In 1971, the American tennis player Billie Jean King became the first woman to earn over $1 million in a season. This was a significant milestone in women's tennis, as it demonstrated that women could compete at the same level as men and earn comparable rewards. King was also a vocal advocate for gender equality and was instrumental in founding the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) and securing equal prize money for women at major tournaments. Today, many female tennis players earn millions of dollars each year, thanks in part to King's trailblazing efforts.