John Patrick McEnroe, Jr. was born on 18 February 1959, in Wiesbaden, (then) West Germany, and is a former number one-ranked tennis player, known for winning several Grand Slam, WCT Finals and Masters Grand Prix titles. In 1999 John was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. What is more, he was the Number 1-ranked Male Tennis Player for a total of 170 weeks, won the Davis Cup Commitment Award, ATP Player of the Year Award among others, during a career which spanned almost 30 years. Although John has retired from professional tennis, he still occasionally plays in senior events on the ATP Champions Tour.
So how rich is John McEnroe? It is estimated by authoritative sources that John’s net worth is over $70 million, the majority accumulated during his successful career as a tennis player. Despite the fact that John does not play professional tennis anymore, there is still a chance that his net worth will change in the future, as he still involved in many activities, including as a tennis commentator and analyst.
John McEnroe Net Worth $70 Million
John’s father was in the US Air Force, but discharged soon after John’s birth, and the family moved to settle in New York City. McEnroe started playing tennis when he was only eight years old, and one year later he became a part of the Eastern Lawn Tennis Association, and began participating in tournaments. John was really successful, and soon became more noticed in the tennis world. In 1977 he competed at Wimbledon and then turned professional and joined the ATP tour. Soon McEnroe won his first Masters Grand Prix Title and this added a lot to John McEnroe’s net worth. In 1981 John became the first male player since the 1920s to win three consecutive US Open titles. This made McEnroe even more popular and acclaimed.
In 1984 together with the US team, John McEnroe won the World Team Cup. Despite the success he had, in 1986 John decided to take a break from tennis, but when he came back he again demonstrated his skills and became the World’s No. 1 male tennis player. This had a huge impact on the growth of John McEnroe’s net worth. John subsequently finished his full-time career having won 77 career singles titles, including seven Grand Slam events – four at Wimbledon and three US – as well as five WCT Finals. Additionally, he won 78 doubles titles, usually in partnership with Peter Fleming, including five at Wimbledon and four at the US, plus the French mixed doubles title with Mary Carillo in 1977.
When playing for his country, McEnroe was instrumental in winning the Davis Cup five times with the US team, between 1978 and 1992, and has since also captained the team, a non-playing appoinment.
However, McEnroe was nothing if not controversial, and his on-court outbursts against officials became legendary, especially his catch-phrase “you cannot be serious!” directed at umpires in particular. He was actually disqualified from the Grand Slam Australian Open in 1990 for repeated conduct violations, but nothing seemed to calm his behaviour throughout his career, except when playing against Bjorn Borg – known as ‘the ice man’. They split their 14 regular matches on the ATP tour.
In 1992 John decided to retire, but because of his fame, then appeared in such movies as “You Don’t Mess with the Zohan”. He has also participated in various events related to tennis and sometimes even played on the ATP Champions Tour. In 2010 he founded the John McEnroe Tennis Academy, and this has also added to John’s net worth, as has his TV commentating and and analysis of major tournaments.
Talking of his personal life, John McEnroe was married to actress Tatum O’Neal from 1986 to 1994, and since 1997 has been married to Patty Smyth – now the couple has six children, and are based in New York City.
ITF World Champion (1981, 1983, 1984), French Open (1977, won mixed doubles), Wimbledon Doubles title (1979), National Collegiate Athletic Association (singles, team titles - won 1978), Masters Grand Prix, Davis Cup Commitment Award, Hopman Cup tournaments (1990)
Nominations
Highest ranking - No. 1 (January 3, 1983), ATP player of the year (1981, 1983, 1984), ATP most improved player (1978), World Number 1 Male Player,International Tennis Hall of Fame (1999)
Movies
Wimbledon (2004), Mr. Deeds (2002), The Chair (2002), Parkinson (2006), 30 Rock (2007), 7 Days in Hell (2015), You Don't Mess with the Zohan (2008), Fire and Ice (documentary, 2011)
TV Shows
Saturday Night Live, Ground Floor (2013), WFAN Breakfast Show (2007)
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Trademark
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His catchphrase "You cannot be serious!"
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Short temper
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Quote
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The older I get, the better I used to be.
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You cannot be serious! That ball was on the line.
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I've never retired. That's one thing I've never done. To this day, I've never announced my retirement.
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"I guess there's a little part of me that's like, 'Wouldn't it have been nice if I'd received that adulation?' Well, I'm not as nice a guy as Wayne Gretzky" - on the hoopla surrounding Gretzky's retirement in 1999.
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Fact
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John's birth name is John Patrick McEnroe, while his brother Patrick McEnroe's birth name is Patrick John McEnroe.
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Hosts his talk show on CNBC, McEnroe (2004), with sidekick John Fugelsang. [August 2004]
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Appeared in a commercial for National Car Rental. [2009]
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Release of his book, "You Cannot Be Serious". [2002]
First German-born player to win Wimbledon in 1981.
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Name is sung in the lyrics of "Jump Around" by House of Pain.
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Has five children.
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Sat beside President Bill Clinton at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in 2000.
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Older brother of Patrick McEnroe, also a former professional tennis player, and, like John, now a tennis commentator.
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His quote, "You are the pitts of the world," was used in The Pretenders song, "Pack It Up."
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Children: Kevin (5/23/86), Sean (9/23/87), Emily (5/10/91) [by Tatum O'Neal]; Anna (12/27/95) and Ava (3/28/99) [by Patty Smyth].
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In 1996, was named "Father of the Year" by the National Father's Day Committee.
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Enshrined in the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, RI. [July 1999]
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Became the then-youngest player in history to be ranked No 1 at 21 years, 15 days. [March 1980]
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The only player in history not to be granted an honorary membership to the All England Club when he first won Wimbledon in 1981.
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In 1992, at the age of 33, became the oldest men's player ever to win a Grand Slam (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and U.S. Open) title of any kind when he and Michael Stich of Germany captured the Wimbledon men's doubles championship.
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U.S. Open singles champion in 1979, 1980, 1981, and 1984.
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Wimbledon (All-England Lawn Tennis Championship) singles champion in 1981, 1983, and 1984.
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Stepdaughter: Ruby (b. 1985).
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Owns a Manhattan art gallery.
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Has full custody of his children with Tatum O'Neal.
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Attended Stanford University, but did not graduate.
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Born at the U.S. Air Force Hospital in Wiesbaden Air Force Base, Germany.