Tennis champion Coco Gauff loves this $2 monthly subscription, cooks TikTok recipes, and treats herself with $3,000 shopping sprees
Tennis champion Coco Gauff loves this $2 monthly subscription, cooks TikTok recipes, and treats herself with $3,000 shopping sprees
The finances
The necessitiesÂ
The treats
Emma Burleigh is a
Being in the C-suite is a high-pressure job with long hours, responsibilities to the board, and intense scrutiny. But what is it like to be a top executive when youâre off the clock?
Fortuneâs series, The Good Life, shows how up-and-coming leaders spend their time and money outside of work.
Today we meet the two-time Grand Slam tennis champion, Coco Gauff.
Whether youâve watched her recently shred the courts in the U.S. Open, or youâve been following her string of career achievements for years, Gauff is one of the biggest names in tennis. The world tuned into her talent when she was only 15 years oldâone year into her professional careerâas Gauff made history as the youngest to qualify for Wimbledonâs main draw.Â
Now at the age of 21, the professional athlete hasnât quit breaking records and taking names. In 2023, she became the youngest American to win the U.S. Open singles title since Serena Williams in 1999; sheâd go on to claim the 2025 French Open singles title, her second Grand Slam singles victory. Gauff has also been crowned the world number one ranking in doubles, and world number two ranking in singles, according to the Womenâs Tennis Association. Not to mention the honor of being the U.S. flag bearer for the Paris 2024 Olympicsâmaking Gauff the youngest American flag bearer in U.S. Olympic history.Â
But beyond the court, the Florida native has expanded her empire into business. The Gen Z tennis star and entrepreneur has her own company, Coco Gauff Enterprise, to manage her business partnerships.Â
This April, Gauff announced her venture on Instagram, saying how it would mirror â[her] passion for making an impactânot just in tennis but in business, philanthropy and beyond.â The business is powered
Iâve actually never been on a real holiday since I was probably 16âŠMy dream holiday would be somewhere tropical, just sitting around doing nothing but drinking piña coladas and doing water sports.
Just in time for the U.S. Open this year, Gauff also launched her own signature protein smoothie with $3.3 billion Naked Juices, Cocoâs Protein Pineapple Orange smoothie, inspired
To wind down from her electric tennis career and business forays, Gauff journals and treats herself with $3,000 shopping sprees. The multimillionaire also likes to balance luxury with the simple pleasures; she canât live without her $2 monthly subscription to Trivia Crack and loves to shop on second-hand clothes website Depop. Gauff hasnât taken a real vacation since she was 16âbut dreams of sipping piña coladas and playing water sports.Â
This interview has been condensed for clarity.
Fortune: Whatâs been the best investment youâve ever bought?
My house was probably the best investment because I feel like thatâs something that will only appreciate in value and itâs in my hometown. I can see myself living there for the rest of my lifeâbut who knows. If I donât end up there forever, I can pass it down to my future kids, my brothers, or someone in my family.
What are your living arrangements like: Swanky apartment in the city or suburban sprawling?
When Iâm not traveling for tournaments, Iâm back home in Delray Beach, Florida. Itâs where I grew up, and Iâve always loved the laid-back vibeâsunshine, palm trees, and space to just breathe. My house is close to my family, which means everything to me. I donât have a traditional office unless you count the tennis court, but being home gives me time to recharge, stay grounded, and catch up with friends and family.
How do you commute to work?
When Iâm home, I usually practice at the court at my parents house which isnât too far away, so after I wake up I usually grab my kit and a Naked smoothie and drive to their house, listen to music in the car, and eat something small there before I get going.
Do you invest in shares?
In the investing world, Iâm still very new. I really just go off the recommendation of my dad. He has a financial advisor he talks to, and then heâll ask for my input, but Iâm very much in the learning phase. If itâs something I absolutely donât believe inâlike a specific companyâthen Iâm like, âYeah⊠no thanks.â But most of the time, I trust him. He had a lot of experience at his job when he was working and learned a lot about the market, so I trust his opinion.
What personal finance advice would you give your 20-year-old self?
Well, 20 was only a year ago for me, so Iâm still figuring it out! But if I had to give myself advice, Iâd say donât be afraid to ask questions and make sure youâre intentional about collaborating with people and brands that truly align with who you areâit makes everything feel more meaningful, authentic and way more fun.
Iâve actually never been on a real holiday since I was probably 16âŠMy dream holiday would be somewhere tropical, just sitting around doing nothing but drinking piña coladas and doing water sports.
Whatâs the one subscription you canât live without?
I would say Netflix, but I actually donât pay for my Netflix subscriptionâI still use my parentsâ account. One that I do pay for is a game called Trivia Crack. I canât stand when there are ads popping up while Iâm trying to play, so it probably costs me like $2 a month which doesnât quite set me back.
Whereâs your go-to wristwatch from?
Itâs a Rolexâthe Oyster Perpetual. Iâve had it since I was 15 years old, and I love it. Itâs my everyday watch. It has some wear and tear, but I like to think of it as being loved.
What about eating on the go?
I donât really ever eat out for lunch. When I do, I just Uber Eats and order lunch. I practice at my parentsâ house because thatâs where the court is, and my parents will often cook lunch. I donât really eat much during practice unless itâs a Naked smoothie, fruit, or a protein bar. I usually try to get a lot of proteinâI like my lunches to be protein, starch, and vegetables. Typically, itâs chicken, rice, and vegetables; chicken, pasta, and vegetables; or fish, potatoes, and vegetables. Itâs always some variation of that.
How often in a week do you dine out versus cook at home?
When Iâm home, I order delivery for lunch. For dinner, either my grandparentsâwho live 15 minutes awayâare cooking, or my parents are. When nobodyâs cooking, Iâll try a TikTok recipe and cook for myself. Iâm not a cookâmy dad and grandparents are expert cooksâbut Iâm learning as I go.
Where do you shop for your work wardrobe?
My work wardrobe consists of basically only tennis clothesâso New Balance. My favorite brands right now are definitely New Balance, MiuMiu, and honestly, Depop. Itâs not a brand, but itâs an app where people can resell things, kind of like an online thrift store. You can find some really unique pieces on there.
What would be a typical work outfit for you?
Depends on the day! If Iâm practicing or playing, I love my New Balance gearâitâs comfortable, performance-driven, and really aligns with the essence of my street style. For meetings or when Iâm filming brand content like with Naked, I like to mix sporty and chic like New Balance sneakers paired with cargo pants or something elevated, like a Miu Miu blazer or cropped jacket. I love blending sporty vibes with high-fashion touches that show off my personality, whether itâs bold colors or fun accessories.
Are you the proud owner of any futuristic gadgets?
I own the Meta glasses, and I was able to try them before they were ever out because I did a brand shoot for Ray-Ban and they gave me some glasses. I donât use them that much because I donât content-create often, but when I do, itâs really cool to get that perspective. I can also play music in them, which is the reason I liked them the most.
I also own an Oculusâthe virtual reality headset. I donât use it a lot because I donât travel with it, but when Iâm home, sometimes Iâll pop in and play a game just to do something different.
How do you unwind from the top job?
I prioritize journaling and have been trying to add more mindfulness habits to my repertoire so that I continue to be at my best. Iâve been journaling since I was little, so I find it helps me get my thoughts out especially when things get overwhelming.
Whatâs the best bonus treat youâve bought yourself?
Ooh, thatâs a good question. Honestly, just clothes. Iâll give myself like a $3,000 limit and online shop until my fingers fall off. So I would say clothes or a bag. I think bags are a good thing to invest inâalthough when theyâre worn, they depreciate a little, itâs never to the point where you canât get some of your money back if you decide to resell them.
Take us on holiday with you, whatâs next on your vacation list?
Iâve actually never been on a real holiday since I was probably 16. I went to the Bahamas with my best friend and my parents, and that was the last time. Usually when the off-season rolls around, Iâm so tired of traveling that I just want to lay in bed. My dream holiday would be somewhere tropical, just sitting around doing nothing but drinking piña coladas and doing water sports. Iâd probably want to go to Jamaica.
How many days of annual leave do you take a year?
Thatâs a tough questionâI donât have a number. If I do well in a tournament, Iâll take maybe 5â7 days off. If I do a big tournament like a Grand Slam and win, Iâll take a week off. Sometimes I go three or four weeks without taking a day off, and sometimes I get one or two days off per week for three or four weeks. Itâs very results-dependent in tennis.
Fortune wants to hear from business leaders on what their âGood Lifeâ looks like. Get in touch: emma.burleigh.com or orianna.royle.com for the U.K. and Europe.
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