Key Points:
- Tiger Woods earned $67.2 million in the past year, ranking 23rd on Forbes’ 2024 highest-paid athletes list.
- Woods’ off-field earnings, including endorsements and business ventures, totaled $55 million out of his $67.2 million income.
- Following his split from Nike, Woods launched the “Sun Day Red” clothing line and expanded his business ventures through TGR Ventures.
Tiger Woods, the legendary golfer and one of the world’s Black billionaires, has secured a top spot among the world’s highest-paid athletes in 2024. With earnings exceeding $67 million in the past 12 months, Woods continues to solidify his position among the world’s billionaires.
According to the recently released Forbes 2024 list of the world’s highest-paid athletes, the 48-year-old golfer earned an estimated $67.2 million over the past year, placing him at number 23 on the list. The majority of his earnings, totaling $55 million, came from off-field activities such as businesses, endorsement deals, appearances, memorabilia, and licensing.
Woods also earned $12.2 million in on-field earnings from just four starts in recent times, as he nears the twilight of his illustrious career. Over his professional golf career, he has earned approximately $1.8 billion, including a PGA Tour-record $121 million in prize money.
Woods’ wealth and business ventures
Since attaining billionaire status in 2022, Tiger Woods has strategically invested his golfing earnings, boosting his net worth from $800 million in January 2022 to $1.3 billion. A significant portion of his wealth stems from his 27-year partnership with sportswear giant Nike.
Woods’ collaboration with Nike began in 1996 with a $40-million deal and evolved into a series of lucrative contracts, including a $320-million, eight-year agreement, and a $200-million, 10-year deal inked in 2013. By the end of 2023, Woods had earned $660 million from this partnership.
However, Woods recently parted ways with Nike in a surprising move that has left the sporting world speculating about the reasons. Some suggest his shift towards his own TGR Ventures and golf course design business, while others believe it may be due to a desire for fresh branding.
New endeavors and future plans
Following his split from Nike, Woods launched his new clothing line, “Sun Day Red.” Named after his signature final-round attire, the brand features a tiger emblem composed of 15 stripes, representing Woods’ 15 major tournament victories.
In addition to his clothing line, Woods is expanding his business empire through TGR Ventures. This venture capital firm has investments in diverse sectors, including golf technology, hospitality software, and upscale mini-golf experiences across the United States.
“TGR is my chapter two,” Woods has said, “my way of building a legacy that’s about more than birdies and bogies.” In October 2023, he partnered with Justin Timberlake to open a second T-Squared Social, a premium sports and entertainment gastro-pub, further extending his business portfolio beyond the fairway.
