Golf is a rich man’s sport. It takes a lot of money to buy the equipment, membership to a country club, and pay for greens fees. But some golfers have been able to parlay their love of the game into big bucks. In this blog post, we will count down the top 15 richest golfers of all time. From Arnold Palmer to Jack Nicklaus to Tiger Woods, these men have made a killing by playing a game they love. So sit back, relax, and read on to see who made our list.
Tiger Woods
As of 2021, Tiger Woods is the richest golfer in the world with a net worth of $800 million. Woods has earned an estimated $1.5 billion from his career earnings and endorsement deals, making him one of the highest-paid athletes in the world.
Woods has won a record-breaking 82 PGA Tour events and is widely considered one of the greatest golfers of all time. He has also been embroiled in personal scandal and legal troubles in recent years, which have taken a toll on his reputation and earnings.
Phil Mickelson
Phil Mickelson is an American professional golfer. He has won 44 events on the PGA Tour, including five major championships: The Masters three times (2004, 2006, 2010), the PGA Championship once (2005) and the Open Championship once (2013). Mickelson is one of 16 golfers in history to win at least three of the four majors. He has spent over 700 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Ranking, has been ranked as high as second and is currently ranked ninth.
Mickelson’s success has not been limited to regular tournaments; he has also been very successful in made-for-television events. He has won 17 events on what are now known as the PGA Tour Champions, including 10 senior major championships. His total of 27 wins in made-for-television events is an all-time record.
In early 2019, Forbes estimated Phil Mickelson’s net worth to be $480 million, making him the 15th richest celebrity in America and the 2nd richest golfer in the world behind Tiger Woods.
Arnold Palmer
Arnold Palmer is one of the most iconic golfers of all time. He was born in 1929 and started playing golf at a young age. He quickly rose to prominence in the sport, winning his first major championship in 1958. He would go on to win 62 PGA Tour events, including four Masters titles and two British Opens.
Palmer’s popularity helped grow the sport of golf in the 1960s and 1970s. He was one of the first golfers to achieve celebrity status, and he used his platform to help promote the game. He was also a successful businessman, owning several golf courses and businesses related to the sport.
In 2006, Palmer was ranked as the greatest golfer of all time by Golf Digest magazine. He passed away in 2016 at the age of 87, but his legacy continues on through his many achievements in the sport of golf.
Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus is an American professional golfer who is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. He has won a total of 18 major championships, more than any other player in history.
Nicklaus was born on January 21, 1940, in Akron, Ohio. He began playing golf at an early age and quickly developed into a top junior player. He won his first major championship, the U.S. Open, in 1962 at the age of 22.
Nicklaus went on to enjoy a hugely successful career, winning numerous tournaments and setting multiple records. He retired from competitive golf in 2005 but remains active in the sport through his course design business and various other business interests.
As of 2021, Jack Nicklaus’ net worth is estimated to be $320 million dollars, making him one of the richest golfers in the world.
Gary Player
Gary Player is a South African professional golfer who has been one of the top players in the world for more than five decades. He has won nine Major championships, including three Masters tournaments and three Open Championships. He is also a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.Player has had a long and successful career on the PGA Tour, winning more than 70 tournaments. He has also been very successful in Senior golf, winning multiple Champions Tour events. In addition to his playing success, Gary Player is also known for his work as a golf course designer and ambassador for the game of golf.
Ben Hogan
Ben Hogan is one of the richest golfers of all time. Hogan’s career earnings are estimated at $5 million. Hogan’s net worth is estimated at $20 million.
Hogan was born in Stephenville, Texas in 1912. He turned professional in 1930 and won his first major championship, the U.S. Open, in 1946. He went on to win four more major championships: the Masters in 1951 and 1953, the British Open in 1953, and the PGA Championship in 1948 and 1949. Hogan is widely considered one of the greatest golfers of all time.
During his career, Hogan amassed 52 professional wins, including nine major championships. He is one of only five players to have won all four major championships (the so-called “career Grand Slam”). Hogan is also one of only two players to have won three majors in a single year (1953). His accomplishments earned him a place in the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974.
In addition to his success on the golf course, Hogan was also a successful businessman. He founded Ben Hogan Golf Company in 1954 and helped design many of the company’s golf clubs. The company was later sold to Callaway Golf Company for $70 million.
Hogan died in 1997 at the age of 84.
Tom Watson
As one of the most successful golfers of all time, Tom Watson has amassed a large fortune. Over the course of his career, Watson has won 39 PGA Tour events and 8 major championships. His total earnings are estimated to be around $10 million. In addition to his prize money, Watson has also earned millions through endorsements and appearances. He is currently retired from professional golf but still participates in various events and exhibitions.
Sam Snead
As one of the most prolific and popular golfers of all time, Sam Snead’s net worth was an estimated $15 million at the time of his death in 2002. Born in West Virginia in 1912, Snead started playing golf as a young boy and quickly developed into a prodigy. He turned professional at the age of 17 and went on to win a total of 82 PGA Tour events, more than any other player in history. In addition to his competitive success, Snead was also known for his showmanship and his inventive shot-making, which earned him the nickname “The Slammer.”
Snead’s popularity helped him land endorsement deals with companies like Dunlop and Coca-Cola, and he also made money from appearances and exhibitions. After he retired from competitive golf in the 1970s, Snead remained involved in the game as a television commentator and golf course designer. He died at the age of 89 after suffering a stroke.
Byron Nelson
Byron Nelson is one of the most successful golfers of all time. He was born in 1912 and died in 2006. Nelson won 52 PGA Tour events, including five major championships. He is considered to be one of the greatest players in history.
Gene Sarazen
Gene Sarazen is one of the richest golfers of all time. He was born in 1902 and died in 1999. He was an American professional golfer who won seven major championships: three U.S. Opens, one PGA Championship, two British Opens, and one Masters Tournament. Sarazen is also known for inventing the modern sand wedge, and for his “double eagle” at the 1935 Masters Tournament, which he called “the shot heard ’round the world”. At the time of his death, Sarazen’s total official winnings from tournaments exceeded $1 million.
Lee Trevino
Lee Trevino is one of the most accomplished and popular golfers in history. He has won six major championships and numerous other tournaments during his career. His net worth is estimated to be $40 million.
Trevino was born in Dallas, Texas in 1939. He began working as a caddy at a local country club at the age of seven and started playing golf soon afterwards. He turned professional in 1960 and quickly began to find success on the tour. In 1968, he won his first major championship, the U.S. Open, defeating Jack Nicklaus in a playoff. He would go on to win the Open again in 1971 and 1972.
In 1971, Trevino also won the British Open, becoming the first player ever to win that tournament and the U.S. Open in the same year. He would win the British Open again in 1972 and 1979. In 1974, he won the PGA Championship, giving him three of the four major titles (he never won The Masters). In total, Trevino has won 29 PGA Tour events and nine Champions Tour events.
Throughout his career, Trevino has been known for his skill at hitting shots out of difficult lies and for his down-to-earth personality. He has been inducted into both the World Golf Hall of Fame and the PGA Hall of Fame.
Billy Casper
Billy Casper was born on June 24, 1931, in San Diego, California. He turned professional in 1950 and quickly rose to prominence on the PGA Tour, winning his first tournament at the 1951 Texas Open. By the end of the decade, he had racked up an impressive nine victories, including two majors: the 1959 U.S. Open and the 1966 Masters.
Casper continued to be a force on the golf course throughout the 1970s and 1980s, winning a total of 51 tournaments during his career. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1978 and remained active on the senior circuit well into his 60s.
In terms of overall earnings, Casper ranks sixth on our list with $5.7 million in official prize money. But his total wealth is estimated to be much higher thanks to lucrative endorsement deals and other business ventures.
Vijay Singh
Vijay Singh is a Fijian professional golfer who has been ranked as one of the top 10 golfers in the world for much of his career. He has won 3 Major championships and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2006. Singh has also been successful on the European Tour, winning 26 tournaments. His career earnings are estimated to be over $70 million.
Ernie Els
Ernie Els is a South African professional golfer who has been ranked as one of the top golfers in the world for much of his career. He has won four major championships and is one of only six golfers to have won all four majors. Els is also a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.
As of 2021, Els’ net worth is estimated to be $80 million. Most of Els’ wealth has come from his successful career as a professional golfer, but he has also earned millions from endorsement deals with companies like Rolex, Callaway, and Titleist. Els has also invested in real estate and restaurants.
Greg Norman
Greg Norman is an Australian professional golfer who has been ranked as the world’s number one player for 331 weeks. His career earnings are estimated at around $US1.3 billion.
Norman was born in 1955 in Queensland, Australia. He started playing golf at the age of 11 and turned professional in 1976. Norman quickly rose to prominence on the international golf scene, winning his first tournament, the West Lakes Classic, in 1977.
Norman went on to enjoy a hugely successful career, winning more than 90 tournaments worldwide, including two majors – the Open Championship in 1986 and 1993. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2001.
In recent years, Norman has become just as well-known for his business ventures as he is for his golfing exploits. He has launched a number of successful businesses, including a clothing line, a wine label and a golf course design company. Norman’s net worth is estimated at $400 million.
Conclusion
The game of golf has produced some incredible athletes over the years, and many of them have gone on to become extremely wealthy. In this article, we’ve taken a look at the 15 richest golfers of all time, based on their estimated net worth. As you can see, there is a wide range in both wealth and earnings potential in the sport of golf. If you’re thinking about taking up the game, know that there is a good chance you could one day find yourself among the ranks of the world’s richest golfers.