Maria Sharapova
A ferocious competitor with a signature scream, she stormed from Siberia to win Wimbledon at 17 and built a tennis and business empire.
Born 1987 (age 39)·Russian former tennis player·Birthday: April 19·Millennials
Biography
Maria Sharapova arrived on the global stage not with a whisper, but with a thunderclap, defeating the seemingly invincible Serena Williams to win Wimbledon at just 17 years old. That victory announced a player whose mental fortitude was as powerful as her punishing groundstrokes. Heralding from Siberia, her family's sacrifices for her training were the fuel for a relentless work ethic. She completed a Career Grand Slam, one of only a handful of women to do so, proving her mastery on all surfaces. Sharapova's impact extended far beyond the baseline; she cultivated a brand of luxury and determination, becoming the world's highest-paid female athlete for years through endorsements and her own candy business, Sugarpova, crafting a legacy as a formidable athlete-entrepreneur.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Maria was born in 1987, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Maria Was Born
The biggest hits of 1987
#1 Movie
Three Men and a Baby
Best Picture
The Last Emperor
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Maria's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1987Born
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1992Started school
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2000Became a teenager
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Could drive
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2005Could vote
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2008Turned 21
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2017Turned 30
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 39 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Achieved a Career Grand Slam by winning Wimbledon, the US Open, the Australian Open, and the French Open twice.
- Became the world No. 1 in women's singles for the first time in 2005.
- Won an Olympic silver medal in women's singles at the 2012 London Games.
- Founded Sugarpova, a premium candy brand, in 2012.
Did You Know?
She began playing tennis at age four after her father gave her a racket.
She was named one of the world's 100 most influential people by Time magazine in 2006.
She published a memoir titled 'Unstoppable: My Life So Far' in 2017.
“"I don't want to be the next someone else, I want to be the first Maria Sharapova."”
