Billie
Jean
King
Breaking Barriers
Named one of the “100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century” by LIFE magazine, Billie Jean King’s greatest desire is to empower the next generation with the tools to do better than the one before it. An influential visionary who is both highly respected and strikingly innovative, Billie Jean King’s legacy is ever-evolving.
90 Million Viewers
Battle of the Sexes
In 1973, 90 million people worldwide watched Billie Jean King defeat Bobby Riggs in the “Battle of the Sexes,” 6-4, 6-3, 6-3. No other sporting event has played a more significant role in developing greater respect and recognition for women athletes.
Off the Court
The Fight for Equality
A longtime champion for social justice and equality, Billie Jean King is a preeminent voice in the national conversation surrounding gender equality.
Grand Slam tennis titles
Career victories at Wimbledon
Battle of the Sexes viewership
Tennis Royalty
Greatness on the Court
With 39 Grand Slam titles to her name, including a record 20 titles at Wimbledon, Billie Jean King is one of the greatest tennis players of all time. She held the world #1 ranking in women’s tennis for six of the ten years from 1966 through 1975.
Buy Now
ALL IN: AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY
BY BILLIE JEAN KING
An inspiring and intimate self-portrait of the champion of equality that encompasses her brilliant tennis career, unwavering activism, and an ongoing commitment to fairness and social justice.
News & Press
Making Headlines
Whether she’s in the news, on the news, or writing about the news, one thing is for certain. Billie Jean King always has something to say.
The 2023 Billie Jean King Cup by @gainbridgelife takes place in the beautiful and historic city of Seville, Spain, November 10-13.
I would love for you to join me there.
To enter, share how sport has impacted your life. If you`re chosen as the winner, you and a friend will receive tickets, flights, and accommodation. You`ll also spend some time with me while you`re there.
Click the link in bio to enter.
@toryburchfoundation | #AdvantageAll #BJKCup
I firmly believe that it’s important to move every day, in some way.
All in.
And whether your age is 25, 60, or 85, you can get started any time. Be active, build a new friendship, and feel a sense of belonging.
It’s why I’m proud to be @atriaseniorliving`s Wellness Ambassador, and why I was excited to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Battle of the Sexes with a group of Atria residents yesterday.
Older adults keep raising the bar, embracing reinvention, and choosing habits for a strong mind and body.
The trophy was terrific.
The prize money was too.
But because the Battle of the Sexes was so much more than a tennis match, one of the best things to come out of my victory was that it empowered women to speak up for equality.
It also created the first generation of men of the women`s movement. And these men wanted their daughters to have the same rights and opportunities as their sons.
📷: @gettysport
#BOTS50
Today marks the 50th anniversary of the Battle of the Sexes, the tennis match in which I played and defeated ex-tennis-champion-turned-hustler Bobby Riggs at the Houston Astrodome.
We played in front of a worldwide audience of 90 million, and the match became the most watched televised sports event of all time.
The victory was about so much more than tennis. It became one of the defining moments of the women`s movement, one of the most impactful moments in sports, and one of the most important days of my life.
We have come a long way since 1973, and I have enjoyed watching today`s women athletes live out the dreams of my generation.
But we are not done yet.
The work continues today, and each one of us can help.
Let`s keep going for it.
📷: @gettysport
#BOTS50