The 2025 badminton season was marked by dominance of established as well as emergence of new talents. The sport is now spreading its roots far and wide to other regions from its dominance in the Southeast Asia.
Badminton is fast emerging as one of the most lucrative sports as is witnessed from the growing number of players the sport is attracting.
Let us have a look at the top four badminton players who earned highest prize money in 2025.
Top 4 Badminton Players With Highest Prize Money Earned In 2025
An Se-young
An Se-young completed a historic 2025 season, cementing her status as one of the greatest badminton players of all time. She concluded the year by winning the BWF World Tour Finals in Hangzhou on December 21, 2025, achieving several unprecedented milestones.
The 23-year-old South Korean superstar set three major world records this year:
- Record 11 Titles: By winning the World Tour Finals, she tied the all-time record for most titles in a single season (11), a feat previously held only by Kento Momota (2019).
- The Million Dollar Woman: She became the first badminton player in history to earn over $1 million USD in prize money in a single calendar year. Her total prize money for 2025 reached approximately $1,003,175.
- Highest Win Rate: An finished the season with a 73–4 record (a 94.8% win rate). This is the highest ever recorded in the World Tour era for a player with more than 60 matches, surpassing the peaks of legends like Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei.
An Se-young reached 12 finals out of the 15 BWF World Tour events she entered. Her dominance over her closest rivals was particularly striking, especially her 8–0 record against world No. 2 Wang Zhiyi in 2025.
Key Tournament Appearances in 2025 and Prize Money
| Tournament | Level | Final Opponent | Prize Money (USD) |
| BWF World Tour Finals | Season Finale | Wang Zhiyi | $240,000 |
| Malaysia Open | Super 1000 | Wang Zhiyi | $101,500 |
| All England Open | Super 1000 | Wang Zhiyi | $101,500 |
| Indonesia Open | Super 1000 | Wang Zhiyi | $101,500 |
| China Open | Super 1000 | Akane Yamaguchi | $140,000 |
| Japan Open | Super 750 | Wang Zhiyi | $66,500 |
| China Masters | Super 750 | Han Yue | $87,500 |
| French Open | Super 750 | Wang Zhiyi | $66,500 |
| Denmark Open | Super 750 | Wang Zhiyi | $66,500 |
| India Open | Super 750 | P. Chochuwong | $63,000 |
| Australian Open | Super 500 | P. K. Wardani | $31,500 |
| Total 2025 Earnings | — | — | $1,003,175 |
Wang Zhi-yi
Wang Zhiyi’s 2025 season was one of the most financially successful years for any female badminton player in history. She became the second-highest earner on the tour, amassing a total of $505,465 in prize money.
The Chinese reached the finals in nearly every high-tier tournament she entered. Her victory at the China Open was her biggest single paycheck of the year ($140,000), accounting for nearly 28% of her total season earnings. Wang’s $505,465 remains one of the highest non-champion totals ever recorded.
Key Tournament Appearances in 2025 and Prize Money
| Tournament | Level | Final Opponent | Result | Prize Money (USD) |
| BWF World Tour Finals | Finals | An Se-young | Runner-up | $120,000 |
| China Open | Super 1000 | Han Yue | Winner | $140,000 |
| Indonesia Open | Super 1000 | An Se-young | Runner-up | $49,300 |
| All England Open | Super 1000 | An Se-young | Runner-up | $49,300 |
| Singapore Open | Super 750 | Chen Yufei | Runner-up | $34,000 |
| Japan Open | Super 750 | An Se-young | Runner-up | $28,900 |
| Denmark Open | Super 750 | An Se-young | Runner-up | $28,900 |
| French Open | Super 750 | An Se-young | Runner-up | $28,900 |
| Hong Kong Open | Super 500 | Han Yue | Winner | $31,500 |
| Malaysia Masters | Super 500 | Han Yue | Winner | $31,500 |
Shi Yu-qi
Shi Yu-qi’s 2025 season was not only successful in terms of titles but also one of his most lucrative, cementing his position as the highest-earning male player of the year.
While the BWF World Championships is the most prestigious event, it notably does not offer prize money, following the tradition of the tournament. His biggest single payday came from his runner-up finish at the World Tour Finals and his victory at the China Open.
Key Tournament Appearances in 2025 and Prize Money
Kunlavut Vitidsarn
Kunlavut Vitidsarn had a stellar 2025, reaching the pinnacle of the rankings as World No. 1 in June. His season was defined by consistent deep runs in major tournaments, specifically dominating the Super 500 and 750 levels.
As of late 2025, Kunlavut’s total career prize money is reported at approximately $636,596. His performance in 2025 alone accounted for over $250,000 of that total through tournament winnings and performance bonuses, making him one of the badminton players with highest prize money.
Key Tournament Appearances in 2025 and Prize Money
| Tournament | Level | Result | Final Opponent | Prize Money (USD) |
| Singapore Open | Super 750 | Winner | Lu Guangzu | $70,000 |
| Indonesia Masters | Super 500 | Winner | Jonatan Christie | $35,625 |
| Thailand Open | Super 500 | Winner | Anders Antonsen | $35,625 |
| Asian Championships | Continental | Winner | Lu Guangzu | $35,000 |
| BWF World Championships | Major | Runner-up | Shi Yuqi | $0 (Medal only) |
| Arctic Open | Super 500 | Runner-up | Chou Tien Chen | $18,050 |
| BWF World Tour Finals | Season Finale | Semi-finalist | Shi Yuqi | $60,000 |
| Indonesia Open | Super 1000 | Semi-finalist | Chou Tien Chen | $20,300 |
| French Open | Super 750 | Semi-finalist | Christo Popov | $13,300 |
