US Open
The US Open pays the biggest prize money in tennis, and the 2026 edition is the richest tournament the sport has ever staged. The USTA has confirmed a total purse of $108 million, up 20% on the record $90 million paid in 2025, with $5.5 million for each singles champion. The rises are weighted towards the early rounds: a first-round loser now earns $140,000, up more than 27%. Here is the full breakdown, and how New York compares to the other Grand Slams.
US Open 2026: Total Prize Money
The $108 million pool is the largest in tennis history and the fifth straight year the USTA has increased it. Earlier reports of a $95 million purse were projections published before the official announcement; the confirmed figure is higher.
| Year | Total purse | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $108,000,000 | +20% |
| 2025 | $90,000,000 | +20% |
| 2024 | $75,000,000 | +15% |
| 2023 | $65,000,000 | +8% |
Singles Prize Money Breakdown (2026)
Men and women are paid equally at the US Open. It was the first Grand Slam to introduce equal prize money, back in 1973. The 2026 round-by-round singles payouts, with the 2025 figure alongside so you can see where the money went:
| Round | 2026 (per player) | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Champion | $5,500,000 | $5,000,000 | +10% |
| Runner-up | $2,800,000 | $2,500,000 | +12% |
| Semi-finalist | $1,450,000 | $1,260,000 | +15% |
| Quarter-finalist | $780,000 | $660,000 | +18% |
| Round of 16 | $480,000 | $400,000 | +20% |
| Round of 32 | $290,000 | $237,000 | +22% |
| Round of 64 | $190,000 | $154,000 | +23% |
| First round | $140,000 | $110,000 | +27% |
The pattern is deliberate. The champion’s cheque rose 10% while the first-round payment rose more than 27%, part of a wider push to pay the players who lose early and still carry the costs of a full season. A first-round loser in New York now earns more than the champion takes home at many tour-level events, which is why US Open qualifying is the most fiercely contested of the year.
Qualifying and Doubles
The USTA has not published the 2026 qualifying and doubles ladder in the same round-by-round detail. The 2025 figures below are the working reference, and the doubles champions’ cheque of $1,000,000 per team is unchanged for 2026.
| Category | 2025 payout |
|---|---|
| Qualifying, final round | $57,200 |
| Qualifying, 2nd round | $41,800 |
| Qualifying, 1st round | $27,500 |
| Doubles champions (per team) | $1,000,000 |
| Doubles runners-up (per team) | $500,000 |
The total qualifying pool alone was over $8 million in 2025. Qualifying for 2026 ran from 24 to 28 August at Flushing Meadows, the final round pushed back a day by rain. See our US Open 2026 qualifying guide.
How the US Open Compares to the Other Grand Slams
| Grand Slam | Total purse | Singles champion |
|---|---|---|
| US Open (2026) | $108.0m | $5.5m |
| French Open (2026) | €56.35m | €2.55m |
| Wimbledon (2025) | £53.5m | £3.0m |
| Australian Open (2025) | A$96.5m | A$3.5m |
Figures are each event’s most recent confirmed edition. Currency swings shift the exact ordering, but the US Open champion’s $5.5 million cheque is comfortably the largest single payout in the sport. For the Paris numbers in full, see our French Open 2026 prize money breakdown.
Key Takeaways
- The 2026 purse is $108 million, a record, and 20% up on 2025.
- Each singles champion receives $5.5 million, the biggest single prize in tennis.
- The increases are weighted to the early rounds: first-round losers are up 27% to $140,000.
- Equal pay since 1973, half a century before some rivals matched it.
How to Watch the US Open in the UK
The US Open is live exclusively on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland, with NOW memberships as the no-contract alternative. bet365 streams selected matches for funded accounts. See our bet365 tennis offer, the US Open live stream guide and our best tennis betting sites rankings.
FAQ
US Open Prize Money FAQs
How much does the US Open 2026 winner get?
$5,500,000 for each singles champion, men’s and women’s, up 10% on the $5,000,000 paid in 2025. It is the largest winner’s cheque in tennis.
What is the total US Open 2026 prize money?
$108 million, a record for any tennis tournament and a 20% rise on the $90 million paid in 2025.
Do men and women earn the same at the US Open?
Yes. The US Open has paid men and women equally since 1973, the first Grand Slam to do so.
How much does a first-round loser earn at the US Open?
$140,000 in 2026, up more than 27% on the $110,000 paid in 2025 and more than the champion’s prize at many smaller tour events. Qualifiers who fell in the first round of qualifying took home $27,500 in 2025.
More Coverage
- US Open bracket predictor · women’s draw: build and share your own bracket
- US Open hub: the full guide
- Preview
- Betting tips
- Past champions
- How to watch
- Every tournament we cover · 2026 tennis calendar