Tiger Woods Net Worth (Money & Salary)
Tiger Woods Net Worth (Money & Salary)
February 4, 2025
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What is Tiger Woods’s net worth and career earnings?
With a net worth of $800 million, Tiger Woods is a prominent American professional golfer. Since he turned pro in 1996, his career earnings have exceeded $1.8 billion, and when adjusted for inflation, they easily surpass $2 billion. He holds the title of the highest-earning golfer ever and was the top-earning celebrity globally for many years.
Although his accolades are extensive, here are some notable achievements:
- 15 professional major tournaments
- 82 PGA Tour victories
- 41 European tour victories
- Five Masters championships
- Most consecutive weeks ranked #1 than any other player
- Lowest scoring average in history
- 11-time PGA Player of the Year
- Inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2021
Starting to play at the age of two, Tiger was showcasing his extraordinary golf talent on television by the time he turned seven. His journey continued through high school and college, and by the time he became a professional golfer in 1996, he was widely recognized as a formidable contender. For the subsequent decade, he achieved remarkable success, including 10 PGA Player of the Year Awards. His reign as World #1 lasted an unprecedented 264 consecutive weeks from 1999 to 2004, followed by another 281 weeks from 2005 to 2010.
However, his personal life experienced a significant downturn. Following his father’s death in 2006, it seemed like turmoil ensued. He faced a collapse in his marriage and family life, lost numerous endorsement deals, and struggled through the following years. Even though his golf performance remained strong, his public image suffered greatly and has yet to fully recover. Recently, he appears to have made some progress in regaining stability, but the future remains uncertain.
Nike Deal and Notable Endorsement Earnings
Tiger Woods’s most substantial income source throughout his professional career has undeniably been his sponsorship with Nike, beyond tournament winnings.
Making his professional debut on August 29, 1996, Tiger secured victory at The Masters a mere 228 days later, on April 13, 1997. Following that win, at just 21 years old, he signed a 5-year contract with Nike worth $40 million and another 5-year deal with Titleist for $20 million.
Shortly thereafter, on May 20, 1997, just a day after winning the Byron Nelson Classic (his first tournament post-Masters win), he inked a 5-year agreement with American Express valued at $30 million. This deal, along with his contracts with Nike, Titleist, and his tournament earnings, pushed his career earnings to $100 million. Remarkably, it took Tiger only eight months (264 days) after turning professional to reach this milestone. For context, LeBron James’s initial Nike deal in 2003 was worth $90 million over seven years.
In September 2000, Tiger secured a second endorsement deal with Nike, this time amounting to $100 million over five years ($20 million annually). Thus, from 1997 to 2005, Tiger earned a remarkable $140 million from Nike alone. His total earnings from all sources during that seven-year timeframe likely exceeded $200 million.
In 2005, Tiger and Nike extended their partnership with an 8-year contract worth $320 million. Then in 2013, they signed what would eventually become their final agreement, a 10-year deal worth $200 million.
On January 8, 2024, it was announced that Tiger and Nike had ended their partnership. Between his first deal in 1997 and this announcement, Tiger is estimated to have earned approximately $700 million from Nike.
Early Life
Eldrick
Tiger Woods, also known as “Tiger,” was born in Cypress, California, on December 30, 1975, to his parents, Earl and Tida Woods. He is the sole child of the couple and has half-siblings including two brothers, Earl Jr. and Kevin, and a sister, Royce, from his father’s prior marriage.
Originally from Thailand, Tiger’s mother influences his diverse ethnicity, which he terms as Cablinasian, combining Caucasian, Black, American Indian, and Asian heritages. His father’s friend, Colonel Vuong Dang Phong, inspired him with the nickname “Tiger.” Raised in Orange County, California, Woods encountered golf through his father, who began teaching him the game before he was two. Earl Woods was an avid golfer with a single-digit handicap and made history as one of the initial African-American college baseball players at Kansas State University.

(Photo by: Ken Levine/Getty Images)
Amateur and College Career
During a televised segment on “The Mike Douglas Show” in 1978, Tiger showcased his putting skills against comedian Bob Hope. By the age of three, he recorded a score of 48 over nine holes. His debut in “Golf Digest” and an appearance on ABC’s “That’s Incredible!” occurred when he was five. At six, he triumphed in the Under Age 10 category of the Drive, Pitch, and Putt competition at the Navy Golf Course in Cypress, California. By eight, he emerged victorious in the 9–10 boys’ division at the Junior World Golf Championships, achieving his first round under 80 that same year. Tiger dominated the Junior World Championships, clinching six titles, four of which were consecutive from 1988 to 1991.
Tiger first outplayed his father at the age of 11, a match in which Earl endeavored to win. From that day onward, Tiger defeated Earl consistently. At just 15 years old and attending Western High School in Anaheim, he became the youngest U.S. Junior Amateur champion, a record that remained unbroken until 2010. His accolades include being named Southern California Amateur Player of the Year in 1990 and 1991, as well as earning the title of “Golf Digest” Junior Amateur Player of the Year in 1991. In 1992, he made history as the first two-time victor of the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, successfully defending his title. That same year, he participated in the Nissan Los Angeles Open, marking his debut on the PGA Tour, and garnered numerous honors, including the “Golf Digest” Amateur Player of the Year, Golf World Player of the Year, and “Golfweek” National Amateur of the Year.
The subsequent year, Woods clinched his third consecutive U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, being the event’s only three-time winner. In 1994, he achieved the distinction of being the youngest champion of the U.S. Amateur Championship, a record that stood until 2008. He was part of the victorious American team at the 1994 Eisenhower Trophy World Amateur Golf Team Championships. Woods graduated high school in 1994 and was recognized as “Most Likely to Succeed” by his peers.
Woods received significant attention from top college golf programs and ultimately chose to enroll at Stanford University, the reigning NCAA champions of 1994. He commenced his studies at Stanford in the fall of that year and triumphed in his inaugural collegiate event, the 40th Annual William H. Tucker Invitational, in September. In 1995, he defended his U.S. Amateur title successfully at Newport Country Club in Rhode Island and was recognized as the Pac-10 Player of the Year, an NCAA First Team All-American, and Stanford’s Male Freshman of the Year, an accolade encompassing all sports.
At the age of 19, Woods made his debut in a PGA Tour major at the 1995 Masters,
Tied for 41st as the only amateur to make the cut, he would win the tournament by 12 strokes two years later. At 20 years of age, in 1996, he became the first golfer to win three consecutive U.S. Amateur titles as well as the NCAA individual golf championship. After two years in college, he decided to turn professional in golf.
Getty
Professional Career
In August 1996, Woods turned professional at the age of 20, quickly signing with Nike and Titleist for what were then the most lucrative endorsement contracts in the history of golf. He was named “Sports Illustrated’s” Sportsman of the Year in 1996 and also received the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year award. Winning the Masters on April 13, 1997, by 12 strokes, he set a record-breaking performance, becoming the youngest winner of the tournament at just 21. Just two months later, he achieved the record for the fastest rise to No. 1 in the Official World Golf Rankings. Following a lackluster 1998, Woods completed the 1999 season with eight wins, including the PGA Championship.
From 2000 to 2010, Woods emerged as the dominant force in golf. He held the title of the top-ranked golfer in the world from August 1999 to September 2004 (264 weeks) and again from June 2005 to October 2010 (281 weeks), winning 13 of golf’s major championships during this period.
The subsequent decade of Woods’ career was characterized by comebacks following personal challenges and injuries. He dropped to number 58 in the world rankings in November 2011 but managed to reclaim the No. 1 ranking between March 2013 and May 2014. Unfortunately, four back surgeries between 2014 and 2017 hindered his play, with Woods competing in only one tournament from August 2015 to January 2018, ranking outside the world’s top 1,000 golfers. Upon returning to regular competition, he gradually climbed back, securing his first tournament win in five years at the Tour Championship in September 2018 and capturing his first major in 11 years at the 2019 Masters. In 2022, following the 2021 car crash, Woods made his return to professional play at the Masters Tournament, where he made the cut and finished 47th with a score of 13-over par, 23 strokes behind the winner, Scottie Scheffler.
Woods has set numerous golf records throughout his career. He has spent the most consecutive weeks and the greatest total time as the number one player in golf history. With a record of 11 PGA Player of the Year awards, he has also won the Byron Nelson Award for lowest adjusted scoring average a record eight times. He holds the record for leading the money list across ten different seasons. With 15 major championships and 82 PGA Tour victories to his name, Woods leads all active golfers in both career major wins and career PGA Tour wins. Moreover, he is the youngest golfer to achieve a career Grand Slam and the second person (after Jack Nicklaus) to accomplish a career Grand Slam three times. He has also won 18 World Golf Championships and contributed to the American victory in the 1999 Ryder Cup. In May 2019, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, making him the fourth golfer to receive this esteemed honor.
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Personal Life
In 2001, Woods encountered Elin Nordegren, a Swedish former model and the offspring of ex-minister of migration Barbro Holmberg and radio journalist Thomas Nordegren, during The Open Championship. Jesper Parnevik, a golfer from Sweden, had hired her as an au pair. They became engaged in November 2003 and celebrated their wedding on October 5, 2004, at Sandy Lane resort in Barbados. The couple resided in Isleworth, a community situated in Windermere, a suburb of Orlando, Florida. Their firstborn, a daughter named Sam Alexis Woods, arrived in 2007, a name Woods selected because of his father’s lifelong nickname for him. Subsequently, their son, Charlie Axel Woods, was born in 2009.
To address marital conflicts with his then-wife Elin, Woods opted for a self-imposed break from professional golf spanning from December 2009 until early April 2010. He confessed to various infidelities, leading to their divorce on August 23, 2010.
On March 18, 2013, Woods shared the news of his relationship with Olympic gold medalist skier Lindsey Vonn, which ended in May 2015. Between November 2016 and August 2017, Woods dated stylist Kristin Smith. In November 2017, he revealed a relationship with restaurant manager Erica Herman, amidst prior speculation. However, in 2023, Herman initiated a lawsuit against Woods regarding a non-disclosure agreement, claiming she was entitled to $30 million following an incident where Woods’ trust employees barred her from their home and confiscated her belongings.
Woods faced arrest on May 29, 2017, by the Jupiter Police Department at approximately 3:00 am EDT, near his residence in Jupiter Island, Florida, for operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol. He was found asleep in his car, which was idling in a traffic lane. Woods later clarified that he had consumed prescription medications and was unaware of their possible interactions. On July 3, 2017, he tweeted about completing an out-of-state intensive program addressing an unspecified issue. During his arraignment on August 9, 2017, attorney Douglas Duncan entered a not guilty plea on his behalf, and Woods agreed to enter a DUI first-offender program, with a follow-up arraignment set for October 25. On October 27, 2017, Woods pleaded guilty to reckless driving, resulting in a year of probation, a $250 fine, and a mandate to complete 50 hours of community service alongside regular drug tests. His probation prohibited alcohol consumption, with a potential 90-day imprisonment and an additional $500 fine for violations.
In February 2021, Woods was involved in a critical car accident while driving north on Hawthorne Boulevard in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, where his vehicle flipped over. Investigations revealed that Woods was exceeding 80 mph before the incident, leading to multiple leg injuries and subsequent surgery.
Scott Barbour/Getty Images
An Overview of Tiger Woods’ Net Worth
The first source of Tiger’s income derives from tournament victories and product endorsements. Since he turned professional in 1996, he has earned $118 million through golf (including his $2.07 million win at the 2019 Masters). This figure represents only 7.6% of his total career earnings. Much like other exceptional athletes such as Michael Jordan and LeBron James, Tiger’s wealth primarily stems from endorsements. Approximately 92.4% of his career earnings—around $1.6 billion—have been generated from promoting brands such as Nike, Gatorade, American Express, Asahi, General Mills (Wheaties), Golf Digest, Rolex, Gillette, Accenture, Tag Heuer, AT&T, EA Sports, NetJets, Upper Deck, TLC Laser Eye Centers, and Buick.
A custom-branded drink called “Gatorade Tiger” was developed specifically for Woods. His contract with Gatorade alone was valued at $100 million over five years. At one point in time, Tiger earned $20 million annually for endorsing Gillette alongside other sports icons like Roger Federer and Thierry Henry. He charges $10 million for designing golf courses globally and can receive up to $1.5 million for simply appearing at a golf tournament.
Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images
Other Assets and Real Estate
Following his separation and divorce from Elin, Tiger built a grand oceanfront estate in Jupiter, Florida, spanning 12 acres. Upon completion, it was estimated to be valued at $60 million. Presently, the property could be appraised between $75 million and $100 million. This estate includes a practice golf course (of course), an oxygen therapy room, and a minimum of four swimming pools. The vast compound features a lap pool, a dive pool, a children’s pool, a reflection pool, and a fountain.
- A yacht named “Privacy,” valued at $25 million, is owned by Tiger. He occasionally resides on the yacht during tournaments held near bodies of water.
- His PGA tour pension plan holds a worth of at least $20 million.
- He possesses a $54 million Gulfstream G550 private jet. The only instance Tiger has utilized commercial flights in the last 15 years was in January 2017 for a trip from Los Angeles to Dubai.
- The previously mentioned 12-acre oceanfront estate in Jupiter, Florida, has an estimated value of at least $75 million.
- After the financial crisis of 2009 and a slowdown in his career, Tiger initiated a course design business, which has kept him busy with projects around the world.
Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images
Tiger Woods Career Earnings Year By Year
(Credit: Golf Digest)
Total earnings for 2016: $34.61 million ($35.5 million from endorsements)
Total earnings for 2017: $43.3 million ($42 million from endorsements)
Total earnings for 2018: $36.1 million ($35.5 million from endorsements)
Total earnings for 2019: $65 million (includes $2.07 million from the 2019 Masters win)
Total earnings for 2020: $62.3 million
Total earnings for 2021: $73.5 million
Total earnings for 2022: $68 million
As of now, Tiger Woods’ cumulative career earnings amount to $1.8 billion
Marriage And Divorce Settlement With Elin Nordegren
In 2004, Tiger Woods wed Elin Nordegren. Their eldest child, a daughter named Sam Alexis Woods, arrived in 2007, and in 2009, they welcomed a son named Charlie Axel Woods. The couple faced a severe infidelity scandal in 2009, which ultimately resulted in the dissolution of their marriage. Following the controversy surrounding the separation from Elin Nordegren, Tiger’s performance and sponsorships took a hit, resulting in significant financial losses. His divorce settlement included $100 million in assets, which comprised cash and real estate.
Tiger Woods Net Worth Milestones
Before going pro in 1995: $10,000
In 1997: $7 million (first agreements with Nike and Titleist)
By 1999: $40 million
In 2001: $50 million
By 2003: $100 million
In 2005: $250 million
By 2009: $500 million (career earnings exceed $1 billion)
2010: $400 million (finalization of divorce settlement)
In 2016: $700 million
By 2019: $800 million
In 2009, with a net worth of $500 million, Tiger Woods was recognized as the second-richest person of color in the United States, following Oprah Winfrey, whose worth was $2.5 billion at that time.
In 2023 and 2024, data has been collected, along with forecasts for the years 2025 and 2026. Additionally, we extend our predictions to include 2027 and 2028.
* This information was taken from various sources around the world, including these countries:
Australia, Canada, USA, UK, UAE, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Indonesia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya, US, United Kingdom, United States of America, Malaysia, U.S., South Africa, New Zealand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates.
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antarctica, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan.
Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bouvet Island, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Territory, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi.
Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling Islands), Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Croatia (Hrvatska), Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic.
Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Faroe Islands, Fiji, Finland, France, Metropolitan, French Guiana, French Polynesia, French Southern Territories.
Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Heard and McDonald Islands, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy.
Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg.
Macau, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar.
Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, New Zealand (NZ), Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway.
Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Pitcairn, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe.
Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Helena, St. Pierre and Miquelon, Sudan, Suriname, Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria.
Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates (UAE), UK (United Kingdom), USA (United States of America, U.S.), US Minor Outlying Islands.
Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City State (Holy See), Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands (British), Virgin Islands (US), Wallis and Futuna Islands, Western Sahara, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Tiger Woods Net Worth (Money & Salary)
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