Ben Johns Tells CNBC His Pickleball Income Has Grown 10x in Two Years

How much money professional pickleball players make isn't widely publicized, so when there is some insight into the finances of some of the sport's top players, it tends to come as a surprise to most casual observers.

While many touring pros hold down full-time jobs, some of the top players have made quite a living for themselves, thanks to pickleball.

Take Ben Johns, the top-ranked men's doubles and mixed doubles player in the world. He recently told CNBC that he's scheduled to make $2.5 million in 2024, which does not include endorsement deals.

For perspective, Johns told CNBC back in 2021 that he brought in about $250,000 through pickleball and just $50,000 in 2018, before the pandemic provided rocket-fuel for the sport's growth.

Johns, who started playing pickleball at age 17, plays primarily on the PPA Tour and with the Seattle Pioneers of Major League Pickleball. He also has a lifetime sponsorship contract with Joola Pickleball.

"We haven’t reached the top," Johns told CNBC. "I think there’s still an upward trend."