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Billie Jean King penned a heartfelt wish for Michelle Obama on the Former US First Lady's 61st birthday. King and Obama, who has a combined net worth of $70 million alongside husband and former President Barack, share a warm relationship and famously came together at the 2023 US Open.
Michelle Obama turned 61 on Friday, January 17, and to celebrate the occasion, Billie Jean King took to X (formerly Twitter) and wrote:
"Happy birthday to the inimitable @MichelleObama!"
King's post also featured an all-smiles picture of the pair warmingly hugging each other during the time they interacted at the 2023 US Open.
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Obama was the US First Lady from January 20, 2009, to January 20, 2017, during husband Barack's two-term presidential reign. Born in 1964 in Chicago, Obama rose to prominence in America's sociopolitical sphere as an attorney first and then an author. She married Barack Obama in 1992, and the couple went on to have two daughters, Malia and Sasha.
The 2023 US Open saw the legendary Billie Jean King felicitated for her profound contributions to tennis, particularly in terms of fighting for pay parity between men's and women's tennis. It was none other than Michelle Obama who made her way to Flushing Meadows to felicitate the former World No. 1 and 12-time singles Grand Slam champion.
Interestingly, the US Open was the first tennis Major to offer equal prize money for men and women back in 1973, and much of that was down to King. During the felicitation ceremony, Obama was full of praise for King, saying:
"Billie Jean teaches us that when things lie in the balance, we all have a choice to make. We can either wait around and accept what we’re given. We can sit silently and hope someone else fights our battles. Or we can make our own stand."
Later, King returned the favor in an interview, as she lauded Obama's efforts to promote women's growth in all walks of life.
"Michelle Obama's always been so warm" - Billie Jean King on pair's US Open 2023 meeting
Shortly after meeting Michelle Obama at the 2023 US Open, Billie Jean King told People about her admiration for the former US First Lady over her personality and dedication to improving the lives of women.
"She's always been so warm, and kind, and just good, and also very strong. She really believes in how much she wants to help women and girls and whether it be through nutrition or exercise or education," King said.
Billie Jean King became an International Tennis Hall of Fame inductee in 1987, and arguably her most telling contribution to women's tennis came in the form of founding the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) back in 1973.
