Controversial shift to golf’s insurgent LIV tour pays off in an enormous manner for Aussie Cam Smith as his unbelievable earnings are revealed in new sport wealthy checklist
- Soccer, boxing and golf dominate prime 10
- LIV is making golfers megabucks
- Queenslander’s earnings revealed
Greg Norman bought the thought of ‘generational wealth’ to not solely Cameron Smith however each participant he is tried to lure to his LIV Golf League.
It was a promise the Australian nice delivered on in keeping with enterprise journal Forbes’ annual athlete wealthy checklist, with Smith raking in an eye-watering $110million up to now 12 months, rocketing him into the highest 20.
The 29-year-old Queenslander was one among 12 golfers, together with seven of Norman’s LIV gamers, who made the highest 50, a large rise from simply three 12 months in the past thanks predominantly to huge upfront sign-on charges and the large money purses they’ve been taking part in for.
It has been reported that Smith was paid $140million for becoming a member of LIV, which he did after profitable the 2022 British Open.
Aussie golfer Cam Smith has made a fortune since becoming a member of the insurgent LIV Tour, incomes $110million within the final 12 months alone
Two LIV gamers, Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson, made the highest 10 on the checklist, gathering greater than $300million between them, underlining LIV’s nice lure regardless of constant criticism of taking cash from the Saudi Arabian authorities, which financially backs the league via its Public Funding Fund.
Smith collected simply $225,000 for profitable final yr’s Australian PGA, his most up-to-date victory, however nearly unbelievably that makes up lower than 0.05 per cent of his earnings throughout the previous yr.
Forbes calculated its checklist with earnings from Might 1, 2022 to Might 1, 2023, with off-field earnings figures an estimate of sponsorship offers, look charges and memorabilia and licensing revenue, plus money returns from any companies operated by the athlete, primarily based on conversations with trade insiders.
American Dustin Johnson is the best incomes golfer on the F5robes Prime 20 checklist coming in sixth with A$160million this yr
Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo topped the checklist with a tick over $200million in earnings, having additionally signed a deal to play in Saudi Arabia, with World Cup winner Lionel Messi simply behind him.
Smith was the third highest incomes golfer behind Johnson and Mickelson and got here in at 17 on Forbes’ checklist, simply behind Tiger Woods, who nonetheless made greater than $112million regardless of not often taking part in.
The Australian additionally earned greater than world No.1 and Masters champion Jon Rahm.
Norman has by no means shied away from the cash obtainable to LIV gamers who compete for greater than $30million at each occasion.
‘Generational wealth is there available,’ Norman stated.
‘We’re giving them the chance to look into the long run as a substitute of month by month, yr by yr.
‘Now these captains like Cam are figuring out find out how to maximise their worth via generational wealth. We see it there.
‘These guys are so fortunate to have that future laying out in entrance of them.’
Portugese soccer famous person Christiano Ronaldo heads this yr’s Forbes, checklist incomes $205million
THE TOP MONEY EARNERS IN SPORT
1: Christiano Ronaldo, $205m
2: Lionel Messi, $195m
3: Kylian Mbappe, $180m
4: Lebron James, $179m
5: Canelo Alvarez, $165m
GOLFERS IN FORBES’ TOP 50 EARNERS (in $A)
6: Dustin Johnson, $160m
7: Phil Mickelson, $156m
15: Rory McIlroy, $121m
16: Tiger Woods, $112m
17: Cameron Smith, $110m
28: Jon Rahm, $80 million
