Top 10 Richest Golfers Of All Time (Updated)
Golf is a lavish game, with some of the wealthiest golfers in it.
This game might take a lifetime to fully understand, but the time taken to learn it thoroughly should not take more than an hour.
Though this game may look easy, it is one of the most difficult games that requires precision. Newer players often feel the pressure of trying to live up to legends like Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, but they should always try their best.
We created this list of the Top 10 Richest Golfers in history.
1. TIGER WOODS:
Net Worth in 2021: $900 Million
Ranked as the wealthiest golfer of all time, Tiger Woods must take the #1 spot. He is likely the most popular golfer as evidenced by his high ranking in worldwide standings.
He is known as a money machine with a net worth of 900 million dollars. Tiger Woods has become one of the most popular athletes on social media. This individual has won a considerable amount of major championships throughout his career so far.
As of this writing, Woods has won 80 PGA Tour events and 14 major titles. He has a hand full of endorsement deals and sponsorships, which amount to almost 20% of his net worth. Across his professional golf career, Tiger Woods has collected an enormous amount of wealth.
2. ARNOLD PALMER:
Net Worth in 2021: $700 Million
In our list of the top 10 richest golfers of all time, Arnold Palmer comes in at number 2. Palmer is a professional golfer from the United States known for being one of the best in his sport.
He has repeatedly won PGA Tour tournaments as well as the Masters Tournament. One of his more recent nominations is for being a humble and talented person.
His company, Arnold Palmer Enterprises LLC, deals with all of the licensing, endorsements, spokesman associations and commercial partnerships of all things Arnie. He is a sports icon that all athletes hope to be like.
3. GREG NORMAN:
Net Worth in 2021: $500 Million
Rory Robert Soutar, a former Australian golfer and businessman is well-known.
Greg Norman is best known for winning 91 international tournaments, including 20 PGA Championships and two majors. The Open Championships took place in 1986 and 1993.
Off the course, he has established his own golf course design company; he has his own clothing line, and also got into the wine industry in 1996.
All of Norman’s business interests fall under the business umbrella of his company, Great White Shark Enterprises.
4. PHIL MICKELSON:
Net Worth in 2021: $400 Million
Known affectionately as “Lefty”, Phil Mickelson is an American golfer with great success in his field.
He started playing golf as a profession in the year 1992, and has been America’s most successful player in this field.
He ranked 2nd in the world by the Official World Golf Ranking several times. Phil Mickelson has accumulated a net worth of 400 million dollars.
One of the best-known and most popular golfers of all time, Jack Nicklaus was only 24 when he became the youngest player in history to be included in the World Golf Hall of Fame.
5. JACK NICKLAUS:
Net Worth in 2021: $320 Million
This famous former professional golfer was born on January 21, 1940. Jack Nicklaus is one of the greatest golfers in history.
In 2021, this golfer has amassed a net worth of approximately $320 million. Some of his fans call him The Golden Bear, because he has won a total of 18 major championships.
In addition to that, he has 73 PGA Tour victories. Nicklaus is also in the World Golf Hall of Fame, and was inducted in 1974. He is the founder of and current host for the Memorial Tournament at his own club, called Muirfield Village, in Dublin Ohio. Away from the course, he has designed many golf courses, and authored several books.
The PGA has named him Player of the Year five times during his golfing career.
6. GARY PLAYER:
Net Worth in 2021: $250 Million
Gary Player is a retired South African professional golfer who was born in 1935. He’s widely considered one of the greatest golfers ever.
Since he started playing golf at the age of 14, Gary became a professional in just three years. This player has won 19 major championships, nine on the regular tour and the remaining ten on Championship Tours.
For generations he has been an international ambassador of the game. This famous golfer also owns a course design company, his real estate company and his foundation which promotes underprivileged education around the world.
7. FRED COUPLES:
Net Worth in 2021: $150 Million
Frederick Steven Couples, an American pro golfer born in 1959. Previously being the world no. 1 in his profession, he played for PGA Tour and even the PGA Tour Championship which is one of the most illustrious tours., Fred has a net worth of $150 million, which places him on the list.
He has successfully won 64 professional tournaments. In 2013, Couples was inducted into the National Golf Hall of Fame.
8. JORDAN SPIETH:
Net Worth in 2021: $130 Million
Jordan Spieth has won many accolades in the relatively short time of his career. He was born into an athletic family on July 27, 1993. Starting as a baseball player, he later found an interest in golf at age 12.
Jordan’s 3 major victories (combined with his other wins) have led to true professional success.
He also endorsed and appeared in advertising campaigns for Wheaties, Coca-Cola, and Rolex. Back in 2018, he was among the top 25 highest-paid athletes. Currently, his net worth is $130 million.
9. RORY MCILROY:
Net Worth in 2021: $110 Million
Rory McIlroy was born on May 4th, 1989. He is a professional golfer who has memberships with both the PGA and European Tours.
Since 2007, having won thirteen total PGA Tour tournaments, including four major championship tournaments. Rory McIlroy has won 13 times on the European Tour. He is with Nike since 2013, and has a yearly salary somewhere in the 10 to 20 million dollar range.
In addition to taking Tiger Woods’s place as the face of the EA Sports PGA Tour video game, Rory McIlroy also replaced him for Nike’s golf team.
10. ERNIE ELS:
Net Worth in 2021: $85 Million
Theodore Ernest Els was born in South Africa in 1969. He is known as “The Big Easy” because of his height and dominance on the golf course. His fluid golf swing also added to his nickname. Ernie has had an impressive golfing career with a long list of victories.
He has won 19 times on the PGA Tour and 28 times on the European Tour. He topped the order of merit list in 2003 and 2004. His total of 65 victories, including four major championships and induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2011, make him one of South Africa’s most accomplished golfers. Ernest Els, a golfer, is one of six people to have won the U.S. Open and The Open Championship twice.
Although he is best known for his golf course design, it is not his only occupation.Ernie runs a charity that supports low-income youth in South Africa to play golf.