Billie Jean King

Former World No.1 Tennis Player, Founder of the Women’s Tennis Association, Equality Advocate, Sports Business Owner & Global Leadership Speaker

Billie Jean King’s Biography:

Billie Jean King is one of the most influential keynote speakers in the world of sport, leadership and social progress. A former World No.1 tennis player, 39-time Grand Slam champion, and the founder of the Women’s Tennis Association, she is widely recognised as a pioneer who reshaped professional sport. Billie is best known globally for winning the historic 1973 Battle of the Sexes, a moment that transcended tennis and became a cultural turning point for gender equality. Today, she is regarded not only as one of the greatest athletes of all time, but also as one of sport’s most respected leadership voices.

Billie’s journey began on the public tennis courts of Long Beach, California, where she grew up in a working class family and learned the value of discipline, resilience and fairness. She switched from softball to tennis aged 11 and quickly showed a fierce competitive instinct. After attending Long Beach Polytechnic High School, she enrolled at California State University, Los Angeles, before leaving to pursue tennis full time. From her teenage years, Billie challenged sporting norms, including strict dress codes and unequal treatment, experiences that shaped her future advocacy. Her rise through the ranks was defined by relentless work ethic, tactical intelligence and mental toughness, qualities she now draws on in her keynote talks.

During her playing career, Billie dominated world tennis. She won 12 Grand Slam singles titles, 16 women’s doubles titles, and 11 mixed doubles titles, alongside a record 20 Wimbledon championships across all disciplines. She finished as year end World No.1 six times and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1987. Beyond results, Billie changed the business of sport. As President of the Women’s Tennis Association, she led the fight for equal prize money, helping secure the US Open as the first Grand Slam to offer parity. She also founded the Women’s Sports Foundation, creating long term pathways for girls and women in sport worldwide.

Why Hire Billie Jean King?

As a keynote speaker, Billie Jean King brings unmatched credibility, clarity and purpose. She speaks on leadership, resilience, equality, high performance, and driving cultural change, drawing lessons from elite sport that resonate deeply with business leaders, educators and global organisations. Her achievements have been recognised with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award, a Congressional Gold Medal, and in 2025, becoming the first woman to receive a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in sports entertainment. Organisations hire Billie because she inspires action, challenges complacency, and shows how inclusive leadership leads to lasting success.

Billie Jean King’s Career Highlights:

Here are some of the key milestones that define Billie Jean King’s inspirational sports career:

• 2025 – Became the first woman to receive a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in sports entertainment
• 2024 – Awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for advancing equality in sport and society
• 2022 – Received the French Legion of Honour
• 2020 – International team competition renamed the Billie Jean King Cup
• 2018 – Won BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award
• 1987 – Inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame
• 1973 – Won the Battle of the Sexes match against Bobby Riggs
• 1973 – Became President and founder of the Women’s Tennis Association