US Open: Game, Set, Cash

Big numbers catch the eye, but without context, they’re just flashy headlines.

This Week's Chart Drop

This weekend, the US Open Singles Champion will pocket $5 million, a 39% increase from last year. Compared to other Grand Slams, the US Open now pays $1 million more than Wimbledon and far above the 2005 champion’s prize, which would be $1.9 million today.

Prize money has surged over two decades, but the Grand Slams already attract players through history, prestige, and the “GOAT” debate. So the question is: does this payout truly reward excellence, or has it gone beyond reason?

Design Trick

Use a combo chart with a thermometer effect. It’s unusual, memorable, and keeps the data together making comparisons across Grand Slams instant and intuitive.

Each week, I share one simple Excel visual—from sport, business, or personal finance—to give finance professionals ideas on how to present their data.

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