It was inevitable, but it's still a pretty impressive feat. In just 13 years as a professional athlete, Tiger Woods has become the first ever sportsman to reach the billion dollar mark, according to Forbes.Woods, who banked the $10 million bonus that comes with winning the FedEx Cup, has finally hit the ten figure mark, something that was predicted to happen next season. Coming into 2009, Woods had earned $895 million between his sponsors, golf and other business ventures. It looks like the FedEx Cup was the final straw, pushing him over $100 million for the year and now into the billion dollar mark.
Forbes has been tracking athlete earnings since before Tiger turned pro. Woods had earned a cumulative $895 million going into 2009, by our estimates, from prize money, appearance fees, endorsements, bonuses and his golf course design business. If you add his $10.5 million in 2009 prize money, the FedEx bonus and his take so far this year from his more than $100 million in annual off-the-course earnings, Woods' career earnings are now 10 figures.The article points out something that might be even more surprising than the billion dollar mark Woods is said to have passed -- Tiger is only 33, and probably has at least ten years of serious, competitive golf left in him, if not more.
If Tiger continues on this track, picking up a few more sponsors on the way (he now has no car deal since he and Buick split paths), it might not just be a billion dollars we're talking about, especially with Tiger Woods Design starting to gain steam.
DYST V3 test
LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers watches as Mo Williams #2 takes a shoe to the face by Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers after a steal in the closing seconds of the first half at The Quicken Loans Arena on February 8, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (David Liam Kyle, NBAE/Getty Images)
David Liam Kyle, NBAE/Getty Images
Brazil's Diogo (L) vies for the ball with Paraguay's Hernan Perez during their U-20 South American Championship football match in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela on February 8, 2009.(Juan Barreto, AFP/Getty Images )
Juan Barreto, AFP/Getty Images
A Dalmatian looks at its handler as a judge goes to touch the dog during the first day of the 2009 Westminster Dog Show in New York February 9, 2009.(Lucas Jackson, Reuters)
Lucas Jackson, Reuters
Denver Nuggets forward Chris Anderson touches his head during a time out in the first half of their NBA basketball game with the New Jersey Nets in East Rutherford, New Jersey February 7, 2009. (Ray Stubblebine, Reuters)
Ray Stubblebine, Reuters
Margarita Marbler, of Austria, skis to a bronze medal finish the ladies moguls freestyle FIS World Cupskiing qualification at Cypress mountain in West Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. (Jonathan Hayward, The Canadian Press/AP)
Jonathan Hayward, The Canadian Press/AP
West Virginia guard Darryl Bryant (25) is fouled by Providence guard Jeff Xavier (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Morgantown, W.Va. Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. West Virginia won 86-59. (Don Wright, AP)
Don Wright, AP
Missouri's DeMarre Carroll, top, celebrates the Tigers' 62-60 win over Kansas in Columbia, Missouri, Monday, February 9, 2009. (Rich Sugg, Kansas City Star/MCT)
Rich Sugg, Kansas City Star/MCT
David Clarkson #23 of the New Jersey Devils fights Erik Reitz #4 of the New York Rangers during their game on February 9, 2009 at The Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey (Al Bello, Getty Images)
Al Bello, Getty Images
Driver Patrick Sheltra (60) begins to spin coming out of the fourth turn during the ARCA 200 auto race in Daytona Beach, Fla. Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009.
Darryl Graham, AP
Spain's Nuria Llagostera Vives serves the ball, in this multiple exposure, to Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic during their Fed Cup tennis match in Brno February 7, 2009.
Petr Josek, Reuters
Comments (Page 1 of 3)
HEY TIGERE...CAN I BORROW A BUCK?
Not a chance ... he actually is a immature jerk. LMAO
Get in Line LOL Congratulations TIGER wishing you and yours all the best
Lebron is going to need to find a different goal now.
And he deserves every bit-He is a class act
He is far from a class act. You need to raise your standard ... and lose some weight (according to your screenname ... LOL).
What is sad is most of Tigers Fans that say great that he has earned a Billion Dollars are the same hypocrites that would Fault others for making in the Millions...Some of them are just racists that think it is ok for Tiger to be super rich but not the other "the man" people that maybe look different then they do. That or they think it is OK for Sports figures and Movie Stars to Make Millions or Billions but think IT is EVIL Capitalism for Regular White Collar Business people to make Millions or Hundreds of Millions....These are generaly the hypocritical Liberals that themselves may be rich or super rich(AL GORE JOHN KERRY) but they call the other man EVIL for trying to make a buck....Hypocrites and Racists all the lot of them.
I'm spending my rent money on a new set of clubs.
Now that will really get Phil bummed out. How can you compete with that money stat. That is some serious paper.
Couldn't happen to a better man. A perfect role model for our children, especially our black children.
Duh ? Role model ? Gag. Cough. Let's be serious.
WHO CARES!!!!!!
WOW who cares
Tiger is hands down the greatest athlete ever. He has worked since he was less than a year old to become what he is today, and he deserves every penny. All of the haters of Tiger need to be quiet because they have no good points on why he shouldn't have reached this mark. He is a great role model, a wonderful father, and an extremely terrific athlete who has given back to the community and is one of the most selfless people this world will ever know.
And you are clueless ...
Open letter to Tiger Woods:
Dear Mr. Woods,
You and your family deserve every success that you have achieved and shall continue to achieve. You have been a class act from day one. Thank your mother and your father for giving you the basics that you learned so well.
Congradulations. We in our household are fans and shall always be fans.
Go Tiger!
I guess he doesn't pay taxes,have an agent or spends any money? Earns a billion and is a
billionaire! Didn't know it works like that.
You are an idiot and obviously cannot comprehend the English language. The article states that since his professional career he has earned one billion+ dollars.
It is true that Tiger is probably the best golfer ever however am I the only person who hears of all the profanity laced tirades when he hits an errant shot.Look also at the amount of times he has thrown his club 3-40 yards when unhappy with a shot.
Oh yes what an example he could be to black and white kids also.But he's one in a million when it comes to talent so let him curse and throw clubs.