Venus Williams

Venus Williams Basic Information

Stage Name:	Venus Williams
Real Name:	Venus Ebony Starr Williams
Occupation:	Professional Tennis Player
Date Of Birth/Age:	June 17, 1980 (43 Years Old)
Place of Birth:	Lynwood, California, U.S.
Gender:	Female
Nationality:	American
Marital Status:	Single
Education:	Indiana University East (BSBA)
Height:	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Net Worth:	$95 million

Venus Williams Biography

Venus Ebony Starr Williams, professionally called Venus Williams, is an American professional tennis player. She is a former world No. 1 in both singles and doubles. Regarded as one of the all-time greats in Tennis history, Venus has won seven Grand Slam singles titles, five at Wimbledon and two at the US Open.

Venus Williams and her sister, Serena, were coached by their parents, Oracene Price and Richard Williams. She turned professional in 1994 and reached her first major final at the US Open in 1997. In 2000 and 2001, she claimed the Wimbledon and US Open titles. She also claimed Olympic singles gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

On 25 February 2002, Venus first reached the singles world No. 1 ranking and became the first African American woman to do so in the Open era. She also was the second of all time after Althea Gibson.

According to Wikipedia, Venus, and Serena Williams “are credited with ushering in a new era of power and athleticism on the women’s professional tennis tour.” Having earned 49 WTA Tour singles titles, Venus has the most among active players. Her combined total of 73 WTA titles (including 22 WTA doubles titles and two mixed doubles titles) is also the most among active players. Venus Williams is the only active player to have reached the singles finals of all four majors, and in 2001 and 2017, she was twice the season prize money leader (2001 and 2017). With earnings of $42 million as of March 2022, she ranks second behind her sister Serena in all-time career prize money winnings.

Family

The Williams family moved from Lynwood, California, to West Palm Beach, Florida, when Venus was 13 so that she and Serena could attend the tennis academy of Rick Macci after Venus’ talents and potential were spotted by a professional local tennis player named Tony Chesta.

Parents

Venus Williams and her sister Serena were coached by her parents, Oracene Price and Richard Williams. Her parents raised her and her siblings as Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Father

Venus Williams’ father is Richard Williams. He is famous for coaching his daughters in Tennis. He did not always agree with their professional coach, Rick Macci but was grateful that “he treated his daughters like kids and allowed them to be little girls.” He stopped sending Venus and Serena to national junior tennis tournaments when the former was eleven because he wanted them to take it slowly and focus on schoolwork. He had also allegedly heard the parents of other players disparage Venus and her sister during tournaments. Venus had a 63–0 record on the United States Tennis Association junior tour and was ranked No. 1 among the under-12 players in Southern California at the time. He pulled his daughters out of Macci’s academy in 1995 and took over all coaching at their home.

Mother

Venus Williams’ mother is Oracene Price, also credited for coaching her and her sister in tennis. She divorced her husband, Richard, in 2002 and reverted to her maiden name, Price, citing irreconcilable differences. The couple had not been living together since 2000. She describes herself as a deeply spiritual woman and a “rampant feminist” when dealing with the overly sexualized images of women in the media.

Siblings

Venus has three half-sisters on her mother’s side, Yetunde, Lyndrea, and Isha Price. She has at least seven half-siblings on her father’s side, including Sabrina, Richard III, Ronner, Reluss, Reneeka, Dylan, and Chavoita LeSane.

Brother(s)

Venus’ half-brothers on her father’s side are listed above.

Sister(s)

In 2003, Venus’ sister Yetunde Price (who was also their personal assistant) was shot dead in Compton, California, near the courts on which Venus and Serena once practiced. She was aged 31.

Children

Venus does not have children. She is a dog mom to her Havanese, Harold Reginald Williams. She affectionately calls her “son.”

Husband

Venus dated golfer Hank Kuehne from 2007 until 2010. She met Cuban model Elio Pis in 2012 when he was hired as an underwear model for her clothing line.  They separated in 2015. Venus also dated publishing heir Nicholas Hammond from 2017 to 2019.

Lifestyle

Venus Williams is a sophisticated lady who loves to spend her money. She often takes vacations and is the sole owner of Eleven, which manufactures women’s tennis attire and activewear for yoga, fitness, jogging, and dancing. She is also a philanthropist.

Net Worth

Venus Williams is worth $95 million.

Cars

In June 2017, Venus was involved in a crash while driving her 2010 Toyota Sequoia SUV, which injured 78-year-old Jerome Barson, who died two weeks later.

House

Venus reportedly spent $510,000 in 1988 to purchase an 8,500-square-foot home in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. It sold for $2.3 million in 2019. She also owns a $10 million private cottage on Jupiter Island in Florida and a $1.275 million Los Angeles apartment.

Tennis Ranking

On 25 February 2002, Williams first reached the singles world No. 1 ranking and became the first African American woman to do so in the Open era. She returned to the world No. 2 position in singles in 2010. Alongside her sister, Serena, she became the world No. 1 in doubles for the first time on June 7, 2010.