Venus Williams

Venus Williams: The Quiet Empire of a Tennis Icon

Venus Williams is more than a tennis legend. While most know her for her seven Grand Slam titles and trailblazing presence on the court, her off-court ventures tell a deeper story: one of ownership, design, reinvention, and power. Venus didn’t just break barriers in sports; she built an empire on her own terms.

From Center Court to Boardroom

Venus turned professional at 14 and quickly became one of the most dominant forces in tennis. Her rivalry with her sister Serena defined an era, while her graceful power, poise, and longevity made her a global icon.

But even as she racked up titles and endorsements, Venus was planting seeds beyond the sport. Where others saw fame, Venus saw leverage. She understood athletic careers are fleeting, and the true game was ownership - the ability to create and control lasting assets.

V Starr Interiors

In 2002, at the height of her tennis career, Venus founded V Starr Interiors, a full-service interior design firm based in Florida. What began as a passion project grew into a respected player in the commercial and luxury residential design market.

V Starr’s portfolio includes hotels, corporate offices, athletic facilities, and upscale residences. Their work demonstrates Venus’s philosophy: blending form, function, aesthetics, and performance. This wasn’t a vanity project - it was proof that she could build infrastructure and lead with vision.

EleVen by Venus

In 2007, Venus launched EleVen by Venus, a lifestyle and performance apparel brand. From tennis dresses to athleisure lines, EleVen reflects her values: confidence, style, and striving for excellence.

This is no typical licensed celebrity label. Venus owns EleVen outright, designs the pieces, and leads the brand. “Why settle for 10 when you can have 11?” isn’t just a slogan - it’s a guiding principle.

Equal Pay Advocacy

Venus’s impact stretches into cultural and social change. In 2006, she penned an op-ed in The Times (UK), challenging Wimbledon’s unequal pay. By 2007, legendary tournament equalized prize money, thanks in part to her advocacy - for fairness, not fame.

Investments and Real Estate

Venus has quietly built a robust real estate portfolio, with properties in Florida and beyond. She has also invested in startups and minority-led ventures - consistently backing businesses that align with her values.

She follows a deliberate investment strategy: choosing ventures that reflect her vision and empower communities.

Education & Empowerment

Venus pursued education deliberately. She holds a Business degree from Indiana University East and completed a Fashion Design degree at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale. These weren’t for show - they were tools to sharpen her ability to run and own businesses with authority.

Wellness & Brand Expansion

Inspired by her personal health journey, Venus launched Happy Viking, a plant-based protein and supplement brand. Rooted in performance, wellness, and her own resilience - Happy Viking is another strategic extension of her legacy.

Estimated Net Worth

As of mid-2025, multiple sources estimate Venus Williams’s net worth at approximately $95 million, spanning earnings from tennis, endorsements, design, fashion, wellness, and strategic investments  .

The Blueprint

What sets Venus apart isn’t just her longevity or her titles. It’s how she’s built - quietly, intentionally, and strategically. She doesn’t chase noise; she builds legacy.

Her ventures - spanning design, fashion, wellness, real estate, and advocacy - show a pattern of ownership and empowerment. Education sharpened her tools; activism leveled the field; business built infrastructure. Her legacy is one of innovation rooted in strategic ownership.

In a world that often celebrates the loudest voices, Venus shows us that power can be graceful. Influence can be understated. Success, when built right, doesn’t need to shout - it simply endures.

Venus Williams & The Tall Cotton

At The Tall Cotton, we curate stories of Black wealth, ownership, and strategic excellence - built not on fleeting hype, but on grounded mastery. Venus Williams exemplifies this.

From teenage prodigy to strategic entrepreneur, she built her empire in design studios, fashion lines, wellness labs, and beyond. She invested, advocated, educated, and led - all with quiet grace.

To walk in “tall cotton” is to plant deep roots and walk in abundance. Venus Williams is walking in overflow - not because of seven Grand Slams, but because of how she built off the court.

Her story reminds us: legacy isn’t made in soundbites. It’s grown in foundations that last.