VENUS WILLIAMS

Won seven Grand Slam singles titles and 14 Grand Slam doubles titles (with sister Serena). Four Olympic gold medals.

Was ranked World No. 1 three times.

Career prize money of over $42 million. Campaigned successfully for equal prize money at Wimbledon — her advocacy in 2007 led to Wimbledon offering equal pay to men and women for the first time.

Founded V Starr Interiors, a commercial and residential interior design firm, in 2002. Launched EleVen by Venus Williams, an activewear brand.

Co-founded Happy Viking, a plant-based protein brand. Active venture investor — has invested in over 15 startups including Daily Harvest, Elysium Health, and Reinvest24.

Invested in Angel City FC, the NWSL team in Los Angeles. Earned her business degree from Indiana University East in 2015 while still playing professional tennis.

V Starr Interiors (founder), EleVen by Venus Williams (founder), Happy Viking (co-founder), Angel City FC (investor)

Purpose-driven diversification. Venus spreads her investments across industries she's passionate about — wellness, design, women's sports, and plant-based nutrition.

She's not chasing maximum returns. She's building a portfolio that reflects her values.

Her angel investments focus on health, wellness, and female-founded companies. She's also a genuine operator — V Starr Interiors has designed projects for hotels and residential complexes.

The equal pay campaign at Wimbledon. While not a financial investment, Venus's advocacy directly changed the economics of women's tennis — and set a precedent for equal pay in professional sports globally.

In business, V Starr Interiors has become a legitimate firm with real commercial projects, proving she's more than a famous name.

The activewear space is brutally competitive. EleVen by Venus Williams hasn't broken through to the level of Fabletics or Alo Yoga despite her brand recognition.

The plant-based market also hit headwinds — Happy Viking faces competition from established protein brands with bigger marketing budgets.

Build businesses that outlast your athletic career. Venus started her companies while still competing because she understood that sports careers end.

Her philosophy: invest in what you know (wellness, fitness, design), hire experts, and build for the long term. She's pragmatic about celebrity limitations — "my name opens doors, but the product has to keep them open."

Sister of Serena Williams. Raised in Compton, California, by Richard Williams, whose unconventional coaching methods were depicted in the film "King Richard." Never married.

Has been in relationships but keeps personal life very private.

Indiana University East (BAS in Business Administration, 2015). Completed her degree online while competing on the WTA tour — took over a decade to finish while traveling the world for tournaments.

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