Golf continues to be one of the world’s most lucrative sports, with the biggest stars earning tens of millions of dollars from tournament winnings, sponsorships, appearance fees, and business ventures. While prize money remains important, endorsement deals and LIV Golf contracts have significantly reshaped the earnings landscape.
Here are the five highest-paid golfers in the world in 2026, according to Forbes:
1. Jon Rahm – $111 million
Jon Rahm tops the list for the third consecutive year with an estimated $111 million in earnings. The Spanish star earned approximately $101 million on the course, boosted by his lucrative LIV Golf contract, tournament prizes, and bonuses, while adding another $10 million through sponsorships and endorsements. (Forbes)
2. Scottie Scheffler – $79 million
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler ranks second after another dominant season. He made an estimated $49 million from tournament winnings and bonuses, alongside $30 million from endorsement deals with brands including Nike and TaylorMade. (Forbes)
3. Rory McIlroy – $77 million
Rory McIlroy remains one of golf’s biggest commercial stars. The two-time defending Masters champion earned $27 million on the course and an impressive $50 million off it through sponsorships, licensing, and appearance fees—the highest off-course income of any golfer in 2026. (Forbes)
4. Bryson DeChambeau – $52 million
Bryson DeChambeau collected an estimated $42 million from LIV Golf and tournament earnings, while generating another $10 million through endorsements and his rapidly growing YouTube presence, which has become a major source of revenue and fan engagement. (Forbes)
5. Tiger Woods – $46 million
Despite limited competitive appearances due to injuries, Tiger Woods remains one of the sport’s biggest earners. He made only about $1 million on the course but earned $45 million through long-standing endorsement deals, licensing agreements, and business ventures. (Forbes)
Top 5 Highest-Paid Golfers (2026)
| Rank | Golfer | Total Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jon Rahm | $111 million |
| 2 | Scottie Scheffler | $79 million |
| 3 | Rory McIlroy | $77 million |
| 4 | Bryson DeChambeau | $52 million |
| 5 | Tiger Woods | $46 million |
These figures include estimated on-course earnings, sponsorships, appearance fees, licensing income, and other business ventures over the previous 12 months. (Forbes)