Golf ranks as the fourth wealthiest sport globally, with Tour victories potentially resulting in significant financial gains. A single triumph could provide enough funds to retire, provided the money is wisely invested. The following is the list of the top 10 richest golfers of all time based on their net worth.
Ranking 10 richest golfers in the world (2023 New update)
1. Tiger Woods
Net Worth: $800 million
Tiger Woods
Presenting the richest golfer of all time, a business tycoon whose net worth is an astounding 800 million dollars. In addition to his impressive record of 15 Major championships and 82 PGA Tour wins, his legacy extends well beyond the golf course. Through his remarkable play and mass appeal, he has been instrumental in elevating prize money to millions of dollars.
Tiger’s second chapter is TGR, which he describes as a means of creating a legacy that goes beyond birdies and bogeys. The TGR brand encompasses golf course design, a foundation aimed at empowering students, a charitable event series, and a restaurant/sports bar named ‘The Woods’ in his hometown. With his net worth and resources, he owns a $55 million mansion in Jupiter that includes a pitch-and-putt golf course in the backyard and a private dock where his 155-foot yacht, ‘M/Y Privacy,’ is docked.
2. Arnold Palmer
Net Worth: $700 million
Arnold Palmer
Arnold Palmer, also known as ‘The King’ of golf, has amassed a colossal net worth of 700 million dollars despite winning only 62 PGA Tour events and 7 majors. It is evident that the majority of his wealth was generated off the course. He established IMG, a leading sports and talent agency, as well as the Arnold Palmer drinks brand and AriZona Beverages.
Additionally, he founded the Arnold Palmer Design Company, which has designed over 300 courses globally. His involvement with Callaway golf clubs and E-Z-GO Golf Carts, his role in founding Golf Channel, his global apparel brands, and his long tenure as a spokesperson for top companies and brands like Rolex, Hertz, Cadillac, MasterCard, and Sears demonstrate that ‘The King’ is not only one of the richest golfers in off all time but also a serial entrepreneur off the course.
3. Greg Norman
Net Worth: $500 million
Greg Norman
Greg Norman, also known as ‘The Great White Shark’, boasts an impressive net worth of $500 million, being the 5th richest golfer in the world. He turned professional in 1976 and has racked up an impressive 91 professional wins across the PGA, European, and Australasia Tours, including two major wins at the Open Championship.
Norman is also the owner of a dozen businesses that fall under his company’s umbrella, including a golf course design firm, the Greg Norman Collection apparel line (launched in 1992), a wine label (founded in 1996), an eyewear label, a restaurant, a line of meats, a real estate development firm, a golf academy, luxury housing, a private-equity fund, and even a wakeboard park. It’s clear that Norman is not only a champion on the golf course, but also a highly successful serial entrepreneur.
4. Phil Mickelson
Net Worth: $400 million
Phil Mickelson
Nicknamed ‘Lefty,’ Phil Mickelson began his professional golfing career in 1992. He has won 44 titles on the PGA Tour, including 5 Majors, accumulating a total of $82 million in prize money. Despite finishing runner-up six times, he is yet to win the U.S. Open, the only major title missing from his resume.
Mickelson has spent over 700 weeks ranked in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking. He signed a contract with Callaway in 2004 and renewed it in 2017 to last until his retirement. With his outgoing and humorous personality, he may even earn some extra pocket money through his new social media “career” on his various social channels.
5. Jack Nicklaus
Net Worth: $320 million
Jack Nicklaus at the 2022 Masters
With 115 professional wins and 18 major titles, Jack Nicklaus is widely regarded as one of the greatest golfers of all time, and his net worth of 320 million dollars certainly reflects that, making his 4th rank in the list of richest golfers of all time.
He began his professional career in 1961 and currently serves as the founder and host of the Memorial Tournament held at his own club called Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio. Nicklaus is also a partner with his four sons and son-in-law through their company, Nicklaus Design, which has designed over 410 golf courses across 45 countries, making up over 1% of all courses worldwide.
6. Gary Player
Net Worth: $255 million
Gary Player (right)
This 6th richest golfer of all time has an impressive career record with 163 professional victories, including nine major championships consisting of three Masters, three Open Championships, two PGA Championships, and one U.S. Open.
Known as the ‘Black Knight,’ he heads Black Knight International, which includes various ventures such as Gary Player Design, Player Real Estate, The Player Foundation, Gary Player Academies, and Black Knight Enterprises, which includes events, licensing, publishing, wine, apparel, and memorabilia.
7. Rory Mcilroy
Net Worth: $170 million
Rory Mcilroy
Rory Mcilroy net worth of $130 million makes him an unmissable name in the list of richest golfers of all time. He began his professional career in 2007 and turned to the World No.1 on 15th March 2020 with 13 titles on the PGA Tour, which include four Majors, in addition to winning 13 times on the European Tour. He inked a deal worth $100 million with TaylorMade in 2017 for using their clubs, ball, and golf bag for a decade, and a $200 million deal with Nike. He also became the new face of the EA Sports PGA Tour video game in 2015, taking over from Tiger Woods.
8. Fred Couples
Net Worth: $125 million
Fred Couples
Fred Couples is a renowned professional golfer who turned pro in 1980, marking a successful 40-year career in the sport. He has amassed a net worth of $120 million, which is a testament to his incredible talent and dedication to the game.
Couples’ most notable achievement is his victory at the 1992 Masters Tournament, where he displayed exceptional skills and tenacity to clinch the championship with a score of 275 (-13). However, this was not his only triumph, as he also has 14 other PGA Tour wins under his belt, including two Players Championships, a World Golf Championship, and several other prestigious tournaments.
9. Jordan Spieth
Net Worth: $110 million
Jordan Spieth
Jordan Spieth, a 26-year-old American professional golfer, is widely recognized as one of the greatest golfers in the world. With a net worth of 100 million dollars, he has established himself with the 9th position in the list of richest golfers in the world.
Spieth’s impressive professional career includes his first Major win at the 2015 Masters Tournament, the 2015 US Open, and the 2017 Open Championship. He has also won 11 times on the PGA Tour, including the Tour Championship in 2015, and has represented the United States in multiple Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup competitions.
Off the course, Spieth has also been active in philanthropic work, particularly through his Jordan Spieth Family Foundation, which focuses on providing resources and opportunities for children with special needs, military families, and youth golf programs. He has also established partnerships with several well-known brands, including Under Armour, Coca-Cola, and AT&T.
10. Ernie Els
Net Worth: $85 million
Ernie Els
Ranking 10th position in the list of the richest golfers of all time is Ernie Els, a South African professional golfer who has had a highly successful career with 19 PGA Tour wins, 28 European Tour wins, and a total of 65 wins across all tours, including four Majors which include the U.S. Open and The Open Championship.
Els is not just a phenomenal golfer, he also directs a golf course design business and has designed some of the most beautiful golf courses in the world, including the Els Golf Club in Dubai. With his passion and expertise in golf course design, Els has become a renowned figure in the golfing industry and his designs continue to impress golf enthusiasts around the world.
So, who is your favorite golfer? Let us know by leaving your comment below. Thanks for your reading!
