Top 10 Richest Pickleball Players

Pickleball has long been considered a game to be played by retirees; however, more young athletes are beginning to play pickleball and have turned it into one of the fastest-growing sports in the US. As the sport grows, athletes who play professionally are able to make a living from the sport through a combination of tournament prize money, sponsorships, coaching, and other pickleball-related business ventures. Keep reading to learn about the highest-earning pickleball players.

Who Are the Richest Pickleball Players?

1. Ben Johns
2. James Johnson
3. Tyson McGuffin
4. Riley Newman
5. Collin Johns
6. Tyler Loong
7. Zane Navratil
8. Jocelyn Devilliers
9. Kyle Yates
10. Frank Anthony Davis

1. Ben Johns

Ben Johns is the richest pickleball player of all time, earning an estimated prize money of $146,325. He has also been a top-ranked player globally in men’s doubles, men’s singles, and mixed doubles. His doubles partner is his brother, Collin Johns. Johns is from Gaithersburg, Maryland, and he studied materials science and engineering at the University of Maryland in the hopes of starting his own pickleball paddle company.

Johns was the 2019 Pickleball Rocks Player of the Year and has won more than 50 gold medals. He was the first male athlete to Triple Crown (win all three titles) at a major and has since won three Triple Crowns. He was also the first pickleball player to be offered an endorsement deal, which he signed in 2019 with Franklin Sports.

2. James “JW” Johnson

James “JW” Johnson has risen quickly in professional pickleball, earning over $103,000 in career winnings. The Delray Beach, Florida, native comes from a family of pickleball stars, with his mom dominating the senior division and his younger sister rapidly rising in the women’s division. At only 19, James Johnson was the youngest pickleball professional to win the men’s singles title and has been ranked number two globally in men’s singles.

Johnson recently claimed his first Triple Crown and has plans to one day have even more Triple Crowns than his mother, Julie Johnson. He is also currently sponsored by The Yowbow, and, while he does not have any business ventures yet, he is sure to launch some as his career continues to grow.

3. Tyson McGuffin

Tyson McGuffin is the third richest pickleball player, having earned an estimated $84,075. Hailing from Lake Chelan, Washington, McGuffin began playing pickleball in 2015. He played his first tournament after only playing for one month and won the level 4.5 bracket.

McGuffin has since been ranked first in men’s singles and third in men’s doubles globally and is a five-time Grand Slam Champion and a four-time National Champion. McGuffin spends half of his free time teaching through his businesses, Tyson McGuffin Signature PB Camps, TM PB Coaching, and The Tyson McGuffin Show Podcast.

4. Riley Newman

Riley Newman is arguably the greatest Canadian pickleball player, and his estimated total prize money is $75,450. Before pickleball, he was born on Whidbey Island, Washington and played Division I tennis at Seattle University. His mixed doubles partner is fellow pickleball star and sister, Lindsey Newman. Both Riley and Lindsey Newman are certified instructors and offer pickleball clinics and camps.

Newman began playing in 2017 and picked up the sport quickly because of his tennis skills. He also Triple Crowned in the 2019 Canadian Nationals and has won over 27 medals during his career, many in the mixed division. He recently released the Riley Newman 206 Pickleball Paddle in partnership with GAMMA Sports. He is sponsored by TAKEYA, GAMMA Sports, and Digital Position.

5. Collin Johns

Collin Johns is Ben Johns’ older brother, and his total estimated prize money is $47,678. He began playing pickleball in 2018, rising quickly to number six globally in men’s doubles. He regularly partners with his brother for doubles matches, and they have together won 14 professional titles thus far. He attributes his quick success to his background in tennis, table tennis, baseball, and his younger brother’s coaching.

Johns got his first Triple Crown in the US National Clay Court Championships in 2019, has won an array of medals, six of them gold, and has won six Pro Pickleball Association titles to date. Johns is sponsored by the Professional Pickleball Registry and Electrum Pickleball and also is the co-owner and founder of Pickleball 360 and is Co-President of Johns & Johns LLC.

6. Tyler Loong

Tyler Loong is the sixth richest pickleball player, having earned $21,750 in prize money. He played Division I tennis for Brigham Young University and graduated with both a degree in communications and a newfound love of pickleball. Loong grew up in Highland, Utah, and resides in Salt Lake City, Utah. He began playing pickleball in 2014 and is one of the few professional left-handed pickleball players. His signature shot is the Erne, and he coaches in his spare time.

Loong has collected many medals in his lengthy career, including a Triple Crown at the 2018 Canadian Open. He is sponsored by Vulcan Sporting Goods, ASEA, BUILT, Bucked Up Fitness, Snapsports Athletic Surfaces, Zelius Insoles, ACACIA Sports, and Player’s. Like many other professional pickleball players, he also runs his own blog.

7. Jocelyn “Jay” Devilliers

Jocelyn “Jay” Devilliers is among the best in all three divisions of pickleball and has an estimated prize money of $19,650. He has also risen as high as ranking number five globally. Born in Montevrain, France, he is often referred to as the Flying Frenchman, and he is known for his fiery demeanor. He joined the men’s tennis team at Wichita State University in 2013, years before starting pickleball.

Devilliers began playing pickleball in 2019, using his tennis skills to dominate in tournaments. He is also an ambassador with the French Pickleball Federation and dedicates a portion of his time to teaching and spreading his enthusiasm for pickleball. His sponsors include the global pickleball rating system, DUPR, and pickleball gear retailer, Vulcan.

8. Zane Navratil

Zane Navratil played tennis before transitioning to pickleball full-time in 2020. Navratil also achieved Academic All-American status, and he earned his Master’s Degree in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin. In 2021 alone, Navratil has won over 20 medals in professional tournaments.

Navratil teaches pickleball clinics nationwide in partnership with APP Academy and is a certified coach. He is sponsored by Franklin Pickleball, a pickleball gear company; Therabody, a wellness technology company; DUPR, a global rating system; and Wilson, which sells various pickleball products. Navratil also has a blog about pickleball on The Dink, a pickleball-centered website.

9. Kyle Yates

Kyle Yates’s pickleball career began when he was a teenager in Fort Myers, Florida, when his uncle introduced him to the sport. At the USAPA National Tournament, his first professional tournament, he won gold in the men’s doubles on the very first day. Since then, he has focused on his professional pickleball career, suspending his education at the University of Florida.

Yates has multiple sponsorships and brand deals and is the co-owner of PB1965, a private label that designs top-of-the-line pickleball accessories and apparel. He also plans to open and teach at Yates Pickleball Academy, his own pickleball facility.

10. Frank Anthony Davis

Frank Anthony Davis, or “FAD,” has been ranked as high as number six globally. Davis grew up in Southern New Jersey and began playing pickleball in 2013. Davis holds several gold medals, a Triple Crown, and finished ranked number three globally in 2019. He is currently sponsored by Niupipo, a pickleball equipment company, and Lock Laces, a no-tie shoelace company.

Davis runs his own blog and podcast, and he co-founded PickleballByPros.com, a site with accessible training videos and content for players at all levels. Davis also participates in special events, such as the South Jersey Dream Center’s Pickleball Against Poverty Tournament, in an effort to spread enthusiasm and awareness about pickleball.

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