Rafael Nadal bolstered his bank balance by £78million (€94.1m) after selling a large chunk of his tennis academy in 2023. Often considered one of the sport’s greatest-ever players, Nadal made an estimated fortune during his playing days – scooping 22 Grand Slams in total before retiring following last year’s Davis Cup.
However, a significant portion of his modern day wealth will have come from the sale of almost half of his Mallorcan Rafa Nadal Academy. The 38-year-old managed to generate £78m through his holding company Aspemir in 2023 – a 373 per cent rise in revenue compared to the previous year.
And it is reported that increase in income came mainly due to Nadal selling 44.9 per cent of his shares of the Centre Sportiu Manacor to GPF Capital. The academy offers training programmes and accommodation to tennis stars, while also providing a range of other services in the health and hospitality industries.
It also boasts a private clinic and a museum filled with memorobilia nodding back at Nadal’s career. And while he sold a large chunk of the business venture to GPF Capital, he still holds a 55.1 per cent stake in it.
According to the ATP’s prize money leaderboard, Nadal – who has a staggering reported net worth of around £175m – earned up to £103m over the course of his career in tournament winnings. However, his earnings have been substantially boosted over the years through lucrative sponsorship deals and endorsements, as well as special appearances.
But what has Nadal splashed some of his earnings on over the years? And Express Sport has broken those down below.
Nadals homes and a luxury yacht
Nadal lived in a five-storey apartment building with his extended family until he turned 21, and while he has since moved out of the building, he has stayed in his hometown of Manacor in Mallorca. In 2012, Nadal splashed £33m on a mansion, while he also snapped up a holiday villa in Playa Nueva Romana, in the Dominican Republic.
While he has refrained from splurging on an extensive property portfolio like many other sports stars, Nadal did treat himself to a stunning yacht for his 34th birthday in 2020. Dubbed the ‘Great White’, the vessel set him back around £5m, and he had his own say on the interior design of the piece of water-bound real estate – opting for neutral cream, beige and brown tones.
The yacht boasts four guest cabins which can accommodate up to eight people, while his personal suite is equipped with a walk-in wardrobe. The yacht also sports a fold-down balcony, indoor and outdoor dining spots, an abundance of TVs and a garage for storing jet skis.
While Nadal had previouly owned smaller yachts, he wanted something which felt like more of a home – and bought the biggest vessel he could moor in Porto Cristo. Speaking on the purchase, he explained: “I wanted to feel like in my own house.
“Of course I had some special requests. I didn’t want a hot tub on the flybridge, because I prefer open spaces. I don’t need features like jacuzzis on board – I have water around the boat to swim in and enjoy.”
Content Source: www.express.co.uk