- Appearance fees and exhibition events
Who is Anna Leigh Waters' father, and what does he do?
Both of Anna Leigh's parents were collegiate athletes at the University of South Carolina — her mother played tennis and her father played golf. Her father, Stephen Waters, is a former college golfer who has been a hugely supportive presence throughout her career. The family resides in Delray Beach, Florida, and their collective support has been a cornerstone of Anna Leigh's achievements.
According to Leigh, Stephen "will literally do anything for Anna Leigh." "Anna Leigh and I really have a special bond. We're alike in a lot of ways," said Mr Waters. "On the road I have to do everything for her sometimes, but that's what I'm here for."
It was, in fact, Stephen who first introduced the family to the sport. When the Waters family evacuated North Carolina during Hurricane Irma in 2017, Anna Leigh began playing pickleball at her grandparents' home in Pennsylvania. She told The Sampson Independent, "My father really was the one to show us how to play."
Who makes more money — Anna Leigh Waters or Ben Johns?
This is the defining financial rivalry in pickleball. The answer, at least in 2026, appears to be Waters.
Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns earn comparable totals to the average major sports player — but Anna Leigh Waters takes home $4 million a year, placing her ahead in take-home earnings.
Most estimates place Ben Johns' net worth between roughly $3 million and $6 million as of 2026. Johns' total annual earnings in 2025 were approximately $2.5 million — disclosed directly to CNBC — comprising his UPA contract, appearance fees, tournament prize money, and sponsorship endorsements.
Waters' gross income of $6.6 million outpaces those figures significantly, driven by what is reported to be the sport's single largest paddle deal. Her Franklin paddle deal is the largest single line item in her annual earnings. Water's agent Kelly Wold told Forbes:
"She will earn more than $3 million this year"
And that was in 2024, before her biggest 2026 deals were even announced.
Anna Leigh Waters' net worth is estimated at around $3 million as of 2026. Earlier estimates were lower, but her record-breaking earnings in 2024 and her multi-year Franklin Sports deal significantly increased her valuation.
As of August 2026, her estimated net worth is approximately $3 million, built through tournament winnings, league salaries, sponsorships, and long-term brand partnerships. That figure predates her January 2026 Nike signing, so her actual current net worth is likely higher.
Factoring in the 2026 Franklin and Nike deals, plus her UPA league pay and a take-home of close to $4 million per year, her net worth is on track to clear $10 million within the next two years.
Latest news
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Anna Leigh Waters has had a remarkable 2026. In January, she turned 19, signed with Vayner Sports for representation, and became the first pickleball pro to land a multi-year sponsorship deal with Nike.
She has competed in more than 109 professional tournaments and played 991 career matches, posting an impressive 94.3% career win rate.
Waters also attended the 15th Annual NFL Honors in San Francisco in February 2026, signalling her crossover status beyond the pickleball world. She currently has 186,000 Instagram followers and has secured brand deals with Delta Air Lines, DoorDash, and Ulta Beauty.
FAQs
- How much does Anna Leigh Waters make a year? She is estimated to gross around $6.6 million in 2026, taking home roughly $4 million after taxes, agent fees, and expenses — with $2 million of that coming from her UPA league contract alone.
- What is Anna Leigh Waters' net worth? Estimates across multiple sources place her net worth between $3 million and $5 million as of 2025–26, with projections suggesting it could exceed $10 million within two years given her current earnings trajectory.
- What is Anna Leigh Waters' Nike deal worth? The exact financial terms of her multi-year Nike apparel and footwear deal have not been publicly disclosed, though it is reported to be smaller than her Franklin Sports paddle deal, which is believed to be worth millions.
- How much is Franklin paying Anna Leigh Waters? The exact figures remain undisclosed, but the deal is widely described as the largest contract in professional pickleball history, with industry observers estimating it could be worth around $10 million.
- Who makes more money — Anna Leigh Waters or Ben Johns? Based on available estimates, Waters outearns Johns in 2026. She grosses an estimated $6.6 million annually versus Johns' reported $2.5 million in 2025.
- What is Anna Leigh Waters' father's occupation? Stephen Waters is a former collegiate golfer who played at the University of South Carolina. He now serves as a hands-on supporter of Anna Leigh's career, travelling with her on the professional circuit.
- When did Anna Leigh Waters turn professional? She turned pro in 2019 at age 12, becoming the youngest professional pickleball player in history.
- Is Anna Leigh Waters the highest-paid pickleball player? Yes — as of October 2026, she leads the all-time professional pickleball prize money list with over $7.6 million in career earnings and is the sport's highest-grossing active player.
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