After retiring from tennis, beauty Maria Sharapova got engaged to her boyfriend Alexander Gilkes. They have welcomed a lovely little angel together. Maria Sharapova began playing tennis at the age of 4 and turned professional on her 14th birthday. She once held the world No. 1 ranking, won 5 Grand Slams, and pocketed a silver medal at the 2012 Olympics.

With her stunning looks and towering height of 6’2″ (1.88m), Sharapova is affectionately known as the ‘Doll’ by fans and became a face of tennis. For 11 years from 2005-2016, Sharapova held the title of the highest-paid female athlete, amassing over $250 million USD.

However, consecutive injuries towards the latter part of her career forced Sharapova to retire in 2020. “I will miss tennis very much, but this is the time for me to step into a new chapter of life,” she shared.

Though not in the spotlight as much, at the age of 35, Sharapova is leading an extremely fulfilling life. Maria began dating businessman Alexander Gilkes in 2018 after meeting at an event. While Gilkes isn’t Sharapova’s first boyfriend, the warmth and care of the 43-year-old man brought Sharapova a sense of security.

Hence, Sharapova quickly said yes when Gilkes proposed in October 2020. “In fact, I agreed from the very first time we met,” Sharapova shared. Last summer, the couple welcomed their first son, named Theodore.

It’s known that Gilkes is a British businessman, founding the art auction platform Paddle8 in 2018. After leaving his role in Paddle8, Gilkes currently runs a financial firm named Squared Circles. Gilkes’s annual income is said to be substantial.

However, Sharapova also doesn’t have to worry about finances. She’s reported to own assets worth up to $180 million USD (over $4.2 trillion VND). Sharapova’s business ventures are also thriving. Her candy company Sugarpova, founded by her, is sold in over 40 countries worldwide and is valued at nearly $200 million USD. Additionally, Sharapova has her own fashion line.

In October 2020, Sharapova spent $8.6 million USD (over $200 billion VND) to acquire a luxury mansion in California, USA.