Tiger Woods Should Surpass One Billion in Earnings by 2010

Posted Jan 11, 2008 12:35PM By Ryan Wilson (RSS feed)

Filed Under: Golf

Back in September, FanHouse suggested that Tiger Woods could be the U.S.'s first billionaire athlete. Golf Digest, in the February issue (we can see into the future at FanHouse), gives us a glimpse of just how close Eldrick is to the one-thousand millions mark.

During his first 12 years on tour, Woods has more than $100 million in winnings, and a mind-boggling $669 million in endorsements. That puts him at almost $770 million. Since 1996. (A complete breakdown of Tiger's yearly earnings after the jump.)

It's not hard to figure out why Woods is so marketable ... and filthy rich: he's the world's best golfer and arguably its most recognizable face. But Golf Digest explains that endorsement deals for the PGA Tour's top players are more lucrative than in other sports:

In Major League Baseball, where the average salary was $2,699,292 in 2006, the opportunities for added value are nowhere near what they are in golf. Only players of a Derek Jeter status get national endorsement deals, and the winner's share for the World Series in 2007 was $308,236 -- about what Jim Furyk got for finishing 11th in FedEx Cup points.

And baseball players don't get paid to design ballparks the way golfers do to design courses. The course-construction boom in Asia has been very lucrative for players.

And that's the thing: in 2007, 81 percent of Tiger's earnings came from endorsements, and over his career, that number jumps to 87 percent.

And even though Tiger is primarily responsible for the explosion in tournament purses, the disparity between his tournament winnings and his endorsement dollars will only grow as he approaches (and eventually breaks) Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major championships.

So, when can we expect Woods' to break the billion-dollar barrier? Golf Digest predicts 2010. Which means that Eldrick will pull in somewhere in the neighborhood of $230 million dollars over the next two years.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

1-27-2008 @ 10:56PM

kennygee124 said...

Absolutely, positively absurd....people go to work evey day and bust their balls....pro athelets are born with natural talent...have fun...while the working class starves

what is wrong with this billion dollar picture?

1-28-2008 @ 12:38AM

Eleanor Peters said...

I was never a golf fan. But since Woods took over I watch them all. He is a marvel at it. It is a joy just to watch him play. He stays cool and has humility. A class act if I ever saw one. So guess that breaks the race card. Woods is lovd by every one. What a blessing he is to the golf game.

1-28-2008 @ 6:58AM

kenwayne said...

Tiger earns everything he does. I had a pro down here in south florida who told me he rememers picking up Tiger and his Dad at the airport, because they did not have enough money for a cab.
He is clean,and sets a good example to the blacks as well as whites.

1-28-2008 @ 7:44AM

Magoo288 said...

Like it or not, we are watching history being made.
What a pleasure...If you are a true fan, sit back and enjoy the ride as we will never see anything like this again.

1-28-2008 @ 8:32AM

C.C.C. said...

Tiger Woods is a excellent golf pro and I wish him luck in all of the 2008 golf season.I saw his 60 min.interview and he has invested his money very well.Good luck Tiger Iam a fan of golf.

1-28-2008 @ 9:20AM

Judy True said...

I think he is amazing to say the least. His perseverance to be not just play the game sets him way above most. He truly is a dedicated and extremely talented golfer and quiet giant of a man. It's to bad most athletes in any sport can't maintain the same level of behavior and attitude. I don't play golf but I am a fan and watch often.....he is gem.

1-28-2008 @ 9:23AM

carrollredd1 said...

I HAVE NEVER IN MY 76YRS. SEEN SO MUCH JEALOUSY
AS I HAVE SINCE I LEARNED THIS COMPUTER LAST YEAR
TIGER IS THE BEST THERE IS IN HIS FIELD AND HE DIDNT SET THE PURSES THAT ARE PAID OUT, HE WOULD BE A FOOL NOT TO TAKE WHAT IS OFFERED.

1-28-2008 @ 9:57AM

Gus said...

It's preposterous to think that Tiger won't be worth well over one billion dollars within the next two years. Taxes and expenses aside, the balance sheet for consideration of Tiger's net worth would also include prodigious earnings from investments, real estate holdings, corporate stock, etc. For instance, can anyone say with certainty that he doesn't get a "piece" of the pie when he designs golf courses like the one in North Carolina? I'm sure that he does. His very name makes him a "corporate sponsor", for which you pay dearly. Tiger isn't the average Joe who earns $50K a year, nets $30K, and spends $40K, including credit cards. By the way, Tiger's jet fuel costs are paid by whomever invited him to their tournament, or other events. You don't think he flew all the way to Saudi Arabia, stayed in the worlds most expensive hotel, ate at the best restaurants on his own dime? No expenses on that trip I can assure you. Plus, he received a cool $2 million just to show up and play. No wonder Sabbatini is so insanely jealous!

1-28-2008 @ 10:55AM

dmoore9335 said...

Tiger is the man, period!!!!

1-28-2008 @ 11:10AM

Hsgrce said...

Why can't a black man be as successful as any other white man, and those that are hateing on the Black man wish you could have done something with your life ... It is about time that we see a Black man on T.V that is not going to jail from killing the white man ... way to go Tiger, keep it up

1-29-2008 @ 3:24PM

A.C. said...

Really who gives a damn what he makes or when he is going to make his firs billion? He has a job just like me and you and we are good at ours and he is good at his. Difference he plays golf better than any body in the world and he is good at it. It is none of our business, fruit cakes of golf, what he makes anyway. You jealous!

1-28-2008 @ 12:25PM

friendlyfire said...

Let's not forget his investments. Private island in Florida, The learning center in California, Privacy, his jet fleet, there has got to be more. He has his book deals, and every time he nears a new milestone his appearance fees soar around the world.

1-28-2008 @ 12:39PM

maureen said...

Tiger, you are worth every penny and more in respect from me!!!!!!!!!! It must be hard to balance family life with golf, but I am SURE you can do it, you put your mind to it and it happens.

Tiger Woods, Greatest Athelete of All Time

1-28-2008 @ 1:48PM

jmpigboy said...

Who dat?

1-28-2008 @ 1:47PM

who dat

2-01-2008 @ 4:50PM

Asako Erbeck said...

Tiger Woods will go down in history as the BEST GOLFER EVER, I wonder who he is voteing for?

2-01-2008 @ 11:39PM

R said...

He's the best thing to happen to the sport and well worth every cent. He's raised the bar and the standard of play. Tiger ushered out the era of lazy leader boards and returned excellence to the sport. Thanks Tiger. Enjoy every cent.

2-03-2008 @ 1:49PM

Will said...

It would be interesting to see how Tiger Woods treats people. When million dollar checks fall upon you out of the sky, what effect does that have on you as a person?

Also curious to see how he handles his huge tax liabilities.

3-19-2008 @ 9:35PM

kitty katt said...

IM SURE HE'S WORTH A BILLION ALREADY. I PLAY THE MARKET AGGRESSIVELY (MAKE ABOUT 15-20% PER YEAR)AND BOUGHT A FEW PIECES OF REAL ESTATE 10 YEARS AGO.MY CHEAPEST PIECE OF REAL ESTATE WAS $80,000 ITS NOW WORTH APPROX. $$325,000.IF TIGER HAS BEEN BUYING REAL ESATATE IN CALIFORNIA;FLORIDA,DUBAI AND OTHER PLACES PLUS INVESTING, HIS NET WORTH IS MIND BOGGLING!!!!!!