The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia has a war chest of over $900 billion and invested more than $2 billion in LIV Golf in just three years.
The top 10 earners since the league began in 2022 have all earned in excess of $27 million with the leading money winner, Talor Gooch, raking in $56,435,280 from 35 events, including a $18m bonus for becoming the 2023 LIV Golf Individual Champion.
Jon Rahm has only been with LIV Golf for one year but after winning $18m for topping the points list last season, he’s already made $38.2m from 12 events or $3.18m per start.
Lesser lights have also made fortunes with Spain’s Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra making over $18m before he was relegated last season and did not have his contract renewed by Sergio Garcia’s Fireballs, who have signed another young Spaniard in Luis Masaveu.
Lopez-Chacarra (24) did not hold back when criticising LIV Golf last year.
“I see what it’s like to win on the PGA Tour and how your life changes,” he said. “How you get major access and ranking points.
“On LIV, nothing changes, there is only money. It doesn’t matter if you finish 30th or first, only money. I’m not a guy who wants more money.
“What will change my life is playing in Hawaii and qualifying for the majors, qualifying for the Masters, the Ryder Cup.
“When I joined LIV, they promised OWGR and majors. But it didn’t happen. I trusted them. I was the first young guy, then the others came after I made the decision. But OWGR and majors still haven’t happened.”
Top 30 LIV Golf earners since 2022
1. Talor Gooch $56,435,280
2. Dustin Johnson $55,041,630
3. Cameron Smith $40,913,874
4. Brooks Koepka $39,431,225
5. Jon Rahm $38,238,154
6. Joaquin Niemann $36,404,141
7. Sergio Garcia $33,617,808
8. Branden Grace $30,388,178
9. Bryson DeChambeau $29,847,617
10. Patrick Reed $27,938,797
11. Peter Uihlein $26,724,676
12. Anirban Lahiri $24,380,408
13. Carlos Ortiz $22,270,542
14. Louis Oosthuizen $21,724,297
15. Paul Casey $20,893,034
16. Abraham Ancer $20,142,392
17. Charles Howell III $19,446,436
18. Charl Schwartzel $18,715,941
19. Marc Leishman $18,430,933
20. Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra $18,086,928
21. Pat Perez Events: $17,452,308
22. Dean Burmester $17,320,390
23. Harold Varner III $16,514,166
24. Sebastian Munoz $15,336,720
25. Mito Pereira $14,737,053
26. Tyrrell Hatton $14,630,594
27. Jason Kokrak $14,470,916
28. Richard Bland $14,445,150
29. Matthew Wolff $14,319,916
30. David Puig $13,040,508
Selected others
37. Graeme McDowell $9,122,928
38. Lee Westwood $8,931,081
40. Ian Poulter $8,697,487
41. Scott Vincent $8,540,067
43. Bubba Watson $7,991,283
44. Martin Kaymer $7,906,744
45. Phil Mickelson $7,292,648
