Billie Jean King Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday

Billie Jean King is an American tennis legend whose groundbreaking achievements on and off the court reshaped women’s sports — from winning 39 Grand Slam titles to championing gender equality and equality pay in tennis.

Billie Jean King, born November 22, 1943, has long been celebrated not only for her on-court dominance, but also for her pioneering role in transforming women’s sport through advocacy, activism, and business ventures. Her estimated net worth — derived from her career earnings, investments, and ongoing ventures — remains a testament to both her athletic success and her enduring influence.

Quick Facts

From Local Courts to Global Icon — The Journey of Billie Jean King

Billie Jean’s journey began in Long Beach, California. Born into a modest, athletic family, her early childhood was shaped by a love of sport — though her first competitive pursuits were in softball and baseball. Encouraged by her parents to pursue a more “ladylike” sport, she switched to tennis at age 11, scrimping and saving just enough money to buy her first racket.

That early determination paid off: by 1961 she had already won a women’s doubles title at Wimbledon, becoming one of the youngest champions at the time.

Over the next decade, Billie Jean honed her aggressive net play, powerful backhand, and mental toughness — characteristics that helped her dominate the women’s tennis circuit. Her breakthrough came in 1966, when she captured her first major singles crown at Wimbledon and became the world’s No. 1 female player.

Defining moments in Billie Jean King’s journey include:

• Victory at her first Wimbledon singles championship.

• Becoming world No. 1 in women’s tennis, a title she held across multiple years. 

• Winning 39 Grand Slam titles across singles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles — a record that cemented her as one of the greatest ever.

• Defeating Bobby Riggs in the famed “Battle of the Sexes” in 1973 — a watershed moment for women in sport.

• Founding the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) and championing equal pay and opportunities for female athletes.

Through grit, talent, and conviction, Billie Jean transformed from a determined young player on public courts to a global icon shaping the future of women’s sports.

The Core Pillars of Billie Jean King’s Wealth Include:

While her dominance on the tennis court laid the foundation for her wealth, Billie Jean’s financial standing also rests on post-career ventures, advocacy, and business interests. Notably:

Billie Jean King Relationships & Personal Life

Billie Jean’s personal life has been woven into the social and cultural tides of her time — a journey marked by love, self-discovery, struggle, and ultimately authenticity.

She first married Larry King (not the television host), a law student she met while at California State University, Los Angeles. The couple married in Long Beach, California, in September 1965. According to her, Larry played a key role early on — introducing her to feminist ideas and encouraging her tennis ambitions. 

As her sense of self evolved, by 1971 Billie Jean acknowledged privately being attracted to women. That year she began a relationship with her secretary, Marilyn Barnett. The affair, however, led to a palimony lawsuit in 1981 — a case that ultimately was dismissed, but not before publicly exposing her private life and costing her significant sponsorships.

Her marriage to Larry King ended in divorce in 1987. Over time she formed a long-term partnership with former doubles partner Ilana Kloss. The two were private for years — but in 2018 they were secretly married in a ceremony officiated by former New York Mayor David Dinkins. 

Key insights into Billie Jean King’s relationships and personal life:

• Billie Jean’s first marriage to Larry King helped shape her early career decisions. 

• Her public admission of a relationship with Marilyn Barnett made her one of the first high-profile female athletes to come out — despite personal and financial cost. 

• Her enduring partnership with Ilana Kloss reflects her journey toward embracing her identity and building a life rooted in authenticity and shared advocacy for equality.

Beyond Career: Lifestyle, Assets & Passions

Beyond her storied tennis career and advocacy work, Billie Jean’s personal interests and lifestyle reflect her commitment to equality, sport, and legacy-building:

• She and Ilana Kloss have engaged in sports-ownership ventures, including minority stakes in professional sports teams — a testament to their belief in building women's and co-ed sports infrastructure. 

• Her philanthropic and advocacy efforts — especially toward gender equality, equal pay for women athletes, and social justice — remain central to her public identity and ongoing influence.

• Even after retiring from competition, she remains a respected voice in sports administration, activism, and mentorship, leveraging her status to open doors for future generations.

Breaking Down the Net Worth: What’s Behind the Estimate?

Estimating wealth for a legendary athlete like Billie Jean involves more than just prize money. Below is a simplified breakdown of her net worth based on public data and typical asset channels:

While public estimates commonly place her net worth around US $20 million, her legacy — both financial and cultural — extends far beyond that number. 

Public Image, Legacy & Lasting Influence

For decades, Billie Jean King has stood not just as a tennis champion, but as an emblem of social change. Her impact can be seen across multiple fronts:

• As a founder of the WTA and the Women’s Sports Foundation, she helped institutionalize pathways for female athletes to gain equal recognition and pay. 

• Her victory in the “Battle of the Sexes” match remains a cultural landmark — a moment when sport and social progress intersected, spotlighting the fight for gender equality. 

• Through her personal life — including her openness about her sexuality and her long-term partnership with Ilana Kloss — she helped advance visibility and acceptance for LGBTQ+ individuals in sport.

• Off the court, her advocacy and business efforts reflect a deep commitment to sustaining progress for future generations of athletes, especially women. 

Her legacy is not only measured in titles won, but in doors opened, barriers challenged, and lives changed.

Closing Thoughts: More Than a Champion’s Net Worth

Billie Jean King’s journey — from a young girl playing on public courts in Long Beach to a global icon of sport and equality — is a story of ambition, talent, resilience, and purpose. Her estimated net worth and financial success reflect a stellar tennis career, but even more significantly, they underscore a lifetime devoted to elevating women’s sports, advocating for fairness, and building a more inclusive athletic world.

With a birthdate of November 22, 1943, and a lifelong integration of passion and principle, Billie Jean King remains a timeless symbol of what it means to fight, win, and lead. Her birthday is more than a date — it’s a reminder of enduring influence, of barriers broken, and of progress still unfolding.