Golf is a multi-million dollar sport with some of the wealthiest athletes in the world. From Tiger Woods to Rory McIlroy, there are numerous professional golfers that have made enormous amounts of money from prize money and endorsement deals. Here’s a look at the top 20 richest golfers in the world today.
1. Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods has undoubtedly made an indelible mark in the field of golf, solidifying his status as one of the most famous and successful golfers in the world. Boasting 82 PGA tour wins, 41 Europe tour wins, 15 Majors, and 5 Master victories, he has left a trail of accomplishments that few can match.
However, his success extends beyond the green, as his estimated net worth of $800 million sets him apart as the richest golfer in the world. This fortune was amassed not only through tournament winnings but also numerous lucrative sponsorships with various companies. In 2009, Forbes named him the world’s first athlete to reach $1 billion in earnings, including sponsorships, at the remarkably young age of 34.
2. Arnold Palmer
Arnold Palmer was an icon of professional golf, and his recent passing has left a void in the sport. When we look at his financial success, we see that he was equally legendary in his business acumen. While his prize money was only approximately $3 million, his net worth has been estimated at $700 million to $875 million.
This stunning wealth would put him at the top of the all-time money winners list, a tribute to his financial savvy and acumen. Despite the money, it’s his passion, dedication, and the impact he had on the sport that will always be remembered.
3. Greg Norman
Greg Norman is a true success story of combining sports prowess with business acumen. A seasoned golfer, he has won a staggering 91 international tours, including two Majors and 20 GPA wins. However, what sets him apart is his ability to multiply his earnings from his endorsement deals and prize money by investing in businesses. As per Sports Keeda, his net worth stands at around $300 million, which speaks volumes about his acumen in maximizing his wealth.
4. Phil Mickelson
With an impressive net worth of approximately $400 million, Phil Mickelson has undoubtedly made an outstanding run for the title of the richest golfer in the world. The American pro-golfer, now 48 years old, has been in the industry for decades, with a career that started during his college years.
Over the years, Phil has accomplished numerous feats in the sport, including 5 Majors and 44 PGA tour wins. These accolades make him the most fantastic sportsman in the history of Golf. He is a lifetime member of the PGA Tour and a World Golf Hall of Fame inductee. It is no wonder that Phil Mickelson has continually been mentioned among the wealthiest golfers across the globe.
5. Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus is one of the most successful golfers in history, with his professional wins totaling 115. A true legend both on and off the course, his net worth is estimated to be around $320 million dollars. While he has won $5.7 million in prize money over the course of his career, it is clear that his wealth has been built on his success outside of golf as well.
Nicklaus’ design company has created some of the most renowned and prestigious golf courses worldwide, with a portfolio that boasts over 410 courses. This legendary golfer has left an indelible mark on the sport, and his business ventures continue to solidify his place among the greatest golfers of all time.
6. Gary Player
Gary Player was an exceptionally gifted golfer who dominated the profession for an impressive sixty years. His numerous victories on both the PGA and Senior Tour levels resulted in impressive earnings of approximately $14 million in prize money. Surprisingly, only a small fraction of this came from his time spent on the PGA Tour, with just $1.8 million in winnings.
A true master of his craft, Player’s success on the course continued to grow as he aged, and he ultimately amassed an impressive total of nine Major wins and countless other victories on the PGA tour. Beyond his undeniable talent as a golfer, Player has leveraged his skills and experience to found a wide variety of successful ventures.
7. Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy is a prominent figure in the realm of professional golf. With his exceptional talent and hard work, he now holds the first-place slot in the Official World of Golf Rankings. Boasting career earnings of around $59 million on the PGA Tour and $41 million on the European Tour, Rory is one of the highest-paid golfers in the world.
His successes on the course are numerous, including four Major titles, 13 European Tour wins, and 13 PGA Tour wins. As a result of his remarkable achievements, Rory has become a well-respected and celebrated figure in the sport.
8. Fred Couples
Fred Couples is a renowned golfer who is known not only for his wealth but also for his exceptional long drives. With over 50 professional tour wins and almost $23 million in winnings, his success has propelled him to acquire a staggering financial fortune of $120 million.
Despite his advancing age and the challenges posed by his vision, Couples remains committed to the sport. Throughout his career, he has been a major sponsor with Bridgestone, further cementing his reputation as a leading figure in the world of golf. Couples’ record of accomplishments in the sport serves as an inspiration to aspiring golfers everywhere.
9. Jordan Spieth
Earning almost $50 Million in prize money on the PGA Tour and holding the 36-hole record at the Masters, Jordan Spieth‘s talents have not gone unnoticed. Despite his success and notoriety, he has made it clear that one nickname does not sit well with him. Dubbed “The Golden Child,” Spieth finds the moniker to be in opposition to how he was raised and incredibly irritating. With a net worth of approximately $100 Million as of 2022, it’s safe to say that he has earned his accolades through hard work and dedication, rather than being handed any sort of golden lineage.
10. Ernie Els
South African golfer, Ernie Els, otherwise known as “The Big Easy,” has made quite a name for himself in the golfing world. His impressive career includes 28 Europe tour wins, 19 PGA tour wins, and 4 Major titles, all of which showcase his exceptional abilities on the green. With a substantial net worth of $85 million, Ernie Els has truly earned his place in the history of the game. He was also the first player to earn over $34 million on the European Tour, solidifying his position among the greats of the sport.
11. Sergio Garcia
Sergio Garcia has proven to be one of Spain’s top golfers, consistently impressing fans and colleagues with his skill on the course. In 2017, he was awarded the prestigious title of European Golfer of the Year, cementing his place as a true talent in the sport. But his interests don’t stop there – Sergio has also ventured into the field of course design, with projects in Mexico and Portugal currently in progress.
This dedication to the sport extends to his recent victory at the 2020 Sanderson Farms Championship, marking his 39th career title. With a net worth of $70 million, it’s clear that Sergio is both a successful and passionate player in the world of golf.
12. Ian Poulter
English golfers Nick Faldo and Ian Poulter share the twelfth-place spot on the list of richest golfers, each boasting an estimated net worth of around $60 million. When it comes to Poulter’s wealth, a large portion can be attributed to his impressive earnings on both the PGA and DP World Tours.
Throughout his career, the Englishman has earned over $28.5 million on the PGA Tour and ranks comfortably in the top 40 of the money list. Additionally, Poulter has amassed over €27 million on the DP World Tour, securing a spot in the top 10 of its career money list. With these impressive earnings, it’s no wonder Poulter ranks among the top earners in the sport.
13. Vijay Singh
Vijay Singh is a golfer who has carved out a successful career as one of the world’s wealthiest golfers. With a net worth of approximately $75 million, Singh is among the richest golfers in the world. While Singh has achieved success in various other areas of life, he has made a significant amount of money throughout his career on the golf course, earning a total of around $71 million.
As a Fijian golfer, he is known as one of the best golfers to come out of Fiji, and his achievements have established him as a highly respected and renowned figure in the world of golf.
14. Nick Faldo
With 41 wins to his name, Nick Faldo is a retired professional golfer who established himself as a strong contender in many of the major championships during his time with the PGA and European Tours. His accomplishments on the golf course have undoubtedly contributed to his impressive net worth, which is currently estimated at $60 million.
Since retiring from the game in 2015, Faldo has been enjoying life in full retirement, although he spent several years commentating on golf events. As one of the richest golfers in the world, Faldo’s success on the course has certainly paid off, cementing his place in golf history.
15. Adam Scott
Adam Scott has been a prominent figure in the world of golf since his debut in the early 2000s. With an impressive record of over 375 events played on the official PGA Tour, Scott has amassed a net worth that’s been estimated around $60 million. That figure is no surprise given his achievements on the tour, with 14 first-place finishes and 11 DP World Tour wins under his belt.
His best season came in 2015/16, in which he won twice, had two runner-up finishes, and achieved nine top-10 results. All in all, Scott has had an outstanding career, and his impressive earnings stand as a testament to his prowess in the sport of golf.
16. Cameron Smith
Cameron Smith is an accomplished professional golfer with an impressive career thus far. He has been nominated for the ESPY award for best male golfer and has even been sponsored by one of Australia’s leading golf sponsors. Smith also features Australians on his Masters podcast, showcasing his passion for highlighting talent in his home country. As of May 2023, he has earned a combined total of $43,276,066 over his eight-year professional career, making him one of the highest-earning golfers of his generation.
17. John Daly
John Daly is a well-known American professional golfer whose on and off course antics have earned him nicknames like “Wild Thing” and “Long John.” Despite his unconventional approach to the game, Daly has become one of the most beloved golfers on the PGA Tour. He boasts an impressive net worth estimated to be between $2 and $10 million, owing in large part to his more than $10 million in career earnings and endorsement deals with Reebok, Callaway Golf, Wilson Sporting Goods and other major corporations. However, despite his financial success, Daly has struggled with gambling addiction and multiple failed marriages, causing him to lose a significant portion of his net worth over the years.
18. Dustin Johnson
Dustin Johnson is a noteworthy American professional golfer with a net worth of $100 million dollars. With a reign of 64 weeks as the number-one-ranked golfer worldwide, gaining this position is a feat that many aspire for and will remember him for. Johnson has made remarkable achievements throughout his career, especially in World Golf Championships, with only Tiger Woods ahead of him.
With noteworthy earnings, he is third on the list of highest earning golfers of all time; however, technically, his worth changes if we consider FedEx Cup money. By removing this amount of $15 million, which is not counted as PGA tour winnings, Dustin still holds up a high position in the list of top-earning golfers in history.
19. Darren Clarke
Darren Clarke‘s net worth is estimated at an impressive $30 million, no doubt a result of his remarkable achievements on the course. Notably, Clarke has been a member of five consecutive Ryder Cup teams from 1997 to 2006, which attests to his skill and popularity as a player.
His first European Tour win came in 1996 at the Linde German Masters, and from then on, he continued to improve steadily, winning at least one European Tour tournament every year between 1998 and 2003. In 2008, after a five-year drought without a win, Clarke won the BMW Asian Open. His crowning achievement came in 2011 when he finally won his first and only major PGA Tour championship, at the Open. Darren Clarke’s long and impressive career has cemented his place as one of golf’s all-time greats.
20. Henrik Stenson
Henrik Stenson‘s illustrious career as a professional golfer has brought him both success and fortune. With a net worth of $25 million, the Swede has dominated the World top ten rankings for over 100 weeks, earning him the distinction of being the highest-ranking Swedish golfer ever with a career-high ranking of #2. Stenson has had a plethora of victories across multiple tours, including the U.S. PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup and the European Tour’s Race to Dubai.
He finished runner-up at the 2013 Open Championship and placed admirably in other major tournaments such as the PGA Championship and U.S. Open. A recipient of the European Tour Golfer of the Year title in 2013, Stenson has represented Sweden in the World Cup and Europe in the Ryder Cup, cementing his place as a true golfing icon.
Conclusion
Golf is a sport that requires skill, determination and immense talent to succeed. These 20 golfers are some of the best in the world and have each earned a considerable fortune through their skills on the course. Whether it is through tournament wins, endorsement deals or investments, these golfers have managed to build a legacy that will stand the test of time and make them some of the most recognizable names in the game. Each player has had an incredible impact on the sport and will continue to do so for many years to come.
