The World’s Highest-Paid Golfers 2026

Forbes Daily Briefing

Forbes

Business, Tech News, News

4.4 • 18 Ratings

🗓️ 20 June 2026

⏱️ 6 minutes

🔗️ Recording | Apple Podcasts | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

After news broke that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund would cease backing LIV Golf beyond this season, putting its future in doubt, Jon Rahm was asked in May about the status of his contract with the tour. “I don’t see many ways out,” the 31-year-old Spaniard answered pragmatically. Rahm’s next steps appear dependent on whether LIV can secure external funding to continue operating beyond this year—if its 2026 schedule can even be completed—but in the meantime, his golden handcuffs haven’t been so bad. Rahm’s contract, which reportedly guaranteed him at least $300 million when the former world No. 1 left the PGA Tour in December 2023 to sign with LIV, has made him the world’s highest-paid golfer for the third consecutive year. Forbes estimates Rahm hauled in $111 million over the last 12 months before taxes and agent fees, sending his total pay for the past three years north of $400 million. His compensation since last June includes an estimated $101 million in prize money and on-course bonuses as well as $10 million in off-course earnings from brand partnerships, appearance fees and licensing income. In addition to his contractual guarantee with LIV, which Forbes estimates to be worth $50 million for the past year, Rahm pulled in an $18 million bonus in 2025 as LIV’s individual champion for the second year in a row, and he has won two tournaments so far this season, helping push his total up 9% from the estimated $102 million he pocketed in the 12 months that ended in June 2025. By Hank Tucker, Forbes Staff Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Breaking news. The wait is over now. Waiting for summer? Over. Waiting while charging your electric car? Ultra fast over.
0:11.0	Turn up summer energy. Discover charging in minutes all across Europe. And for even more summer energy,
0:17.9	stream the new Ionity remix by Elderbrook on Spotify now.
0:23.2	Ionity.
0:24.2	Charge faster.
0:25.4	Enjoy more.
0:29.6	At HSBC UK, when you invest in your business, we're invested too.
0:34.3	Whether it's borrowing to buy new equipment, to invest in energy saving or in new
0:38.5	technology, we cut through the noise with our sector specialists, regional expertise and tailored
0:43.3	finance solutions. So if you're looking to grow your business, we lend more than money. To get
0:48.2	insights on how UK businesses are borrowing for growth, search HSBC business finance. Lending is subject
0:54.0	to status, eligibility criteria and tis and Cs apply.
1:00.4	Today on Forbes, the world's highest paid golfers, 2026.
1:07.0	After news broke that Saudi Arabia's public investment fund would cease backing Liv
1:12.2	Golf beyond this season, putting its future in doubt, John Rom was asked in May about
1:18.4	the status of his contract with the tour.
1:21.3	The 31-year-old Spaniard answered pragmatically, saying, quote, I don't see many ways out.
1:28.0	Rom's next steps appear dependent on whether Liv can secure external funding to continue
1:33.0	operating beyond this year, if its 2026 schedule can even be completed. But in the meantime,
1:39.6	his golden handcuffs haven't been so bad. Ram's contract, which reportedly guaranteed him at least $300 million when the former
1:47.9	world number one left the PGA tour in December 2023 to sign with Liv, has made him the
1:54.4	world's highest paid golfer for the third consecutive year.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Forbes, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Forbes and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.