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.
Esperance de Tunis 0
Al Ain 3 (Ahmed 02’, El Shahat 17’, Al Ahbabi 60’)
About Proto21
Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group
Titan Sports Academy:
Programmes: Judo, wrestling, kick-boxing, muay thai, taekwondo and various summer camps
Location: Inside Abu Dhabi City Golf Club, Al Mushrif, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Telephone: 971 50 220 0326
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
GroupA: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Results
5pm: Al Falah – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,200m; Winner: Bshara, Richard Mullen (jockey), Salem Al Ketbi (trainer)
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: AF Musannef, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Al Dhafra – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: AF Mualami, Antonio Fresu, Abubakar Daud
6.30pm: Al Khaleej Al Arabi – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Hawafez, Adrie de Vries, Abubakar Daud
7.30pm: Al Samha – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Celestial Spheres, Patrick Cosgrave, Ismail Mohammed
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg
Rating: 4/5
What are the influencer academy modules?
Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
Cinematography, shots and movement.
All aspects of post-production.
Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
Tourism industry knowledge.
Professional ethics.
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
Key findings of Jenkins report
Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
WHAT FANS WILL LOVE ABOUT RUSSIA
FANS WILL LOVE
Uber is ridiculously cheap and, as Diego Saez discovered, mush safer. A 45-minute taxi from Pulova airport to Saint Petersburg’s Nevsky Prospect can cost as little as 500 roubles (Dh30).
FANS WILL LOATHE
Uber policy in Russia is that they can start the fare as soon as they arrive at the pick-up point — and oftentimes they start it even before arriving, or worse never arrive yet charge you anyway.
FANS WILL LOVE
It’s amazing how active Russians are on social media and your accounts will surge should you post while in the country. Throw in a few Cyrillic hashtags and watch your account numbers rocket.
FANS WILL LOATHE
With cold soups, bland dumplings and dried fish, Russian cuisine is not to everybody’s tastebuds. Fortunately, there are plenty Georgian restaurants to choose from, which are both excellent and economical.
FANS WILL LOVE
The World Cup will take place during St Petersburg's White Nights Festival, which means perpetual daylight in a city that genuinely never sleeps. (Think toddlers walking the streets with their grandmothers at 4am.)
FANS WILL LOATHE
The walk from Krestovsky Ostrov metro station to Saint Petersburg Arena on a rainy day makes you wonder why some of the $1.7 billion was not spent on a weather-protected walkway.
Pakistan require another 139 runs with 10 wickets remaining
French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019
Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO
Based: Amman, Jordan
Sector: Education Technology
Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed
Stage: early-stage startup
Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Bobby Grudziecki, chief operating officer of Frank Porter, identifies the five most popular areas in Dubai for those looking to make the most out of their properties and the rates owners can secure:
• Dubai Marina
The Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence are popular locations, says Mr Grudziecki, due to their closeness to the beach, restaurants and hotels.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh482 to Dh739
Two bedroom: Dh627 to Dh960
Three bedroom: Dh721 to Dh1,104
• Downtown
Within walking distance of the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and the famous fountains, this location combines business and leisure. “Sure it’s for tourists,” says Mr Grudziecki. “Though Downtown [still caters to business people] because it’s close to Dubai International Financial Centre."
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh497 to Dh772
Two bedroom: Dh646 to Dh1,003
Three bedroom: Dh743 to Dh1,154
• City Walk
The rising star of the Dubai property market, this area is lined with pristine sidewalks, boutiques and cafes and close to the new entertainment venue Coca Cola Arena. “Downtown and Marina are pretty much the same prices,” Mr Grudziecki says, “but City Walk is higher.”
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh524 to Dh809
Two bedroom: Dh682 to Dh1,052
Three bedroom: Dh784 to Dh1,210
• Jumeirah Lake Towers
Dubai Marina’s little brother JLT resides on the other side of Sheikh Zayed road but is still close enough to beachside outlets and attractions. The big selling point for Airbnb renters, however, is that “it’s cheaper than Dubai Marina”, Mr Grudziecki says.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh422 to Dh629
Two bedroom: Dh549 to Dh818
Three bedroom: Dh631 to Dh941
• Palm Jumeirah
Palm Jumeirah's proximity to luxury resorts is attractive, especially for big families, says Mr Grudziecki, as Airbnb renters can secure competitive rates on one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh503 to Dh770
Two bedroom: Dh654 to Dh1,002
Three bedroom: Dh752 to Dh1,152
