Right here Are the World’s Highest-Paid Golfers
Elite athletes come with a price tag and it’s not without reason. The road to the top is hard and lonely, and in golf less than 1% of the aspirants make the professional ranks. Making the money rounds isn’t enough here, the key is to keep the cash registers ringing regularly. Which is why the list of the world’s highest-paid golfers and their net worth continues to grow, year after year.
Golf is a fickle sport but the top pros have cracked the code of making the weekend rounds count regularly. Proof lies in Forbes’ list of the top-10 richest athletes in 2023, which featured Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson.
The talk of the season though was Jon Rahm, LIV Golf’s biggest signing since Johnson and Mickelson joined the Saudi-backed enterprise. The World No 3 Spaniard signed a deal of around USD 500 to USD 600 million, which is more than the PGA Tour’s total prize money in 2023.
These mind-boggling numbers are good for the sport and its exponents, but they also are a source of inspiration for the wide-eyed to step up and emulate their idols. Read on for our list of the highest paid golfers of the 2023 season.
Presenting the highest-paid golfers in the world, as of 2023
Jon Rahm
Age: 29
On-Course Value: $329 Million
Off-Course Value: $25 Million
The Spaniard is the top-ranked athlete on our list of the highest paid golfers in 2023. Jon Rahm had a solid year in 2023, earning some serious money. Rahm concluded the year third on the Official World Golf Ranking, trailing Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy. He started the year on a high note, winning the Sentry Tournament of Champions and American Express. Two top-ten performances at the Farmers Insurance Open and WM Phoenix Open set him up for an incredible victory at the Genesis Invitational. His winnings from the Masters Tournament and his second-place performance at the Open Championship also brought in a substantial sum of money.
Although Rahm amassed enormous wealth in 2023, it paled in comparison to the sum LIV Golf offered him to become a part of the lucrative tour. It is widely reported that Rahm’s compensation for leaving the PGA Tour is estimated to have been between $400 million and $600 million; the Telegraph has the most accurate figure at $566 million, of which $302 million was paid upfront.
Dustin Johnson
Age: 39
On-Course Value: $106 Million
Off-Course Value: $5 Million
Known fondly as “DJ,” Dustin Johnson has a fortune to his name. Since turning pro in 2007, the South Carolina golfer has won numerous tournaments all around the world. Johnson, with an estimated $106 million in earnings, is the second highest-paid golfer in 2023. He moved to the LIV Golf League, where he now leads 4Aces GC and has a lucrative deal. Johnson’s earnings this year have also been significantly increased by endeavours off the golf course. His other major sources of income outside golf come from his different endorsements, including Adidas, BodyArmor, Hublot, RBC, NetJets, Perfect Practice, and TaylorMade.
Phil Mickelson
Age: 53
On-Course Value: $105 Million
Off-Course Value: $2 Million
This season, Phil Mickelson has made solid earnings from LIV Golf. Being on the list of highest paid golfers in 2023, he has participated in 13 Saudi circuit competitions, with a best result of 10th at the Bedminster tournament. At the Mayakoba tournament, Mickelson finished 27th to kick off the LIV Golf season. He also makes handsome sums from his several sponsorship deals. Amgen, Titleist, Grayhawk, Intrepid Financial Partners, and Coffee of Wellness are a few of the sponsors. In addition, he owns the thriving Phil Mickelson Golf Club.
Rory Mcllroy
Age: 34
On-Course Value: $40 Million
Off-Course Value: $40 Million
The Northern Irishman began 2023 on the winning side of the DP World Tour, winning the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. At the PGA Tour’s WM Phoenix Open, he finished 32nd and earned $109K in prize money. Following that, he won $134K by finishing T29 at the Genesis Invitational, and then won $1.7 million at the 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational by finishing T2. Following his T7 performance at the PGA Championship, Rory McIlroy earned $555,000. At the Genesis Scottish Open, he also took home a $1.5 million prize as winner. A successful investor off the course, he has developed a business around Whoop, a health tracking device; LetsGetChecked, a healthcare app; and TMRW Sports, which he co-founded with Tiger Woods.
Brooks Koepka
Age: 33
On-Course Value: $71 Million
Off-Course Value: $6 Million
With a victory at the Jeddah Invitational, Brooks Koepka concluded the 2023 LIV Golf regular season. A popular figure among the highest paid golfers, Koepka defeated Talor Gooch in a playoff match to successfully defend his title after the two had tied for first place at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club. He moved up to third place in the season-long individual standings and in addition to his winnings in Jeddah, he received a $4,000,000 bonus payout. Koepka won the PGA Championship for the third time, making it five Major victories in six years. As the first player from LIV Golf to win a Major title, Koepka made history when he won the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club. With earnings both on and off the course, Koepka amassed almost $77 million in 2023.
Cameron Smith
Age: 30
On-Course Value: $70 Million
Off-Course Value: $6 Million
Cameron Smith reportedly received $30,731,916 from LIV Golf until July. He also received a hefty bonus for his performance, placing him second in the LIV Golf points list behind Talor Gooch. The 29-year-old also emerged victorious in two LIV Golf events. At LIV Golf Bedminster, Smith turned up in classic athletic form and dominated the leaderboard the entire way. He ultimately defeated Anirban Lahiri by a seven-stroke margin. With the addition of $4 million in prize money, he had one of the most fruitful seasons on LIV Golf. His endorsement agreements with Titleist and Original Penguin provide for a sizeable portion of his off-course income.
Tiger Woods
Age: 47
On-Course Value: $15 Million
Off-Course Value: $60 Million
Recovering from injury, Tiger Woods participated in only two PGA Tour events in 2023. He made the majority of his 2023 on-course value through the PGA Tour Player Impact Program despite spending time off the golf course. After placing second on the list, he received $12 million from the bonus purse. Woods made his comeback at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas in late November. He could have made a lot more money this year, but he turned down a reported $800 million offer to join LIV Golf. Woods also has several endorsements, including TaylorMade, Hero Motocorp, Bridgestone, GolfTV, Monster Energy, and others, contributing to his off-course earnings.
Bryson DeChambeau
Age: 30
On-Course Value: $70 Million
Off-Course Value: $1 Million
One of the well-known golfers to participate in the inaugural season of LIV Golf, the long-hitting Bryson DeChambeau was in high demand on the Tour straight away. The American had a fantastic season in 2023, brought out by his incredible victory at LIV Greenbrier, where he shot a record-tying 58 on the last day to take home the $4 million winner’s prize, and followed with another title at Chicago. Nicknamed “The Scientist” for his methodical approach to the game, Dechambeau has already won over $12 million in prize money in the first two LIV Golf seasons. The main man of LIV’s Crushers GC, DeChambeau, earned $71 million in 2023 both on and off the course, mostly thanks to the signing bonus he received when he joined the golf league.
Patrick Reed
Age: 33
On-Course Value: $50 Million
Off-Course Value: $3 Million
Nicknamed “Captain America” for his Ryder Cup heroics, Patrick Reed has nine victories, including one Major championship and two World Golf Championships. After joining LIV Golf, Reed reportedly made over $1.5 million at every event, totaling almost $12 million in a single season. Reed received $1,275,000 for finishing T3 in the Orlando event. Reed returned to Augusta to compete at The Masters, earning $744,000. With significant brands like EasyPost, Grindworks, Titlelist, Nike, Hublot, BioSteel, and others, Reed has numerous endorsement and sponsorship deals.
Scottie Scheffler
Age: 27
On-Course Value: $35 Million
Off-Course Value: $15 Million
Scottie Scheffler’s estimated on-course earnings are about $35 million, which includes revenue from official events, unofficial tournaments, and 2023 Player Impact Program payout. After suffering a devastating loss in the FedEx Cup the previous year, Scheffler had a tremendous season in 2023, winning both the Phoenix Open and the Players Championship. Scheffler’s career earnings are significantly boosted by his multiple brand deals as well. While Nike is Scheffler’s primary sponsor, he also has endorsements from a number of other well-known companies, including TaylorMade Golf. In addition, he has endorsement contracts with notable businesses, including NetJets, Vertex, Rolex, and Titleist.
(Main images: Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Scottie Scheffler, Instagram; Featured image: Rory McIlroy/ Instagram)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
– Who was the richest golfer in 2023?
Tiger Woods, widely recognised as one of the greatest golfers of all time and one of the most well-known athletes in modern history, is the world’s richest golfer as of 2023, with a net worth of more than one billion dollars.
– How much did Jon Rahm earn in 2023?
Jon Rahm had a fantastic 2023, and among other earnings, he reportedly received between $400 and $600 million for quitting the PGA Tour to join LIV Golf.
– Who has the most career earnings on the PGA Tour?
Tiger Woods has earned the most money on the PGA Tour as of 2023, with lifetime earnings totalling roughly $121 million.
– How much prize money has Rickie Fowler earned?
Since turning professional in 2009, Rickie Fowler has total career earnings of over $52 million.
Source: Prestige Online
