Introduction
One of the top names in tennis, Billie Jean King was born on November 22, 1943, as Billie Jean Moffitt in Long Beach Calif. King is a tennis legend in her own right, but also gained fame for being an advocate of gender equality and social justice. She was a true woman in sport and did wonders as well. King’s advocacy for equal pay and other women’s rights by using her powerful voice is reflected today — she remains an iconic figure inside as well as beyond the tennis court.
Match Records and Career Statistics
King was a player with great success who competed professionally for more than 20 years. She was the queen of women’s tennis in the 1960s and ’70s, collecting countless singles wins in addition to her doubles and mixed-doubles titles. She was an incredibly aggressive player with a strategic mind so she was very difficult to beat.
Career Overview:
- Total Singles Matches: 1,205
- Total Singles Wins: 695
- Total Season Singles Defeats: 510
- Doubles Wins: 16
- Mixed Doubles Wins: 11
That King was able to adjust and demonstrate great skill and tenacity through all seven of her years’ victorious campaigns suggests that she would be tactically savvy enough — with a good coach or opponent in the chair by default on No-Ad points.
Major Takedowns
| Opponent | Tournament | Year | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margaret Court | Wimbledon | 1962 | Win |
| Evonne Goolagong | Australian Open | 1971 | Win |
| Chris Evert | U.S. Open | 1974 | Win |
| Bobby Riggs | Battle of the Sexes | 1973 | Win |
| Rosemary Casals | Wimbledon | 1971 | Win |
| Martina Navratilova | U.S. Open Doubles | 1978 | Win |
| Virginia Wade | Wimbledon | 1968 | Win |
Some of the best victories were in Billie Jean King whilst best remembered professional victory occurred in her 1973 “Battle of the Sexes” match against our competitor Bobby Riggs, a contest she won. We had a landmark moment of gender equality in sports.
Achievements & Major Title Wins
Throughout his illustrious career, King won many titles in singles and doubles. To say that King has done more for tennis and society than what she ever did on the court is no exaggeration at all.
Grand Slam Titles:
- Wimbledon Singles Titles
- 1966
- 1967
- 1968
- 1972
- 1973
- 1975
- U.S. Open Singles Titles
- 1967
- 1971
- 1972
- 1974
- Australian Open Singles Title
- 1968
- French Open Singles Title
- 1972
Doubles Titles:
- Wimbledon Doubles Titles
- 10 Wins (between 1961 and 1979)
- U.S. Open Doubles Titles
- 4 Wins (between 1964 and 1979)
King’s tenacity and leadership on the court earned her an incredible 39 Grand Slam titles across singles, doubles, and mixed doubles events.
Family and Personal Life
While Billie Jean King’s professional life has been remarkable for decades, her journey — particularly later in life as she became a standard-bearer not just for women but also for LGBTQ+ presence and equality within sports — is now seen by many of herself continuing to push the boundaries long after winning 39 Grand Slam titles. From 1965 to 1987 King was married to Larry King (no relation to the TV host). But in 1981, King was forced out of the closet when Marilyn Barnett, then her secretary and also lover became public.
While the revelation initially sparked controversy and reduced her earnings, it was King’s courage in being out about who she was an inspiration to many. She eventually moved on to a long-term, happy partnership with former tennis star and coach Ilana Kloss. The pair, who have been together for decades, are advocates of LGBTQ+ rights and equality.
Breaking News & Recent Updates
In 2024, Billie Jean King continues to be an influential voice in the world of tennis and social change. In the news more current, King is as active as ever in the fight for equality within sports and her Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative (SOL) The foundation is concerned with gender equity in the workplace, which means aiming for fair pay and jobs within a diverse and inclusive work environment.
King has also been a prominent campaigner for equal prize money in tennis between the sexes. She has since worked to advance women’s sports and make sure that female athletes are properly recognized for the feats they achieve, both on fields of play as well as beyond them.
She is also a common sight at most of tennis’ major annual events, such as Wimbledon and the U.S. Open where she presents trophies or participates in ceremonies that honor her incredible impact on the game.
NetWorth and Financial Summary
Net Worth of Billie Jean King $20 million Your guess is as good as mine, but a huge chunk of that must be from her very lucrative tennis career and endorsement deals followed by some business ventures. King is also benefiting from public speaking fees, books and gender equality advocacy efforts.
Her impact is more than just about the dollars. Her efforts improved pay and conditions for women in future generations of sportswomen. She still uses her resources and clout to support social causes, especially ones that may impact the kind of equity Accord believes in.
