Over the years, the financial rewards have grown exponentially with tournament winnings reaching unprecedented heights.
Major tournaments, FedEx Cup Playoffs and high-profile Tour events have played a pivotal role in shaping career earnings, turning elite golfers into multi-millionaires.
Some have dominated for years while others have quickly racked up large career earnings with skyrocketing payouts for tournament victories.
The list of all-time prize money leaders on the PGA Tour is a testament to sustained excellence and the wealthy nature of professional golf.
But who sits at the top?
Here are the five highest-earning players in PGA Tour history and the most lucrative victories that helped define their careers so far…
5. Scottie Scheffler – $74.2 million
The current World No.1 has rapidly ascended the ranks of the PGA Tour amassing significant earnings in a comparably short time on the circuit.
Scheffler earned just shy of $30 million in 2024 alone. A Masters victory in Augusta worth $3.6 million was supported by wins at The Players Championship and the Arnold Palmer Invitational to name a few.
4. Dustin Johnson – $75.5 million
Dustin Johnson’s period at the top saw him win trophies while being seemingly unbeatable at the top of his game.
A notable highlight was his 2020 Green Jacket and significant purse from a Masters win where he secured a record score and prize money.
The victory capped off his dominant period where he was the top-ranked player on the PGA Tour for 135 consecutive weeks alongside his 24 victories.
3. Phil Mickelson – $96.6 million
Phil’s enduring career is marked by a host of impressive victories with his 2021 PGA Championship win one of the most financially rewarding.
At 50 years old, he became the oldest winner of a Major tournament as he claimed a purse that was the icing on the cake in terms of his career earnings.
The historic victory not only showcased his enduring talent but also reinforced his legacy in the sport.
2. Rory McIlroy – $99.7 million
The Northern Irishman’s career earnings have been propelled by his performance in premier events with his recent Players Championship title and its $4.5 million cheque helping him jump to second on the list.
Having surpassed Phil Mickelson, McIlroy will imminently join the $100 million club with his red-hot form in 2025.
He will be hoping his form can help him push for a maiden Green Jacket at the Masters in April and a coveted ‘Grand Slam’ of Major trophies.
1. Tiger Woods – $120.9 million
Woods’ gap at the top is a testament to his blockbuster career picking up event wins where the purses weren’t anywhere near the value of 2025.
His 2019 Green Jacket was his most lucrative tournament earner but his 82 PGA Tour titles show his strength and the sheer duration of his career.
If prize purses in Woods’ era were representative of the modern-day rates, his career earnings would be even more astronomical.
Many argue that if his career earnings were adjusted to today’s prize structures, they would be four times his actual prize money.
