Celebrity Net Worth: Rafael Nadal aces his way to $500m in earnings
In our fortnightly celebrity investment and wealth round-up, Madhuri Dixit Nene invests in an Indian fashion retailer and Mila Kunis joins a funding round in a green hydrogen start-up
With a championship cheque worth €2.2m ($2.4m) at the French Open, the Spaniard’s on-court earnings stand at $130.7m. That puts him in second place, behind top on-court earner Novak Djokovic ($156.5m) and slightly ahead of Roger Federer ($130.6m).
At the age of 36, Nadal is currently serving his way to further on-court earnings of £2m ($2.4m) at Wimbledon. Should he win on the storied grass courts, he will be one title away from becoming the first player in more than 50 years to have a calendar Grand Slam — holding all four major championship titles at once — since Rod Laver in 1969.
Nadal’s overall’s net worth is estimated at $220m at present, according to calculations by wealth tracking website Celebrity Net Worth.
But the tennis champion has banked more than double his on-court earnings in income from endorsements and appearance fees. He currently has eight major sponsors, including Nike, Kia and Babolat rackets, according to Forbes. Other endorsements have included Lanvin colognes and underwear for Tommy Hilfiger and Emporio Armani.
In a typical year, Nadal earns an annual pre-tax salary of $40m, including tournament winnings, appearance fees and endorsements, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Nadal has 44.6 million followers across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter — the highest in tennis — ahead of Federer (40.1 million), Serena Williams (32.9 million) and Djokovic (29.8 million).
While an impressive comeback in his 20th season on the tour, despite a chronically injured foot, is an inspiring story in itself, Nadal trails Federer on the endorsements scoreboard.
The Swiss technical specialist leads the earnings scoreboard with total on and off-court earnings of $1.09 billion across his career. Djokovic stands at roughly $470m, according to Forbes estimates.
Nadal is also associated with several tennis academies around the world, in countries such as Greece, Kuwait, Mexico and his native Spain.
He is one of several owners of a 19th-century building in Madrid and an investor in the nightlife restaurant Tatel, according to news website Essentially Sports.
Overall, Nadal has a relatively lean residential property portfolio. Unlike Dubai regular Federer, the Spaniard is thought to own only two homes, one in Mallorca, Spain, and the other in the Dominican Republic.
Madhuri Dixit Nene has joined a $10 million series B funding round for Indian fashion retailer Purple Style Labs. AFP
Madhuri Dixit Nene
The 1990s Bollywood star Madhuri Dixit Nene has joined a $10m series B funding round for Indian fashion retailer Purple Style Labs.
The company will use the funds for global expansion, including setting up in Dubai and New York, start-up magazine Inc42 reported.
Purple Style Labs retails more than 800 brands through omnichannel, e-commerce brand Pernia’s Pop-Up Shop, including fashion labels from designers such as Rohit Bal, Tarun Tahiliani, Anita Dongre and Wendell Rodricks.
The start-up currently generates more than 75 per cent of its online sales from international markets. Its gross revenue for 2022 to 2023 is expected to be 7.5 billion Indian rupees ($95m), Inc42 reported.
However, the size of Dixit Nene’s investment is not known.
The actor has a net worth of $35m, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Her assets have accrued from her acting work in Hindi cinema and live performances. She was most recently seen in the Netflix series The Fame Game.
The actor has also endorsed several brands over the course of her career, including Maggi noodles and Aquaguard water purifiers.
Celebrity Net Worth estimates Mila Kunis’ net worth at $75 million. Her fortune stems principally from her career as an actor. EPA
Founded by chemist Lilac Amirov, the company uses solar energy to split water for the purpose of green hydrogen generation. Hydrogen is one of several renewable fuels being considered as a low-emissions alternative to hydrocarbons.
The couple participated in the funding round through their Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis Investment Fund but their outlay was not made public. They joined Kutcher’s longtime partner, talent agent Guy Oseary, and other investors in the $3m angel round.
Kunis, 38, also joined fellow actors Cameron Diaz and Gabrielle Union to invest an undisclosed amount in designer Autumn Adeigbo’s eponymous fashion brand last month, taking the label’s total funding to about $4.2m. The designer is expected to use the funds to expand her line of clothing and accessories.
“I have been a fan of Mila for so long,” the New York-born designer said, as quoted by The Hollywood Reporter.
“Words don’t describe how much I look up to her. She is such a pillar of cultural excellence, activism and entrepreneurship, let alone the impact she has made in Hollywood. I couldn’t be happier that Mila found my company in alignment with her fashion and entrepreneurial passions.”
In response, Kunis said: “I saw the fire in her eyes as the determination I recognise in successful entrepreneurs that tells me they won’t give up on the difficult start-up path. Combined with Autumn’s talent and the early market response to the brand’s product, investing was a no-brainer for me.”
Kunis has an estimated net worth at $75m, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Her fortune stems principally from her career as an actor, which began at the age of nine.
She is the voice of Meg on the long-running show The Family Guy, where she earns a reported $100,000 an episode — or $2m per year — with additional income from royalties and the sale of merchandise, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
She has also starred in several movies, including the hits Black Swan, Friends With Benefits, Ted and Disney's Oz the Great and Powerful.
In 2014, Kunis became one of several partners in production company Orchard Farm Productions. She has production and acting credits for the coming Netflix film adaptation of Luckiest Girl Alive, which is based on the 2015 Jessica Knoll novel of the same name.
Her endorsement work includes brands such as Christian Dior, Gap and Tresemme.
On her own and with Kutcher, she has invested in at least four homes in California.
The Ukrainian-born actor moved to Los Angeles with her family at the age of seven, with $250 to their name, she told Glamour magazine.
Over the years, Kutcher has built a formidable reputation as a venture capitalist. Crunchbase estimates that he has made at least 68 investments — including in companies such as Spotify, Shazam, SoundCloud, Uber and Airbnb — through his companies A-Grade Investments and Sound Ventures.
Aside from QD-SOL, he has invested in several other Israeli start-ups, including cultured meat company Mitech and mobility service Moovit.
Kylian Mbappe, 23, has a net worth estimated at $150 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. AFP
Kylian Mbappe
French football star Kylian Mbappe has joined player-owned fantasy sports game Sorare as an investor and player ambassador, the company said last week.
The game combines non-fungible tokens (NFTs) with fantasy sports. Since its launch in 2018, it now claims two million users around the world and has entered into partnerships with 250 sports organisations, including the Bundesliga, LaLiga and Major League Baseball.
Under the agreement, Sorare will support Mbappe's philanthropic venture Inspired By KM (IBKM), which aims to help disadvantaged young people benefit from opportunities presented by Web3 technology.
“Off the pitch, the most important thing for me is helping empower young people, who might not have access to the type of opportunities others have, to realise and fulfil their dreams and potential,” Mbappe said.
“And with new technologies presenting such profound opportunities, I wanted to partner with an ambitious, global tech brand that would resonate with the young people whose dreams we are supporting.
“Sorare was the perfect fit, and I was beyond inspired by Nicolas and the team’s enthusiasm for football, fans and building a better, more inclusive world. I can’t wait to get started and make a global impact with them as their first-ever player ambassador.”
Off the pitch, the most important thing for me is helping empower young people to realise and fulfill their dreams and potential
Kylian Mbappe, football player
The Fifa World Cup winner joins other athletes who are already investors and advisers to the company, including Serena Williams, Gerard Pique and Rio Ferdinand.
Mbappe, 23, has an estimated net worth of $150m, according to Celebrity Net Worth. In May, he extended his contract with Paris Saint Germain.
The three-year deal reportedly includes a signing bonus of €150m, according to Sports Illustrated subsidiary Fan Nation. His monthly take-home pay has been widely reported as €4.7m. The deal makes him the highest earner in the game.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
If you go
Flight connections to Ulaanbaatar are available through a variety of hubs, including Seoul and Beijing, with airlines including Mongolian Airlines and Korean Air. While some nationalities, such as Americans, don’t need a tourist visa for Mongolia, others, including UAE citizens, can obtain a visa on arrival, while others including UK citizens, need to obtain a visa in advance. Contact the Mongolian Embassy in the UAE for more information.
Nomadic Road offers expedition-style trips to Mongolia in January and August, and other destinations during most other months. Its nine-day August 2020 Mongolia trip will cost from $5,250 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, two nights’ hotel accommodation in Ulaanbaatar, vehicle rental, fuel, third party vehicle liability insurance, the services of a guide and support team, accommodation, food and entrance fees; nomadicroad.com
A fully guided three-day, two-night itinerary at Three Camel Lodge costs from $2,420 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, accommodation, meals and excursions including the Yol Valley and Flaming Cliffs. A return internal flight from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad costs $300 per person and the flight takes 90 minutes each way; threecamellodge.com
'Peninsula'
Stars: Gang Dong-won, Lee Jung-hyun, Lee Ra
Director: Yeon Sang-ho
Rating: 2/5
'How To Build A Boat'
Jonathan Gornall, Simon & Schuster
Key facilities
Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
Premier League-standard football pitch
400m Olympic running track
NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
600-seat auditorium
Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
Specialist robotics and science laboratories
AR and VR-enabled learning centres
Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
BOSH!'s pantry essentials
Nutritional yeast
This is Firth's pick and an ingredient he says, "gives you an instant cheesy flavour". He advises making your own cream cheese with it or simply using it to whip up a mac and cheese or wholesome lasagne. It's available in organic and specialist grocery stores across the UAE.
Seeds
"We've got a big jar of mixed seeds in our kitchen," Theasby explains. "That's what you use to make a bolognese or pie or salad: just grab a handful of seeds and sprinkle them over the top. It's a really good way to make sure you're getting your omegas."
Umami flavours
"I could say soya sauce, but I'll say all umami-makers and have them in the same batch," says Firth. He suggests having items such as Marmite, balsamic vinegar and other general, dark, umami-tasting products in your cupboard "to make your bolognese a little bit more 'umptious'".
Onions and garlic
"If you've got them, you can cook basically anything from that base," says Theasby. "These ingredients are so prevalent in every world cuisine and if you've got them in your cupboard, then you know you've got the foundation of a really nice meal."
Your grain of choice
Whether rice, quinoa, pasta or buckwheat, Firth advises always having a stock of your favourite grains in the cupboard. "That you, you have an instant meal and all you have to do is just chuck a bit of veg in."
A fraudulent investment operation where the scammer provides fake reports and generates returns for old investors through money paid by new investors, rather than through ligitimate business activities.
1 Joost Luiten produced a memorable hole in one at the par-three fourth in the first round.
2 To date, the only two players to win the PGA Championship after winning the week before are Rory McIlroy (2014 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational) and Tiger Woods (2007, WGC-Bridgestone Invitational). Hideki Matsuyama or Chris Stroud could have made it three.
3 Number of seasons without a major for McIlroy, who finished in a tie for 22nd.
4 Louis Oosthuizen has now finished second in all four of the game's major championships.
5 In the fifth hole of the final round, McIlroy holed his longest putt of the week - from 16ft 8in - for birdie.
6 For the sixth successive year, play was disrupted by bad weather with a delay of one hour and 43 minutes on Friday.
7 Seven under par (64) was the best round of the week, shot by Matsuyama and Francesco Molinari on Day 2.
8 Number of shots taken by Jason Day on the 18th hole in round three after a risky recovery shot backfired.
9 Jon Rahm's age in months the last time Phil Mickelson missed the cut in the US PGA, in 1995.
10 Jimmy Walker's opening round as defending champion was a 10-over-par 81.
11 The par-four 11th coincidentally ranked as the 11th hardest hole overall with a scoring average of 4.192.
12 Paul Casey was a combined 12 under par for his first round in this year's majors.
13 The average world ranking of the last 13 PGA winners before this week was 25. Kevin Kisner began the week ranked 25th.
14 The world ranking of Justin Thomas before his victory.
15 Of the top 15 players after 54 holes, only Oosthuizen had previously won a major.
16 The par-four 16th marks the start of Quail Hollow's so-called "Green Mile" of finishing holes, some of the toughest in golf.
17 The first round scoring average of the last 17 major champions was 67.2. Kisner and Thorbjorn Olesen shot 67 on day one at Quail Hollow.
18 For the first time in 18 majors, the eventual winner was over par after round one (Thomas shot 73).
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
