Sharapova on Her Childhood and The Things That Make Her Happy

Sharapova’s Childhood

There was a time in Maria Sharapova’s life when her family didn’t really have much. According to her, she was six years old when her father relocated to the United States so she could get more training for tennis and all they came to the country with was just $700.

Sharapova used to train every day at the Florida-based Tennis Academy owned by Nick Bollettieri while her father worked different low-wage jobs just so he could pay for rent, tennis lessons, and other necessities.

In her recently-released book, Sharapova wrote that they had to make a pull-out couch in a tiny apartment their bed for a long time. Also, they had to pay $250 monthly so they could use the bathroom, kitchen, living room and also got access to the TV. She considered her access to the TV particularly important because that was how she got to learn how to speak English.

Rewards Of Sacrifice

It is visible that the sacrifice she made has paid off. At the age of 17, ten years after she moved to the U.S., she won the Wimbledon in the year 2004.

At the age of 17, ten years after she moved to the U.S., Sharapova won the Wimbledon

That made it the first of Sharapova’s 5 Grand Slam titles. The first win earned her a great paycheck worth £560,500. At the moment, Sharapova has earned career prize money worth over $38 million, and that is regardless of the fact that she was suspended for 15 months from WTA. She was also the highest paid female athlete in the World for eleven straight years.

Future Plans

According to her, the humble background she had serves as an influencing factor on her mode of managing her millions. Regardless of the size of her success, she continues to make plans like her career would end soon. That mindset influenced her decision to launch Sugarpova, a candy company in 2012. The goal she has for this business in the long term is to build it into a major lifestyle brand when she decides to retire from tennis.

Regardless of the size of her success, she continues to make plans like her career would end soon

Sharapova noted that when a person is young and successful, there is a tendency for one to think things will continue to be like that for years. She advised that it is important that one remains realistic as to the fact that anything can happen at any time.

For instance, one could get injured, or a new competitor could come into the business. She has also talked about her realization that money isn’t what ultimately brings a person happiness as other people may think. There is no doubt that money helps you purchase materialistic products. However, those products are temporary.

Early Money Lessons

In a recent interview where she was asked about the first money memory she had, Sharapova said it was likely when her mom gave her a stuffed animal as a gift and told her not to tell her dad because it was more expensive than he normally would have parted with for a gift.

Also, when asked about who gave her money lessons, she said it was likely her parents. She noted that they had a strong influence on the decisions she made from a tender age, and she considers that a good thing.

Sharapova said her first allowance was between $5 and $6 per week and her first job was as a tennis player. To the question about her first car, she said she wasn’t the one who bought it as it was a sponsorship deal.

Sharapova said her first allowance was between $5 and $6 per week

When asked what she wouldn’t splurge on, she said she doesn’t really like yachts. She noted that a lot of people with money always have the perception that they have to get a yacht for summer.

She, however, said she prefers to be on land. On the cheapest things that make her happy, she said hugs and laughter make her happy, and those things are all free. Sharapova also talked about the temporary nature of money.