Except for the major championships and the Ryder Cup, golf viewership is not much to sneeze at compared to the other major sports.
But that doesn’t mean that hitting a little white ball isn’t lucrative.
Recently, Sportico ran a list of the top 50 highest-paid athletes of all time. The analysis was based on athletes’ revenue generated from playing their sport and any other income derived outside of competition.
Sportico notes that its figures are estimates “based on conversations with industry insiders, Sportico research and historical estimates in media outlets, such as Forbes and Sports Illustrated.”
To no one’s surprise, Michael Jordan topped the rankings at $3 billion, most of which he earned from Nike and other endorsement deals after his retirement in 2003.
What was surprising was that three professional golfers are the top 10: Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus.
Three golfers and three professional soccer players claimed spots in the top 10, along with two basketball players, a boxer and a tennis player.
Woods, in second place, has earnings of $1.91 billion but hasn’t even reached 50 yet and has a well-paid senior tour career in his future.
Palmer is in sixth place at $885 million, while Nicklaus is one position back at $910 million. When earnings are adjusted for inflation, Palmer is at $1.82 billion to $1.75 billion for Nicklaus.
Five other golfers are in the top 37, including Phil Mickelson at 11th, Greg Norman at 15th, Rory McIlroy at 24th, Ernie Els at 35th and Gary Player at 37th.
Woods leads the career earnings category on the PGA Tour with $120,999,166, which means $1.79 billion in off-course earnings.
McIlroy is close behind with $104,246,906, and Mickelson is third at $96,685,635.
Woods, Mickelson, McIlroy and Els are still playing professionally, but Nicklaus’ and Player’s earnings are much higher outside the ropes than during their careers.
Related: Rory McIlroy and a Green Jacket Are a Match Made in Heaven
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