Zheng Jie, tennis player

   2010 earning:  10.2 million yuan  (US$1.55 million)

Born in 1983 in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, Zheng Jie is one of the most successful female tennis players in China. Currently her career high ranking is the world No. 15, which she achieved on May 18, 2009.

Zheng has won three WTA singles titles at Hobart in 2005 and Estoril and Stockholm in 2006. She has also won 12 doubles titles, including Wimbledon and the Australian Open in 2006. Zheng reached the singles semi-finals at the 2008 Wimbledon Championships and the 2010 Australian Open, becoming the first Chinese female player to reach the semi-finals at a Grand Slam event.