Last Updated on September 29, 2022 by Deb
Golf is one of the world’s most luxurious games, and you can earn a handsome amount of money that gives you a chance to stop playing in the golf tournament as a professional. Still, you have to invest your talent correctly in the course. Although this game looks appealing, in authenticity, it is pretty challenging to win a tournament. But legends like Tiger Woods and Rory Mcllroy prove that it is not hard to beat and hold the winning position year-round. Like these prodigies in golf, other most affluent golfers also work hard not only for the prize money but also for getting lucrative sponsorship and endorsement, making them incredibly wealthy. In this article, you will get information about the all-time and present-day most affluent golfers who inspire you to golf. In this article, we describe the richest golfer in the world and their successful golf career.
Table of Contents
List of Top 10 Present Richest Golfers
NAME |
NATIONALITY |
NET WORTH |
Tiger Woods |
The U.S. |
$800 million |
Arnold Palmer |
The U.S. |
$700 million |
Phil Mickelson |
The U.S. |
$400 million |
Jack Nicklaus |
The U.S. |
$320 million |
Greg Norman |
Australia |
$ 400million |
Gary Player |
South Africa |
$ 250million |
Rory Mcllroy |
Northern Ireland |
$ 150million |
Fred Couples |
The U.S. |
$ 120million |
Jordan Spieth |
The U.S. |
$ 100million |
Ernie Els |
South Africa |
$85 million |
Related: Famous Golf Courses In The USA
Top 10 Richest Golfers of All Time
Tiger Woods, who revolutionized golf, is not only the present high-earned professional, but he is also the all-time richest golfer. He gets a hold of every milestone in his professional life and conquers all the regions with everything possible to win. According to Forbes, five golfers secure their financial status among the 100 highest-earning athletes globally, and four of these golfers are the citizens of the United States.
From the early day of 2020, the world starts the journey with the severe attack of the unknown virus COVID-19. It creates a pandemic situation in the whole world that forces all people to stay home, even the athletes. Due to this virus, like other parts of life, starting the practice and arrangement of any tournament becomes uncertain. And, nobody knows when they can run with their regular activities of living. By this time, you can execute your time to fulfill your query about the most affluent golfers in the world.
This article describes the top 10 wealthiest golfers and enlists 25 luxuriant golfers who earned the highest prize money and sponsorship and endorsement during their career. And still, these pro golfers continue their professional life more successfully. Let’s go with the detail of the professional golfing career of the celebrity golfers without making any delay.
1. Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods from Florida, the United States, is not only a famous golfer, but he also reaches the top position among the highest-earning professionals. There is no doubt about his most impressive talent and successful career in golfing history. Perhaps, he has to overcome many challenges from his amateur days, but the naturally gifted talent helps him establish himself as “The Best golfer” in golf. Woods, the money-earning tycoon, has won 15 major championships, 82 PGA tours, 41 European trips, and five Masters Victories.
Since 1996, Tiger continues his pro-life, and his career earnings are about $1.5 billion U.S. dollars, and he gets the recognition of the all-time richest golfer. With this achievement, his net worth is about $800 million, and about 20% of it comes from endorsements and sponsorships. Not only this, but he also owned a mansion in Jupiter with his pitch-putt golf course in the garden, a personal dock for his 155-feet yacht “M/Y Privacy’.
The second chapter of Tiger is his brand TGR, and he describes it as a way of developing an incredible legacy that does not involve birdies and bogeys. Under the brand TGR, you can expect a golf course pattern, a foundation of authorizing golf enthusiasts, charitable events, restaurants, and a sports bar in his hometown called ‘The Woods”.
Related: Trump Golf vs. Obama – American Golfing Presidents
2. Arnold Palmer
Arnold Palmer, an American golfer, owned the second position of the game of golf. He is also well-known as an all-time golfer and one of the most respected professionals. In 1974, Arnold introduced himself to the world golf Hall of Fame. In his impressive career, he earns more than $1.3 billion from endorsement and entrepreneurial ventures. His net worth is around $700 million, and he won 62 PGA and ten championship tours. Not only this, but Palmer also recognizes the part of “The Big Three” with Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player. They incredibly popularize and commercialize the game around the world. Also, Palmer built himself as “The King” of enterprises.
As an entrepreneur, Arnold is a successful person. His golf course design company, Arnold Palmer Enterprises, deals with the golfers’ endorsements, licensing spokesman associations, and commercial partnerships. Besides, Arnold developed one of the world’s best sports and talent agency IMG, drinks brand, Arizona Beverages, Arnold Palmer Design Company. His design company establishes more than 300 golf courses worldwide and contributes to founding the golf Channel. Except for this, he has an association with the Callaway and E-Z-Go Golf Cart. Moreover, Arnold Has an excellent longtime role on several famous brands like Rolex, Hertz, Cadillac, Mastercard, Sears, etc.
3. Phil Mickelson
In 1992, Phil Mickelson started his professional life in the game of golf. However, he began to golf at his college and won many awards. Phil won three NCAA Championships and Haskins Awards in 1990, 1991, and 1992 as an outstanding college golfer of the year in college golf. Only the U.S. Open, Phil owned the Runner-up position six times but can’t obtain the first position. He gets the attention of the fans of golf as “The Lefty.”
Moreover, Mickelson takes more than 700 weeks to achieve status in the top ten of the Official World Golf Ranking. In his career, Phil wins 44 PGA tours and five major championships. Besides, this American golfer gets endorsement deals with Callaway, Ford, Titleist, KPMG, Rolex, and many sports enterprises. In 2012, the lifetime PGA tour member Mickelson got the 2nd position in the World Golf Hall of Fame. And, In 2020, Phil’s net worth is $400 million.
4. Greg Norman
The Australian golfer, Greg Norman, is another pro who successfully maintains his status in the list of 100 highest-paid athletes in the world. However, Greg retired from the game of golf. In 2020, his net worth became $400 million. In 1976, only at the age of 21, Norman started his pro golf life, and in 2001, he introduced himself in the world Golf Hall of Fame. Greg won almost 90+ professionals during his golf career, including PGA, Australasia, and European tours. Norman’s more exciting thing is that after winning the British Open Championship, Norman held the Ranking one position in the world for a total of 331 weeks. He is also well-known as “The Great White Shark” to the golf world. Outside the golf, Greg is an architect and established himself as an entrepreneur. He owned several companies in different business fields like the wine industry, real estate, sports industry, private equity, clothing, eyewear, food, restaurant, and many more. This celebrity golfer also develops a golf course academy, starts a business of golf course design.
5. Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus, the former golfer, was born on 21 January 1940 and inducted himself into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974. In 2005, jack retired from the golf profession. The wealthy is also one of the all-time golfers whose net worth is $320 million. Still, after retirement, he holds his position in the top ten highest-earning golfers of the world. In 1961, Jack started his professional golf career and became famous as “The Golden Bear” to golf lovers. Jack won 115 professionals and 18 significant victories, including 73 PGA tours and ten times championship tours. When he was in college won the U.S Amateur two times and the NCAA championship. Besides, Nicklaus is the founder and host of the “Memorial Tournament” at his club named “Muirfield Village” in Dublin, Ohio. He builds an enterprise in a partnership with his four sons and son-in-law. His company already designed about 410 golf courses in 45 countries, 1% of total golf courses worldwide. As well, Nicklaus received the Charlie Bartlett Award, National Path Finder Award, Congressional Gold Medal. He is also known as the Florida athlete of the Century.
6. Gary Player
Another most affluent golfer Gary Player is also known as “The Black Knight” to his devotees. The South African golfer Gary introduced himself on golf only at the age of 14 and, within three years, presented as a professional. The player won nine major championships and three British Open Championships on the European Tour in his golf career. Gary also won 165 tournaments on six continents. And that all contributed to his induction into the Golf Hall of Fame in 1974. In 1965, Gary established himself as only a Non-American golfer by winning all four majors known as “Grand Slams.” Now, the player enjoys his retired life from golf. Gary Player’s net worth is about $250 million, making him one of the world’s highest-earning golfers’ lists. Gary builds some business companies involved in golf course design, real estate, foundations, academics, and enterprises outside the golf. The Black Knight deals with licensing, apparel, publishing, wine, events, and memorabilia, including Gary Player design. Moreover, he is the International Ambassador of the game for generations and sports. His Gary Player foundation works for unprivileged education around the world.
7. Rory Mcllroy
The Irish golfer Rory Mcllroy is one of the most successful professional golfers and ranked no. 1 PGA player of the year on 15 March 2020. He also held this Rank#1 position for more than 100 weeks. In his golf career, up to the moment, Rory won four Major Championships and acquired the PGA championship Player’s honor of 2019. He also obtains the third-youngest player’s status as a British golfer, wins the British Open championship, and receives the no#1 rank in the World Official Golf. Rory introduces himself as one of the four golfers who win the majors before the age of 25. After starting professional life in 2007, Rory already wins 13 PGA Tour championships and 13 European tours. Rory’s more exciting fact is that he kept his foot on the game of golf when he was only 18-month-old with his father. In 2017, he made 100-million with TaylorMade and a 200-million deal of money with Nike. In 2015, Mcllroy replaced Tiger Woods as the face of E.A. Sports’ PGA Tour video game. In 2020, Rory’s net worth was $150 million, giving him the rank of European player on the world’s all-time money list golfers.
8. Fred Couples
Frederick Steven Couples started his pro golf life in 1980, and in 2013, the World Golf Hall of Fame welcomed him. Fred Couples won 64 International tournaments in his golf career. Perhaps Couples won PGA Tour 15 times but won only one Master Championship of Major games in 1992 with a 275(-13) score. Due to his ability to hit long drives, the golf devotees knew Fred as “Boom Boom.” The net worth of this former golfer is $120 million in 2020.
9. Jordan Spieth
Another most successful golfer, Jordan Spieth, won the #1position as the PGA junior golfer when he was only 17 in July 2011. The current estimated net worth of this American professional golfer is $100 million. Jordan got a great start and won the U.S. Junior Amateur Tournament. Tiger Woods was the only other golfer to achieve these rewards twice, except for Spieth. In 2015, Jordan recorded 36-holes in the Master Championship and became the third-youngest golfer who won ever in multiple PGA golf history events. In 2018, he made a position in the list of #25 highest-paid athletes. The young golfer comes from a family of athletes that included dominant players of baseball. But at the age of 12, Jordan became a golf fan and started their golf career. He started his career victories with the Master Championships and endorsed many famous brands like Rolex, Coca-Cola, and Wheaties.
10. Ernie Els
The dominating stature of 6 feet 3 inches of Ernie Els, the golfer of South Africa, spread a great impression among the golf enthusiast. He is known as “The Big Easy” for his physique and capacity to make the swing’s fluid-like procedure. Ernie topped the World Official Golf ranking two times in 2003 and 2004. From early to today’s golf tournaments, Ernie wins 65 times, including 4 Major Championships, 19 PGA Tours, and 28 European Tours. In 2011, Ernie inducted himself into the World Golf Hall of Fame. He also establishes in the list of six golfers who win the U.S. Open and Open championship twice. Ernie Els’s net worth is about $85 million, which holds his position as the world’s top-ten wealthiest golfers. Outside golf, he has a designing company that crafts golf course design. Besides, Ernie’s charitable foundation works for the unprivileged kids in South Africa to support golf practice.
List of 25 Wealthiest Golfers of The World
NAME |
NATIONALITY |
NET WORTH |
Tiger Woods |
The U.S. |
$800 million |
Arnold Palmer |
The U.S. |
$700 million |
Phil Mickelson |
The U.S. |
$400 million |
Jack Nicklaus |
The U.S. |
$320 million |
Greg Norman |
Australia |
$ 400million |
Gary Player |
South Africa |
$ 250million |
Rory Mcllroy |
Northern Ireland |
$ 150million |
Fred Couples |
The U.S. |
$ 120million |
Jordan Spieth |
The U.S. |
$ 100million |
Ernie Els |
South Africa |
$85 million |
Vijay Singh |
Fiji |
$75 million |
Sergio Garcia |
Span |
$70 million |
Ian Poulter |
England |
$60 million |
Nick Faldo |
England |
$60 million |
Davis Love |
The U.S. |
$50 million |
Pete Dye |
The U.S. |
$50 million |
Adam Scott |
Australia |
$40 million |
Justin Rose |
South Africa (By Birth) |
$40 million |
David Toms |
The U.S. |
$35 million |
Darren Clarke |
Ireland |
$30 million |
Henrik Stenson |
Sweden |
$25 million |
Zach Johnson |
The U.S. |
$25 million |
Martin Kaymer |
Germany |
$22 million |
Paul Casey |
England |
$21 million |
Chad Campbell |
The U.S. |
$20 million |
Francesco Molinari |
Italy |
$20 million |
Top 10 Richest Golfers of All the Time!!!
Final Words
Now the game of golf stays in a prestigious position like some other athletic games because accomplished golfer has enormous opportunities to improve the status of pro-life through Major championship victories. More than 60 million most prosperous handful of golfers are associated with this high-investing and high-earning game. Though most golfers always try to invest their best in this game, the professional tournaments’ prize money, sponsorships, and endorsements increased day by day. Besides, a dominant golfer can make many deals with companies of golf apparel. As a result, the earning of the golfers also changes with the time of playing. So you will get a change in the ranking of the golf legend, which also alters the high-earning players in a certain period. Every year golf analysts prepare the list of dominants golfers from the winning results of professional golf tournaments. We hope you enjoy the list of the top ten and 25 wealthiest golfers in the world. If you have any other queries about the golf tournament, you can visit our entire website.