The largest icon in golf is now a billionaire. Tiger Woods' internet value now places him in an unique membership of insanely wealthy sports activities, roughly one week after LeBron James crossed the billionaire threshold.
Tiger Woodsis synonymous with the game of golf, however he can't be related to cash. Forbesintroduced on June 10 that Tiger, 46, grew to become a billionaire, “raking in over $1.7 billion in wage, endorsements and different earnings over the course of his 27-year profession—greater than anybody else Forbes has tracked,” per the publication. Tiger’s estimated internet value is “not less than $1 billion,” based on Forbes, making him the third athlete to take action.
This accomplishment is much more noteworthy contemplating how Tiger turned down a “mind-blowingly monumental” provide from the Saudi-backed LIV Golf tour, a deal that LIV CEO Greg Norman advised the Washington Put up would have been someplace within the “excessive 9 digits.” The newly-minted LIV Golf Tour has already drawn away skills like six-time PGA main champion Phil Mickelson, two-time main champ Dustin Johnson, and longtime Ryder Cup members Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, and Sergio Garcia, per ESPN. The PGA Tour subsequently banned golfers from their event and providers over their participation within the LIV Sequence, citing the gamers making “their selection for their very own financial-based causes.”
The vast majority of Tiger’s profession internet value comes from endorsement offers. Gatorade, Monster Vitality, TaylorMade, Rolex and Nike, who Forbes notes is Tiger’s largest backer, are a number of the manufacturers that make up greater than 90% of his value. “Manufacturers love realizing they’re getting somebody who's embraced not simply by the standard but additionally by the informal followers,” veteran sports activities enterprise guide and Columbia lecturer Joe Favorito advised Forbes. Tiger has additionally ventured right into a golf design enterprise, a stay occasions manufacturing firm, and a restaurant. He’s additionally invested his cash in varied ventures, together with a luxurious minigolf group.
Additionally, Tiger has taken a few hits to the pockets all through his profession. He misplaced quite a lot of sponsors following the adultery scandal uncovered by his Thanksgiving 2009 automobile crash. Nonetheless, Tiger has recovered and now joins LeBron James and Michael Jordan within the billionaire sports activities stars membership.
LeBron, 37, formally grew to become a billionaire at the beginning of June, based on Forbes. After incomes “$121.2 million earlier than taxes and brokers’ charges” over 12 months, LeBron grew to become the primary energetic basketball participant to cross that mark. Like Tiger, James has invested his cash and scored large with branding. He “has raked in upwards of $900 million in earnings from endorsements and different enterprise ventures,” per Forbes.
Michael, 59, didn’t attain the billionaire mark till 2014, greater than a decade after “His Airness” retired. Jordan’s funding within the Charlotte Hornets basketball workforce, plus his different enterprise ventures, lastly pushed him over that line, making him the primary athlete to assert “billionaire” standing.