Some champions win titles. Billie Jean King changed the whole sport. Twelve Grand Slam singles crowns and 20 Wimbledon titles would be enough for any legend, but BJK also founded the WTA, won the Battle of the Sexes and spent half a century fighting for equal pay. And she is still collecting milestones: in May 2026, aged 82, she completed her history degree at California State University, Los Angeles.
This is the story of a true pioneer. Browse the full range in our tennis collection.
Billie Jean King Fact File
| Full name | Billie Jean King (née Moffitt) |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 22 November 1943 (age 82) |
| Place of birth | Long Beach, California, USA |
| Height | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) |
| Plays | Right-handed, one-handed backhand |
| Nationality | American |
| Status | Retired (turned pro 1968, retired 1990) |
| Career titles | 129 singles titles |
| Nickname | BJK |
Career History
| Major | Singles | Women's Doubles | Mixed Doubles | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Open | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| French Open | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Wimbledon | 6 | 10 | 4 | 20 |
| US Open | 4 | 5 | 4 | 13 |
| Total | 12 | 16 | 11 | 39 |
Figures show Grand Slam titles won in each discipline across her career. Her 20 Wimbledon titles span singles, doubles and mixed.
Early Years in Long Beach
Born Billie Jean Moffitt on 22 November 1943 in Long Beach, California, she learned the game on the city's public courts. An attacking serve-and-volleyer, she reached world No. 1 for the first time in 1966.
That was the year she won her first Wimbledon singles title, the start of an extraordinary relationship with the All England Club. Celebrate where it began with our Billie Jean King Tennis Icon Frame Men's Hoodie.
Wimbledon Queen and Open Era Pioneer
King won Wimbledon singles in 1966, 1967 and 1968, then again in 1972, 1973 and 1975. Add ten women's doubles and four mixed doubles titles and she finished with 20 Wimbledon crowns. She completed the career Grand Slam in singles too, winning the Australian Open in 1968, the French Open in 1972 and four US Opens (1967, 1971, 1972, 1974).
She was ranked year-end world No. 1 in six of the ten years from 1966 to 1975, and she won the Federation Cup seven times as a player with the United States. Wear a piece of that legacy with our Billie Jean King Men's T-Shirt.
The Battle of the Sexes
On 20 September 1973 at the Houston Astrodome, King faced former Wimbledon champion Bobby Riggs, who had claimed no woman could beat him. She won 6–4, 6–3, 6–3. It became a landmark moment for women's sport.
The same year she became the first president of the newly formed Women's Tennis Association, and she pushed hard for equal prize money at the US Open, which became the first major to offer it in 1973. In 1974 she co-founded the Women's Sports Foundation. Our Billie Jean King Men's Hoodie is a nod to the champion who refused to back down.
Legacy and Lasting Honours
King retired in 1990 but never stopped shaping tennis. She captained the US to Federation Cup wins in 1976, 1996, 1999 and 2000. In 2006 the USTA National Tennis Center in New York was renamed in her honour, and in 2020 the Fed Cup became the Billie Jean King Cup. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2024.
Honours
Grand Slam Titles
- 12 singles titles, including 6 Wimbledon singles crowns
- 16 women's doubles titles
- 11 mixed doubles titles
- 20 Wimbledon titles in total
Team
- Federation Cup winner as a player: 1963, 1966, 1967, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979
- Federation Cup winning captain: 1976, 1996, 1999, 2000
Recognition
- World No. 1 (singles from 1966; doubles from 1967)
- International Tennis Hall of Fame (1987)
- Presidential Medal of Freedom (2009)
- Congressional Gold Medal (2024)
Off the Court
King helped launch World TeamTennis and remains one of sport's most respected voices on equality. She is married to former player Ilana Kloss.
FAQs
How old is Billie Jean King?
Billie Jean King was born on 22 November 1943, so she is 82 years old.
Where was Billie Jean King born?
She was born in Long Beach, California, where she learned to play on public courts.
How tall is Billie Jean King?
Billie Jean King stands 1.65 m, or 5 ft 5 in.
How many Grand Slams did Billie Jean King win?
She won 39 Grand Slam titles: 12 in singles, 16 in women's doubles and 11 in mixed doubles.
How many Wimbledon titles did Billie Jean King win?
She won 20 Wimbledon titles: six singles, ten women's doubles and four mixed doubles.
Who won the Battle of the Sexes?
Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs 6–4, 6–3, 6–3 at the Houston Astrodome on 20 September 1973.
Shop the Billie Jean King Collection
Pick your favourite BJK design below, all made to order in the UK.
Explore more legends in our tennis collection, or put your own name on the back with our custom name hoodie.
Part of our Player Profiles series. Read next: Martina Navratilova Career Story and Steffi Graf Career Story.
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