Are wondering who the highest-earning golf players in the world are? Everybody knows that together with the entertainment industry, the sports market is one of the most profitable trades you can devote yourself to. Every year Golf Digest ranks the top 50 earners in golf according to their income from tournament winnings on the course, as well as their ventures off the course. And, today we’ve used that data to present the top 15 wealthiest golfers worldwide.
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Let’s take a look at the list and find out who are the highest-earning golf players in the world right now. Just grab your club, swing, and hit the countdown!
15. Steve Stricker
2012 rank: 34
On Course: $6,590,532
Off Course: $3,000,000
Total Earnings: $9,590,532
This American professional golfer will soon turn 48 years old but is still rocking the golf course and getting substantial amounts of money for playing. Last year he played less but ended up amassing a bigger fortune; quite impressive, especially if you take into account the fact that he managed to make more money playing than outside the golf course.
14. Luke Donald
2012 rank: 9
On Course: $2,926,655
Off Course: $7,000,000
Total Earnings: $9,926,655
Luke Donald is a British pro who plays on both sides of the Atlantic: he participates in the PGA Tour and is also a member of the European Tour. A worldwide ambassador of Polo Ralph Lauren, Donald did even better outside the golf course last year.
13. Matt Kuchar
2012 rank: 25
On Course: $7,053,225
Off Course: $3,750,000
Total Earnings: $10,803,225
This American is a professional player and money maker. He’s well known for his consistent game and scored a few endorsement deals thanks to his personality and smile.
12. Justin Rose
2012 rank: 13
On Course: $6,253,672
Off Course: $5,500,000
Total Earnings: $11,753,672
South African and English, Justin Rose plays primarily in the U.S., though he keeps his European Tour membership as well. Some say that his best years are still to come; let’s wait and see what the future brings for this noble player.
11. Sergio Garcia
2012 rank: 12
On Course: $3,411,237
Off Course: $8,500,000
Total Earnings: $11,911,237
Nicknamed ‘El Niño’, Sergio Garcia is well known for his golfing, as well as for his good looks. This Spanish pro plays the PGA and European Tour successfully, but his looks and gregarious personality also make him great for endorsements and other market ventures.
The list of the highest-earning golf players in the world continues on the next page with a player who earned absolutely nothing on the course last year, yet remains a golfing icon around the world.
10. Greg Norman
2012 rank: 8
On Course: –
Off Course: $14,000,000
Total Earnings: $14,000,000
The Shark is an Australian player famous for spending 331 weeks at the number one spot of the Official Golf World Ranking. He’s been retired since the early 2000s, but since then has done really well outside the golf course. Clothing, wine, architecture, beef, golf courses and an autobiography have been some of his ventures so far.
9. Ernie Els
2012 rank: 6
On Course: $2,189,536
Off Course: $12,500,000
Total Earnings: $14,689,536
Also known as ‘The Big Easy’ for his impressive height and fluid swing, this South African made six times more money off the golf course than on it. From wines to safaris, from Els-designed golf courses to autism-related activities, Ernie has explored it all.
8. Adam Scott
2012 rank: 19
On Course: $8,048,068
Off Course: $7,600,000
Total Earnings: $15,648,068
Scott’s wins in 2013 resulted in a great sum of on-course earnings. The Aussie is sponsored by luxury brands like Rolex and Mercedes-Benz.
7. Gary Player
2012 rank: 10
On Course: $9,625
Off Course: $16,000,000
Total Earnings: $16,009,625
One of the senior players in our list, Gary was destined by his surname to go into sports. Naturally, this South African earns his bucks outside the golf course now, including through architecture, endorsements, public speaking, travel and more.
6. Rory McIlroy
2012 rank: 5
On Course: $2,608,789
Off Course: $18,000,000
Total Earnings: $20,608,789
The Northern Irish golfer had a rough 2013, but his off course winnings made up for what he did not win on the course. His substantial endorsement deal with Nike is why he was able to make the cut.
5. Henrik Stenson
2012 rank: N/R
On Course: $18,594,670
Off Course: $2,850,000
Total Earnings: $21,444,670
The Swedish star had an awesome year, and mostly thanks to his golf winnings: the FedEx Cup and the Race to Dubai combined made him the first player to win both titles in one season.
4. Jack Nicklaus
2012 rank: 4
On Course: $9,625
Off Course: $26,000,000
Total Earnings: $26,009,625
The Golden Bear has been retired from professional golfing for almost a decade. Nevertheless his off course winnings are mind-blowing. Golf computer games, books and golf course design; the 74-year-old American has no plans to stop working in the near future.
3. Arnold Palmer
2012 rank: 3
On Course: –
Off Course: $40,000,000
Total Earnings: $40,000,000
‘The King’ is an accurate nickname for this American golfer, considered one of the best players in professional golf’s history. For our eldest golfer in the countdown, 2013 was his most lucrative year ever mainly due to his licensing contracts.
2. Phil Mickelson
2012 rank: 2
On Course: $7,009,156
Off Course: $45,000,000
Total Earnings: $52,009,156
Although Lefty is not the youngest of players any more, he continues to earn significant sums outside golf. Naturally, he earns more nowadays from endorsements than from prizes. Some of his deals include Rolex, Callaway Golf, Barclays and Enbrel, a psoriatic arthritis drug he signed with after being diagnosed and treated for the disease.
1. Tiger Woods
2012 rank: 1
On Course: $12,091,508
Off Course: $71,000,000
Total Earnings: $83,091,508
For the 11th year in a row, Tiger is the top golf earner in every category: on the course, outside it and combined. Even after the controversies regarding his personal life in 2009, he is still golf royalty and will be for years to come.
