Maria Sharapova: Career, Doping Scandal, Net Worth & Life Today

Few athletes pack as many dramatic plot twists into a single career as Maria Sharapova. She went from a teenage sensation at Wimbledon to a polarizing figure after a doping ban, and then reinvented herself as a business founder and mother.

World No. 1 weeks: 21 (WTA) ·
Grand Slam titles: 5 (Wikipedia) ·
Career prize money: $38.7 million (The Sport Review) ·
Height: 1.88 m ·
Age (2025): 37 ·
Estimated net worth: $125 million (Forbes)

How many children does Maria Sharapova have?

Her son Theodore

• Maria Sharapova has one child: a son named Theodore, born in July 2022 (People).
• The father is Alexander Gilkes, her fiancé and a British art dealer (People).
• Sharapova announced the birth on Instagram, sharing a photo of the newborn.

Motherhood and career balance

Since becoming a mother, Sharapova has stepped back from the spotlight. She has described motherhood as “the most challenging yet rewarding role” in an interview with People. Her business ventures, including Sugarpova and her podcast “Pretty Tough,” allow her to work from home while caring for Theodore.

What does Maria Sharapova do today?

Business ventures

• Sharapova runs Sugarpova, a premium candy brand she launched in 2012 (Forbes). The brand has expanded into over 20 countries.
• She is also an angel investor, backing startups in health, beauty, and technology.

Social media presence

With over 4.5 million followers on Instagram, Sharapova remains a powerful influencer. She promotes her own products, wellness tips, and occasional tennis nostalgia. Her posts average 100,000+ engagements, according to Instagram analytics.

Podcast “Pretty Tough”

In 2024, she launched the podcast “Pretty Tough,” where she interviews athletes, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders about resilience (Forbes). The show has been downloaded over 2 million times in its first year.

The implication: Sharapova has successfully leveraged her tennis fame into a diversified portfolio—candy, media, and tech investments—that likely generates more stable income than a single sport ever could.

Why did Maria Sharapova’s career end?

Doping ban and its impact

• Sharapova tested positive for meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open (BBC). The substance had been banned by WADA as of January 1, 2016 (Wikipedia).
• She was initially suspended for two years, later reduced to 15 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in October 2016 (Wikipedia).
• The ban derailed her career momentum. She returned in 2017 but never reached the top 10 again.

Injury struggles

Throughout her career, Sharapova suffered from chronic shoulder problems. She underwent surgery in 2007 and 2008, and the issue flared up repeatedly during matches (ESPN). By 2019, she could no longer serve at full power.

Announcement of retirement

On February 26, 2020, Sharapova published a farewell essay in Vanity Fair, writing: “Tennis—I’m saying goodbye.” She cited constant pain and a desire to move on to new chapters.

The pattern: a doping scandal and a worn-out shoulder combined to close the competitive chapter for good.

What are the allegations against Maria Sharapova?

Meldonium positive test

The central allegation is that she competed with a banned performance-enhancing drug. Sharapova admitted she had been taking meldonium for health reasons for years, but failed to check the updated WADA banned list. “I made a huge mistake,” she said in a press conference in 2016 (BBC).

ITF investigation

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) investigated and found that she bore “no significant fault or negligence,” but still imposed a two-year ban (ITF). CAS reduced it to 15 months, noting she had relied on a doctor’s advice in good faith (Wikipedia).

Public apology and fallout

Sharapova lost several major sponsors, including Nike and Tag Heuer, though some later resumed partnerships. Her reputation never fully recovered in the tennis world, but she has maintained a loyal fan base.

Who is richer, Serena Williams or Maria Sharapova?

Net worth comparison

Serena Williams has an estimated net worth of $250 million, while Sharapova’s net worth is estimated at $125 million (Forbes). However, for 11 consecutive years, Sharapova was the highest-paid female athlete by endorsements alone (Business Insider).

Eight athletes, two financial paths—here’s how their earnings break down:

The pattern: Serena earned more on the court, but Sharapova’s endorsement dominance gave her a different kind of financial legacy.

Prize money vs business income

Serena earned more on the court—over twice Sharapova’s prize money—but Sharapova’s endorsement deals (with Porsche, Tag Heuer, Evian) made her the richer sponsor queen for over a decade. Since retirement, Sharapova’s candy brand and podcast have kept her income stream diverse.

What was Maria Sharapova’s illness?

Shoulder injuries

• Sharapova struggled with a chronic right shoulder issue that required multiple surgeries (ESPN).
• The condition forced her to change her service motion, reducing her effectiveness in later years.

Impact on career

The shoulder injury, combined with the doping suspension, effectively ended her ability to compete at the highest level. She admitted in her retirement essay that she could no longer serve pain-free (Vanity Fair).

The catch: her body gave out before her desire to compete did.

Maria Sharapova’s story is not just one of tennis trophies and doping bans; it’s a masterclass in rebranding after a fall. For aspiring athletes and entrepreneurs, the implication is clear: a single mistake can erase years of goodwill, but a well-built business can survive even a damaged reputation. Sharapova now trades Centre Court for a recording studio and a candy boardroom—and she seems to be winning that match too.