Ion Tiriac may not be a household name in the world of tennis, but the Romanian has become one of the sport’s wealthiest figures.

Ion Tiriac in the stands (Image: Getty Images)

The Tiriac Open, named after Romanian tennis legend and business tycoon Ion Tiriac, is a testament to his success both on and off the court.

Despite only securing one Grand Slam doubles title, Tiriac’s wealth outstrips the combined net worth of tennis stars Novak Djokovic, Emma Raducanu, and Andy Murray.

In other news, Stefanos Tsitsipas retired just minutes into Barcelona Open quarterfinal clash with Arthur Fils on Friday – while NASCAR legend Danica Patrick recently turned heads with her golf outfit ahead of last week’s Masters at Augusta National.

While Tiriac may not be a household name in sports, he ranks among the wealthiest. Forbes estimates the 84 year old’s real-time net worth at an impressive $2.1 billion, far exceeding the combined net worth of Djokovic, Murray, and Raducanu, which totals around the $375 million mark.

During his playing days, Tiriac earned roughly £150k ($198k), with his crowning glory being the 1970 French Open doubles title, which he clinched alongside fellow Romanian Ilie Nastase. However, Tiriac found even greater success post-retirement, transitioning to various roles within the sport.

Tiriac coached Boris Becker (Image: Getty Images)

After hanging up his racket, Tiriac turned to coaching and managing other players, including Goran Ivanisevic and Marat Safin. Most notably, he mentored a young Boris Becker and served as his agent from 1984 to 1993.

Beyond this, Tiriac owned and operated several tennis tournaments, although his portfolio has dwindled in recent years. He managed the ATP Finals when they were held in Hanover and developed the Madrid Open, which he sold to IMG for around £334 million ($443 million) in 2021.

The Tiriac Open in Bucharest made a triumphant return this year, marking its first occurrence since 2016. Yet, the bulk of his fortune has been accumulated through his entrepreneurial endeavors. After communism fell in Romania, he founded the nation’s inaugural private bank – the Tiriac Bank.

Beyond banking, he possesses enterprises in the retail, aviation, car dealership, and insurance industries. An avid car enthusiast, the octogenarian boasts a collection exceeding 400 vehicles in the Tiriac Collection, featuring models previously owned by luminaries such as Sir Elton John and Al Capone.

In 2007, Tiriac etched his name in history by becoming the first Romanian to grace Forbes’ list of billionaires, and he remains one of the most affluent figures in sports.