Ben Johns

Ben Johns has redefined excellence in pickleball, earning widespread recognition as the sport’s greatest player. Born March 18, 1999, in Gaithersburg, Maryland, he is often called the “GOAT” (Greatest Of All Time) in pickleball circles. With a dominant record spanning singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, Johns’s innovative play, consistency, and championship pedigree have set new benchmarks in the game. As of 2025, he remains the top-ranked player and a central figure in pickleball’s rapid global growth.

Early Life

Johns grew up in a close-knit homeschooling family, where he cultivated a passion for sports from an early age. Tennis and table tennis were his first competitive outlets, and these foundations shaped his quick reflexes and strategic approach to pickleball. He encountered pickleball at age 17 during a family vacation in Florida in 2016, quickly displaying natural talent and entering competitive play. Within months, Johns placed fifth in Men’s Pro Singles at the U.S. Open Pickleball Championships and soon captured his first gold medal at the Riverbend RV Resort Pickleball Tournament. By 2017, he had won gold in Men’s Pro Singles at the U.S. Open, signaling the emergence of a generational talent.

Family Life

Family is central to Ben Johns’s trajectory. The middle child in a family of seven, Ben has credited homeschooling for allowing him to focus on his athletic development. His brother, Collin Johns, is not only Ben’s frequent doubles partner but also a highly ranked professional pickleball player in his own right. Their partnership has won numerous titles on the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour. Ben’s sister, Hannah, is also involved professionally, working for the PPA Tour as a senior content editor and sideline reporter, reinforcing the Johns family’s prominent roles within the sport. Ben’s family continues to support and shape his career while maintaining their privacy regarding personal matters; there are no publicly confirmed details about Ben’s romantic relationships as of 2025.

Career

Since turning professional in 2016, Ben Johns’s career has been characterized by relentless dominance. Johns achieved a 108-match winning streak in singles and an undefeated run at 22 consecutive mixed doubles tournaments. He is the first male player to win a “Triple Crown” (gold medals in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles at a single major tournament), first at the Tournament of Champions in Utah (2019), then at the U.S. Open in both 2021 and 2022. As of mid-2025, he has amassed more than 150 tournament titles (123 PPA golds), including over 21 Triple Crowns—an unprecedented record.

Johns has partnered with Collin Johns in men’s doubles and, more recently, Anna Leigh Waters in mixed doubles, together forming one of the most successful teams in the sport’s history, including a streak of 16 consecutive gold medals. Ben is known for his lightning-fast reflexes, deep strategic acumen, and ability to innovate—shifting pickleball’s competitive standard to new levels.

Off the court, Johns has completed a Materials Science & Engineering degree at the University of Maryland. He is an entrepreneur, co-owning several pickleball-focused companies: Pickleball Getaways (vacation/instruction service), Pickleball 360 (video instruction platform), and Johns Design & Consulting (court design). He has played a key role in developing the JOOLA Perseus paddle, his signature equipment.

Through sponsorships with brands like JOOLA, Foot Solutions, and Jigsaw Health, Johns has become the sport’s most marketable athlete, regularly making media appearances and representing pickleball at high-profile events.

Net Worth

As of July 2025, Ben Johns’s estimated net worth stands at $3-4 million. This figure reflects his tournament winnings, business ventures, and lucrative sponsorships. His influence as both an athlete and ambassador continues to grow alongside pickleball’s surge in popularity.

Player Profile