Ultimate golf rich list – from Brit star’s £135m fortune to player still worth £878m despite a VERY costly divorce
THE PGA Championship gets underway this week, with golf’s finest competing for the eye-watering $15million purse.
The tournament takes place on Oak Hill’s East Course in Rochester, New York, which has previously hosted the US Open and the Ryder Cup.
Last year’s champion Justin Thomas will return to defend his title, while Jordan Spieth will be hoping he can complete a career Grand Slam.
Meanwhile Brit Rory McIlroy will be hoping his form improves so that he can chase his fifth major title, having won the competition twice before.
Tiger Woods will miss the PGA Championship, having undergone ankle surgery last month.
But it’s not like he needs the cash, as our ultimate golf rich list reveals…
Tiger Woods – £878million
As arguably the most famous golfer on the planet, it’s no surprise Tiger, 47, is top of our rich list.
In June 2022, Forbes estimated his net worth to be around $1.1billion – only ever achieved by two other sportsmen; LeBron James and Michael Jordan.
According to Forbes, less than 10 per cent of his fortune came from golf.
The majority has come from lucrative sponsorship deals with the likes of Nike, Rolex, TaylorMade, Monster Energy and Gillette helping make him a household name.
The 15-time major winner also founded the golf design firm TGR Design, and co-owns PopStroke, a family-orientated entertainment facility that combines mini golf with food and drink.
Woods is well known for his exploits off the course; his split from Elin Nordegren following his notorious cheating allegations is said to have been one of the most expensive celebrity divorces in history.
His ex-wife received a lump sum of around £80million as well as their £4.8million home in Windermere, Florida. Woods lost a fortune in endorsements, but still lives in their £41million mansion on Florida’s exclusive Jupiter Island.
The stunning property boasts a huge swimming pool, world-class gym, a four-hole practice area complete with six bunkers, a private cinema, an oxygen therapy room and a large mooring for his boats.
Greg Norman – £320million
Australian Greg, 68, is the second richest golfer in the world after winning 91 professional tournaments during his career, which earned him the nickname ‘Great White Shark’.
Back in 1987 savvy Greg, then 32, helped set up Greg Norman Golf Course Design, which has built more than 100 courses worldwide.
It became the foundation of a mini-conglomerate, with a multitude of businesses under its umbrella including wineries, property, food, eyewear and clothing.
In 1991 he invested £1.4million in Cobra Golf, which turned into £32million profit when the company was bought out five years later – according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Greg is currently the CEO and face of the controversial Saudi-backed LIV Golf League, rumoured to earn him £40million a year.
He walked away as CEO of Greg Norman Company to take on the role, but insists he “didn’t do it for my bank account”.
His net worth is estimated to be between £240million and £320million. In 2021 he “downsized” from a £44m pad to a £9.7million home in Palm Beach.
Jack Nicklaus – £320million
Retired American pro Jack has certainly made sure his bank balance doesn’t suffer as he enjoys his golden years.
The 83-year-old – known as The Golden Bear – won 113 tournaments, netting him millions in prize pots.
In 2016, Forbes estimated he earned £930million throughout his career, including brand deals with the likes of Perry Ellis and Rolex, and merchandise – but that has now dropped to a reported £322million.
Jack used his experience as a player to establish and run one of the world’s largest golf course design companies – Nicklaus Design, which has created over 420 courses worldwide, open for play in 45 countries and 40 US states.
He also receives incomes from his writing work and contributes to instructional golf videos and books.
From 2004 to 2007 Gold Inc. magazine branded Jack the most powerful person in the sport.
Jack is generous with his millions, having donated to various charities over his career. The largest was £48million to the Miami Children’s Health System in 2015.
He currently lives with his wife Barbara in a 15,332sq ft property on 1.6 waterfront acres in North Palm Beach, Florida, worth an estimated £6.9million.
Phil Mickelson – £240million
American pro Phil, 52, known as ‘Lefty’, has three Masters titles, two PGA Championships and one Open Championship to his name.
Phil is thought to take home up to £40million a year in endorsement deals – though some sponsors have recently terminated their relationship with him due to him signing with LIV Golf.
As a result it’s tricky to estimate his current wealth; Celebrity Net Worth has it at £240m, down from £320m. In 2022, Forbes claimed he was the highest paid sportsperson with earnings of £110million.
His largest sponsorship deal was with Barclays bank, which lasted for 15 years before ending in 2016. It has never been disclosed how much it made him.
Mickelson also has a eponymous golf course design business, and owns six golf courses in Arizona with several other private investors.
He is currently building a home in Florida tax haven and golfer’s hotspot Jupiter Island, having bought land there in 2020.
Previously, he lived in Rancho Santa Fe with wife Amy and their children Evan, Sophia and Amanda, in a stunning £4.5million 9,100sq ft home.
Car fan Lefty has a snazzy car collection including a £160,000 Bentley Continental GT and a £200,000 Aston Martin.
Gary Player – £200million
South African golfer Gary, 87, is widely considered one of the best golfers ever thanks to winning 165 tournaments.
While he made a lot of money from the sport, he has also ventured into writing and designing which has proved lucrative.
He has designed over 400 courses through Gary Player Design and written books on subjects ranging from golf to philosophy and fitness.
During his career he had brand endorsement deals with Callaway, Coca-Cola, BMW, Sun International South Africa and Rolex.
In 2021 he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Donald Trump.
Gary is a big fan of luxury cars and is thought to own a Ford Customline, Austin-Healey 3000, Lincoln Continental Convertible, Cadillac Coupe De Ville, 2017 Mercedes GLE 350d and Mercedes S-class.
His wife of 64 years, Vivienne Verwey, passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2021.
Rory McIlroy – £135million
Northern Irish Rory, 34, is the youngest on this list and still has plenty of time to eclipse the other golfers with his earnings.
Currently he is thought to earn £30-40million a year from golf and endorsement deals.
The four-time Major winner has established himself as a force in the golf world; by 2012 he had earned around £8million on the PGA Tour.
It got him noticed by big brands and a year later he was understood to have signed a deal with Nike worth between £80million and £200million.
In 2017 he officially signed an extended 10-year deal with Nike worth £159million before the company stopped producing golf gear. He then signed a deal with TaylorMade worth £80million to endorse their equipment.
In 2019 he took home £12million by winning the Tour Championship and FedEx Cup.
The golfer now resides in a £10million mansion in Florida complete with a giant swimming pool in the back yard.