Serena Williams isn’t just one of the greatest tennis players of all time-she’s a cultural powerhouse, investor, and role model whose impact reaches far beyond the court.
In 2025, the 23-time Grand Slam champion has once again earned a place on TIME magazine’s prestigious list of the 100 Most Influential People, recognized under the “Titans” category. It marks her third time appearing on the list and affirms her status as one of the most influential women in sports and business.
Williams joins fellow icon Simone Biles, highlighting a moment where two of the greatest athletes of their respective sports are honored not just for their achievements, but for the way they’ve shifted culture.
Their legacies are intertwined-Biles herself credited Serena and Venus Williams for paving the way for Black women in sports during a 2024 Red Table Talk appearance.
From champion to change-maker
But Serena’s influence today spans far beyond athletics. Since stepping back from competitive tennis, she’s been relentless in building an empire. She’s invested in over 120 companies through her firm Serena Ventures, with more than a dozen of those now valued at over a billion dollars. She’s producing a Netflix film, Carrie Soto Is Back, and recently joined the ownership group of the Toronto Tempo-the WNBA’s new expansion team. Whether behind a boardroom table or on the sidelines of a game, Williams remains a game-changer.
Adding depth to her TIME 100 entry, seven-time Olympic gold medalist Allyson Felix penned a moving tribute. She reflected on how Serena‘s 2017 Australian Open win-while pregnant-inspired her own Olympic comeback after a dangerous childbirth.
“Serena doesn’t have to keep showing up,” Felix wrote.
“But she does, and that lifts us all.”
Williams also recently opened up about the cost of being a boss. At the one-year celebration of her beauty brand WYN, she acknowledged the sacrifices: missing time with her children, strained relationships, and constant trade-offs. Still, she says, it’s all been worth it.
In every role she takes on, Serena Williams continues to raise the bar-and she’s nowhere near finished.
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