You think you know Serena. You’ve seen the 23 Grand Slam trophies, the Nike commercials, and that iconic "Serena Slam" twice over. But honestly, most of the conversations around her skip the parts that actually explain how she stayed at the top for nearly three decades. It wasn't just a big serve. It was a weird, messy, brilliant mix of venture capital, French fluency, and a certified nail technician license.
Yeah, you read that right.
Serena Williams: The Facts Behind the 23 Titles
People love to argue about whether she’s the greatest of all time (the GOAT), but the numbers aren't really up for debate. Serena Jameka Williams didn't just play tennis; she redefined the physics of the sport. Born in Saginaw, Michigan, on September 26, 1981, she was the youngest of five sisters. Her dad, Richard Williams, basically wrote a 78-page manifesto for her life before she could even hold a racket.
By the time she retired in 2022, she had 73 WTA singles titles. That includes 23 Grand Slam singles wins, which is the most in the Open Era. She’s also the only player—man or woman—to complete a career "Golden Slam" (winning all four majors plus Olympic gold) in both singles and doubles.
But here is a weird thing. Most people think Venus was always the trailblazer. In 1999, though, it was 17-year-old Serena who shocked the world by winning the US Open first. She beat Martina Hingis 6-3, 7-6, becoming the first African-American woman to win a Grand Slam in the Open Era.
The Business Evolution Nobody Talks About
If you look at her bank account, the $94.8 million in career prize money is actually the "small" part. Serena built a $340 million empire while most other players were still focused on their backhands. In 2014, she quietly started Serena Ventures.
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This wasn't just a vanity project.
She has a very specific "investment thesis." She targets companies led by women and people of color because she realized early on that these founders were being ignored by the "Old Boys' Club" of Silicon Valley. We are talking about a portfolio of over 85 companies, including 14 unicorns (startups valued at over $1 billion). She got into Coinbase before crypto was a household word. She backed Impossible Foods and MasterClass early.
- 76% of her portfolio companies have founders from underrepresented groups.
- 53% are led by women.
She’s basically playing a completely different game than your average retired athlete.
The Compton to Court Reality
There’s this myth that the Williams sisters just appeared out of nowhere. Honestly, the early years in Compton, California, were grueling. They practiced for hours on public courts that were literally crumbling. Richard Williams sometimes had to fend off local gang members just so his daughters could finish a set.
That grit stayed with her.
Remember the 2017 Australian Open? She won the whole thing without dropping a single set. She was also eight weeks pregnant at the time. Most people would be struggling to get off the couch with morning sickness, and she was out-serving the best players in the world.
Beyond the Racket: Fashion and Faith
Serena is a walking contradiction in the best way possible. She’s a devout Jehovah’s Witness who doesn't celebrate birthdays, yet she’s a fixture at the Met Gala. She’s a "power player," but she also went to fashion school at The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale between 2000 and 2003 because she loved the "technical math" of pattern making.
She speaks French fluently. She’ll win a match at Roland Garros and then give the entire post-match interview in French without missing a beat. It’s that kind of detail that makes her different. She isn't just an athlete; she's a polymath.
And then there’s the nail thing. She’s a certified nail technician. She literally went to school for it because she found it relaxing. When you see her on court with those elaborate, neon manicures, she often had a hand in the design herself.
Why It Still Matters
The impact she had on the "white sport" of tennis can’t be overstated. Before the Williams sisters, tennis was seen as a country club sport. Serena brought power, beads in her hair, and a refusal to apologize for being "too much."
She faced immense racism, especially during the 2001 Indian Wells tournament, which led to a 14-year boycott. She didn't return until 2015. That kind of principled stand is rare in sports when there’s a lot of money on the table.
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Actionable Insights for the "Serena Mindset"
If you want to apply some of that GOAT energy to your own life, here’s how she actually operates:
- Thesis-Driven Moves: Don't just invest or work for the sake of it. Serena Ventures succeeds because she has a "why" (supporting underrepresented founders).
- The "Serena Slam" Strategy: She didn't win all four majors at once; she won them consecutively across two years. It's about sustained momentum, not one big burst of luck.
- Diversify Your Identity: She’s a mother, a venture capitalist, a fashion designer, and an athlete. Don't let your job title be the only thing that defines you.
- Health Advocacy: After her daughter Olympia was born via emergency C-section in 2017, Serena nearly died from a pulmonary embolism. She had to advocate for her own life when doctors didn't believe her symptoms. The lesson? Trust your gut when it comes to your body.
To really get Serena, you have to look past the trophies. Look at the schools she built in Kenya and Jamaica. Look at the Yetunde Price Resource Center she founded in Compton to honor her sister who was killed in 2003. She’s a reminder that you can be the most aggressive competitor on the planet and still lead with empathy.
Next time you watch a highlight reel, remember: the woman hitting that 128-mph serve is probably also checking her venture capital portfolio and planning her next fashion line in her head.
That's the real Serena.
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Next Steps for You
- Check out Serena Ventures' portfolio: If you are an aspiring entrepreneur, look at the types of companies she backs to see where the market is moving.
- Watch the 2017 Australian Open Final: See what "playing for two" actually looks like at the highest level of sport.
- Follow her advocacy work: She’s a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador; her work on education in Africa is a blueprint for how celebrities can actually make a measurable difference.