LIV Golf has made waves in the sports world not only for its breakaway format but for the staggering sums of money its players are earning.

Backed by Saudi Arabian investment, LIV has managed to lure top golfers from the PGA Tour with lucrative contracts and prize money, shaking up the landscape of professional golf.

But just how much are these players making?

Image via @JonRahmOfficial

For the first time, we’ve got a clear answer to the question of what the LIV Golf top earners made in 2024.

After Jon Rahm claimed the season-long $18 million bonus at a recent tournament, LIV released the year-to-date earnings of its players, including payouts from the season’s end.

Here’s how the top 10 looks:

1. Jon Rahm: $34.75 million
2. Joaquin Niemann: $24.38 million
3. Sergio Garcia: $17.09 million
4. Tyrrell Hatton: $11.63 million
5. Brooks Koepka: $11.57 million
6. Dean Burmester: $8.37 million
7. Cameron Smith: $8.08 million
8. Louis Oosthuizen: $8.06 million
9. Abraham Ancer: $7.44 million
10. Carlos Ortiz: $7.39 million

These figures represent not just tournament winnings, but also significant season-end bonuses, making LIV players among the highest-paid athletes in the world.

“Every decision I feel like we make in life, there [will] be somebody who agrees and likes it and somebody who doesn’t. 

I’ve made this decision because I believe it is the best for me and my family…I’m very comfortable with my decision.”

Jon Rahm commenting on his decision to join LIV Golf

While the LIV golfers are raking in impressive sums, how does it stack up against the PGA Tour?

The PGA’s top earner, Scottie Scheffler, made a jaw-dropping $62 million this season, largely thanks to his historic year on the Tour.

However, when we look beyond Scheffler, the earnings become comparable.

For instance, Joaquin Niemann, who placed second on the LIV leaderboard with $24.38 million, earned almost the same as Xander Schauffele, the second-highest earner on the PGA Tour at $23.2 million.

There is, however, a key difference:

The PGA Tour distributes its wealth more broadly.

And as the All-Time PGA Tour money list shows the figures earned on the traditional tour far outway that on the LIV format.

The 40th player on the LIV earnings list, Danny Lee, took home $2.36 million, whereas the 40th on the PGA list, Cam Davis, made over $4 million.

The PGA Tour rewards more players across the board, while LIV tends to concentrate its payouts among the top performers.

One major factor that sets LIV apart from the PGA is the signing bonuses.

Many players who defected from the PGA Tour to LIV reportedly received hefty upfront payments.

For instance, it’s been rumored that Phil Mickelson’s signing bonus exceeded $200 million, while Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau were also offered nine-figure deals to join the LIV ranks.

This raises the question of just how much Jon Rahm, the current top earner, received to jump ship.

Though the exact figure hasn’t been disclosed, it was initially rumoured to be a staggering $450 million. ESPN later disputed that figure and it has since been reduced to a pawtry $300 million, plus perks like access to a private jet, and a share in the ownership of his LIV Golf Team Legion XIII.

Whatever the final deal details, there is no doubt Rahm’s earnings have been boosted substantially, which clearly helped make his decision to join LIV.

The LIV Golf Series has introduced a new dynamic to professional golf, offering fewer events with larger payouts and bigger bonuses to entice the world’s top players.

While the PGA Tour remains the more established and traditional path for professional golfers, LIV has undeniably changed the game by making multi-million dollar paydays the norm.

Whether this shift will last or evolve further remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure:

While the top LIV golfers are earning some serious cash their rivals on the PGA Tour aren’t exactly struggling either!