$306 million empire: Where Novak Djokovic’s wealth comes from
As the controversy over his Australian visa continues, Novak Djokovic is worth millions of dollars. Here is how he made his huge wealth.
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Controversial tennis star Novak Djokovic is worth millions of dollars, racking up a $US220 million ($A306 million) fortune from his long career, on and off the court.
As the controversy over his Australian visa continues, Djokovic is sitting on a massive fortune, including an estimated $US154 million ($A214 million) made from tennis prize earnings alone.
The rest of his huge bank account is said to have been generated from high-profile endorsement deals, with brands including sports fashion brand Lacoste (who he signed with in 2017), a former deal with Japanese retailer Uniqlo, and watch company Seiko, over the years.
He also has endorsements with racquet brand Head, NetJets, and luxury car maker, Peugeot.
Djokovic has earnt big bucks via deals with Serbian telecommunications giant Telekom Srbija and FitLine, a German vitamin company, as well as an ambassador role for Ultimate Software.
established children’s charity, the Novak Djokovic Foundation.
He also established the Novak Djokovic Foundation, a children’s charity described as “a group of passionate and determined people who want to make a difference and who deeply believe that every child matters”.
Last year, Djokovic was ranked No. 43 on a Forbes list of the world’s highest-paid athletes, where he was said to have earned $US34.5 million in 2021.
‘I FLEW HERE TO PLAY’
It comes as Djokovic returned to the tennis court and vows to play in the Australian Open after winning his visa court battle but ministers are still threatening to deport him.
Despite a judge ruling the decision to cancel the World No. 1 tennis player’s visa was “unreasonable”, the anti-vaxxer – who returned to training in Melbourne – could still be booted out of the country by the Australian government.
Although he still faces being thrown out of Australia, Djokovic has insisted he wants to stay and compete after his parents today claimed he “suffered torture” while being forced to quarantine.
“I’m pleased and grateful that the Judge overturned my visa cancellation,” the tennis star tweeted.
“Despite all that has happened, I want to stay and try to compete @AustralianOpen I remain focused on that. I flew here to play at one of the most important events we have in front of the amazing fans.
“For now I cannot say more but THANK YOU all for standing with me through all this and encouraging me to stay strong”.
I’m pleased and grateful that the Judge overturned my visa cancellation. Despite all that has happened,I want to stay and try to compete @AustralianOpen
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) January 10, 2022
I remain focused on that. I flew here to play at one of the most important events we have in front of the amazing fans. 👇 pic.twitter.com/iJVbMfQ037
Djokovic, 34, shared his message alongside a picture of him training at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena just hours after he was released from immigration detention.
But ministerial powers could be used to again revoke Djokovic’s visa and order his removal from the country, which would result in him being banned for three years.
Immigration Minister Alex Hawke could use “personal discretion” to move ahead with another cancellation.
The government has confirmed Mr Hawke is still considering whether to cancel Djokovic’s visa.
“Following today’s Federal Circuit and Family Court determination on a procedural ground, it remains within Immigration Minister Hawke’s discretion to consider cancelling Mr Djokovic’s visa under his personal power of cancellation within section 133C (3) of the Migration Act,” an immigration ministry spokesman said.
“The Minister is currently considering the matter and the process remains ongoing.”
Djokovic’s mother Dijana today declared his anti-vax court victory the “biggest win of his career”.
Speaking at a press conference in Belgrade, Serbia, she thanked fans for their support as she insisted her son – who is in pursuing a record 21st Grand Slam title at the Australian Open – had done “nothing wrong”.
“We’re here to celebrate the victory of our son Novak. He always fought for justice. He’s done nothing wrong,” she said.
“He went there to win that tournament. This situation has been extremely difficult. There has been a spectrum of emotions: sadness, fear, disappointment.
“There were moments when he didn’t have his mobile with him. We had no idea what was happening.
“This is the biggest win in his career, it is bigger than any Grand Slam.”
But Djokovic’s family quickly halted the press conference after a question was asked about what happened after the day after he tested positive for Covid on December 16.
Snaps showed him smiling mask-free while handing out awards to a group of young tennis fans during a ceremony at the Novak Tennis Centre in Belgrade, which reportedly took place on December 17.
During the conference, Djokovic’s parents blasted their son’s treatment in quarantine, saying he “suffered torture” and had his “human rights taken away” after his demands for a personal chef and access to a tennis court were reportedly denied.
His father Srdjan says the star was not allowed contact with friends, family, his team or his lawyers.
Djokovic’s brother Djordje referenced his decision not to get vaccinated, saying he has “always supported freedom of choice” as he revealed the sportsman had returned to training.
“Novak is an athlete, he is the best tennis player of all time,” he added.
“Everything he supports in his life is to live up to his principles and ideals.
“Novak is free. A few minutes ago, he trained on a tennis court.”
Djokovic has been able to return to the court today as Victoria’s Covid regulations state those with valid medical exemptions can follow the same quarantine and testing rules as fully jabbed adults.
It comes after chaos erupted in Melbourne following claims Djokovic had been arrested just hours after his court win as police fired pepper-spray at fans.
Pictures show tumultuous scenes as fuming supporters of the tennis ace swarmed a car leaving his lawyer’s office as police battled to move them on.
The havoc came after Srdjan Djokovic, the father of the world’s number one, bizarrely claimed anti-vaxxer his son was detained following a judge ruling for him to be freed from quarantine.
But in contradiction to his dad’s arrest claims to Pavlovic Today, Djokovic’s brother then reportedly told SportKlub that the tennis player is “with his lawyers” as ministers want to “capture and lock him up”.
With the situation unclear, hundreds of outraged Djokovic supporters formed huge crowds outside his lawyer’s office in Melbourne as groups blocked a car they believed to be carrying the tennis star.
Fans clashed with police who used pepper-spray in a bid to control them as they chanted Djokovic’s nickname and hurled bottles as tensions escalated.
Serbia’s parliamentary speaker Ivica Dacic has said he is concerned Djokovic could still be deported despite winning his visa battle.
“The process should have ended when the court ruled on the matter,” he told Happy TV.
It comes after the judge ruled the decision to cancel his visa was “unreasonable” and ordered the government to pay his legal costs.
As it stood, Djokovic’s passport and all personal effects were to be returned to him imminently.
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