Golf may not be the most electrifying sport to all, but the associated coin made by athletes like Tiger Woods can cause anyone to get excited about the game.
Born in 1975 as Eldrick Woods, the prolific golfer was raised in Cypress, CA, with an interest in golf as early as six-months-old. Based on his bio on his website, Woods appeared on The Mike Douglas Show at two-years-old, putting with Bob Hope. He also shot 48 for nine holes at age three and was featured in Golf Digest by age five.
By 16-years-old, Woods competed in tournaments and placed 34th place in the 1994 Johnnie Walker Asian Classic in Thailand. That same year, he entered Stanford University and won 10 collegiate events, including the NCAA championship title.
Since turning pro in 1996, Woods has earned 82 PGA Tour wins, 12 international victories, and 199 top ten finishes. According to Golf Digest, since the beginning of his professional career, he had endorsement deals from Nike and Titleist worth $67 million.
Throughout his career and despite some of his troubles, Tiger Woods has remained one of the top paid athletes of all time. According to a conversation veteran sports analyst Joe Favorito had with Forbes, Woods was not only talented but entered the game at the right time.
“He hit the right time in the right sport, being an athlete with a diverse background who was approachable,” Favorito said to Forbes. “Brands love knowing they’re getting someone who is embraced not just by the traditional but also by the casual fans.”
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What’s more, Woods joined a short list of active athletes in the billionaires’ boys club. But just how does the golfing legend make all of his money?
Let’s look at the on and off-course moves Tiger Woods made to amass a $1.7 billion net worth.
Golfing Salary
Less than 10 percent of Woods’ earnings and net worth come from his career as a golfer. Golf Digest also reports that his official PGA Tour earnings stood at $120,895,206 as of June 2022.
Over the years, his salary numbers have increased. In 2021, after his car accident, only being able to compete twice, he still made $68 million from on-course earnings.
Endorsement Deals And Partnerships
Tiger Woods’ most significant bag comes from his endorsement deals. At one point in his career, the golfer had partnerships with brands like Accenture, Gatorade, EA Sports, General Motors, Gillette, AT&T, and American Express. This was at the time of his most tremendous marketability when Woods earned about $100 million per year off the golf course.
Based on a Sports Illustrated report, Woods currently has about 12 deals with various companies like Monster Energy, TaylorMade, Rolex, and his continued agreement with Nike.
Although endorsement deals with Nike are the bulk of Tiger’s bread and butter, Woods is not accepting every offer that comes his way.
According to an interview with the Washington Post, Saudi-based LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman alleges that Woods turned down what Norman described as an enormous deal.
“We’re talking about high nine digits,” Norman said in the interview.
Leading CEO
Philanthropy
Tiger Woods also leads the Tiger Woods Foundation. According to the foundation’s website, it exists to “empower students to pursue their passions through education.”
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With over 25 years of service, Wood’s foundation has programming that supports STEM coursework, educator professional development, digital platforms, and college access programs.
