In a remarkable display of generosity and social consciousness, pickleball superstar **Ben Johns** and his wife, fellow champion **Anna Leigh Waters**, have announced they will **donate all of his 2025 season winnings and sponsorship earnings to charity**, with a strong focus on homeless relief and youth development programs. This decision has stunned the sports world and captured the hearts of millions, cementing the couple not only as dominant figures in the game but also as champions of humanity.
The 2025 season has been one of the most lucrative in professional pickleball history. Prize pools have surged, driven by booming viewership, increased sponsorship interest, and expanded international events. Johns alone is projected to earn well over **\$1.5 million** this season from tournament wins, appearance fees, endorsements, and merchandise partnerships. Major sponsors such as JOOLA, Franklin, and Celsius have aligned with Johns in record-breaking deals, with bonuses tied to rankings and performance.
Some of the **biggest bonuses in pickleball history** include:
* **\$250,000 performance bonus** from JOOLA for year-end #1 singles ranking.
* **\$100,000 mixed doubles incentive** if he and Anna Leigh Waters win all four major events.
* A **\$500,000 milestone endorsement extension** from a leading beverage brand upon breaking the Triple Crown record.
These numbers are unprecedented in a sport that just a few years ago offered modest purses and regional recognition. And yet, Ben and Anna Leigh have chosen not to keep a dime of it.
Instead, the funds will be directed to organizations such as **Habitat for Humanity**, **Feeding America**, **Youth Without Shelter**, and **Paddle Forward**, a new nonprofit initiative they co-founded to provide free access to pickleball for at-risk youth in underserved communities. “The platform we’ve been given is bigger than the game,” Johns said in a press release. “We’ve been blessed beyond measure, and now it’s time to give that back—to be part of something that heals, that lifts people up, especially those left behind.”
In a world often marked by **indifference**, profit motives, and fleeting fame, the decision is a stunning act of **compassion**, reflecting a value system that goes deeper than victory on the court. While others in sports chase luxury, Johns and Waters are chasing legacy—not with medals, but through **meaningful impact**.
Critics and fans alike have praised their decision as bold and selfless. “They’re redefining what greatness looks like in sports,” said former champion Tyson McGuffin. “It’s not just about how many titles you win—it’s what you do with the power those titles give you.”
The couple’s choice is likely to influence other athletes in pickleball and beyond to re-evaluate the role of philanthropy in professional sports. And as Ben and Anna Leigh continue to dominate the game, their actions off the court may prove even more historic than their victories on it.
In a sport rising faster than any other in the U.S., **Ben Johns’ legacy may ultimately be measured not by stats, but by selflessness**—a reminder that true greatness lies not just in excellence, but in empathy.
