Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs: The Match and Its Financial Stakes
The 1973 "Battle of the Sexes" tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs remains one of the most-watched sporting events in history, drawing an estimated 90 million television viewers worldwide. King won the match in straight sets, 6–4, 6–3, 6–3, at the Houston Astrodome on September 20, 1973. The winner's prize purse was $100,000, while Riggs received $25,000, a disparity that highlighted the ongoing conversation about prize equity in professional sports. The event was promoted by Jack Kramer and backed by the Virginia Slims tobacco brand, which sponsored the women's tennis circuit at the time Forbes.
Bobby Riggs, a former world No. 1 men's tennis player, had previously defeated Margaret Court in May 1973 in what was billed as the "Mother's Day Massacre." Riggs, who was 55 at the time, used the match to promote his self-proclaimed superiority of male athletes over female athletes. Billie Jean King, ranked No. 1 in women's tennis, accepted the challenge to defend the honor and financial standing of women in professional sports. The match took place at the Houston Astrodome, with King using a racquet provided by the Prince brand, which later saw a surge in sales due to the exposure Sports Business Journal.
Financial Legacy and Gender Equity in Sports
The match directly influenced the financial landscape of women's professional tennis. Following King's victory, the Virginia Slims circuit, later known as the WTA Tour, gained increased legitimacy and commercial backing. By the early 1980s, the US Open became the first Grand Slam tournament to offer equal prize money to men and women, a milestone achieved in 1973 after the USTA announced the decision in the wake of the match US Open. Billie Jean King's advocacy continued through the founding of the Women's Tennis Association and the Women's Sports Foundation, organizations that have driven policy changes in sponsorship and broadcasting revenue.
Bobby Riggs, despite the loss, earned significant commercial returns from the event and subsequent exhibitions. He continued to play in exhibition matches and made television appearances, leveraging the fame from the match into a second career as a motivational speaker and sports personality. The financial terms of the match itself were structured with guaranteed purses and a share of the gate receipts, which totaled approximately $2.5 million in live attendance and television rights. The event was a watershed moment for the business of sports, demonstrating the commercial viability of women's athletics and paving the way for future equity in prize money and media coverage Tennis.com.