Eye of the Tiger

Tiger Woods is a name that will live on forever.

His cultural impact and influence on the sport of golf are immeasurable, and he has solidified his place as one of the greatest and most dominant athletes to ever walk this earth.

Even while holding the record for the most career earnings of any golfer, his prize money makes up less than 10% of his overall net worth.

So how did Tiger Woods grow from golfer to billionaire?

Who is Tiger Woods?

Eldrick Tont Woods, famously known as Tiger Woods, was born in December 1975 in Cypress, CA, as the only child of Earl and Tida Woods.

Tiger was introduced to golf by his father at age 2 and quickly became a child prodigy. 

By age 3, he shot a 48 over 9 holes (most adults can’t even do this). 

At age 5, he was featured in Golf Digest, and at 6, he won the Under-10 Drive, Pitch, and Putt competition at the Navy Golf Course in Cypress. 

By age 8, he broke 80, a milestone many golfers only dream of achieving. 

Tiger first defeated his dad at age 11 and consistently beat him afterward. 

And by age 12, he broke 70, a feat only 2.5% of golfers can say they’ve done (or so they say…).

Tiger had a remarkable junior, college, and amateur golf career. From ages 15 to 17, he became the youngest US Junior Amateur Champion and the only player to win three consecutive titles. He also won the Junior World Championships six times, with four consecutive wins from 1988 to 1991.

In 1994, Tiger attended Stanford University on a golf scholarship, majoring in economics. During his time there, he won his first event and was named Pac-10 Player of the Year, NCAA First Team All-American, and Stanford’s Male Freshman of the Year, an award encompassing all sports at the university.

Tiger turned professional in 1996 at 20 years old, signing lucrative contracts with Nike and Titleist. 

That year, he played in his first Masters, tying for 41st and being the only amateur to make the cut. 

By April the following year, Tiger had won three PGA Tour events and his first major with a record-breaking 12-stroke victory: the 1997 Masters. 

He finally reached World Number 1 for the first time just two months later in June 1997.

After briefly losing the top spot, Tiger regained World Number 1 in August 1999 and would go on to hold it for 264 consecutive weeks (5 years, 1 month) until September 2004. 

During this period, he achieved six consecutive wins in 2000, including a historic US Open victory that Sports Illustrated called “the greatest performance in golf history,” winning by a record 15-stroke margin.

Tiger lost and regained the World Number 1 a few times.

After regaining it in June 2005, he would hold it for another 281 consecutive weeks (5 years, 5 months) until October 2010, winning 13 major championships during this period, including the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines, where he played through a torn ACL and 91 holes before emerging victorious.

The next decade of Tiger’s career was marked by injuries and personal issues. After a hiatus from December 2009 to April 2010 to address marital problems, he divorced his then-wife Elin. 

He dropped to 58 in world rankings but regained the top spot from March 2013 to May 2014. 

From 2014 to 2017, Tiger underwent four back surgeries and competed in only one tournament from August 2015 to January 2018, dropping out of the top 1000 golfers.

But in a remarkable comeback, Tiger won his first tournament in over five years in September 2018 and stunned the golf world by winning the 2019 Masters, his first major in over a decade. 

However, his comeback was cut short by a car accident on February 23, 2021, which resulted in severe injuries requiring emergency surgery. 

In November 2021, Tiger announced that his full-time professional career was over, though he would continue to play a few events each year.

In his 27-year professional career, Tiger amassed 106 worldwide wins, including 15 majors (2nd all-time), 82 PGA Tour wins (tied 1st all-time), 18 World Golf Championships, and membership in the 1999 Ryder Cup team. 

After the accident, Tiger returned to compete at the 2022 Masters and tied the Masters record for most consecutive cuts made at the 2024 Masters.

Tiger Woods is widely regarded as the greatest golfer ever, and his impact on the sport's popularity is undeniable.

What is Tiger Woods’ Net Worth?

Forbes certified Tiger Woods as a billionaire in 2022, making him the first billionaire featured on the Athlete Exec!

As of July 2024, his estimated net worth is $1.3 billion. 

Remarkably, he achieved this milestone despite turning down a $700 million offer from LIV Golf, the Saudi Arabian backed rival to the PGA Tour.

Tiger is one of the few billionaire athletes globally and became the second active billionaire athlete, slightly behind LeBron James. 

Throughout his career, Tiger earned $121 million in prize money, making him the highest-earning golfer of all time. Interestingly, his prize money accounts for less than 10% of his net worth.

It’s estimated that Tiger earned approximately $1.8 billion during his career, primarily from endorsements. 

His largest endorsement deal was with Nike, estimated to have paid him between $500-$625 million over a 27-year contract, which ended amicably in early 2024.

Tiger's second-largest contract was with Gatorade, which paid him over $100 million before their partnership ended in 2010 following news of his extramarital affairs. 

Other companies, such as Accenture and AT&T, also ended their partnerships with Woods during this time, reducing his endorsement income from $92 million per year to $70 million.

TaylorMade and Bridgestone were Tiger’s main golf sponsors, with other notable endorsements from Rolex, American Express, and Monster Energy, which he continues to endorse today, sometimes seen with a Monster-branded golf bag.

But Tiger wouldn’t have gotten to the wealth he has achieved today without creating reliable ways to park and grow his money.

Tiger Woods’ Business Ventures

Tiger aims to carry on his legacy through TGR, the holding company for his business ventures. 

Headquartered in Jupiter, Florida, where he currently resides, TGR is led by CFO Chris Hubman and Vice President Rob McNamara. Together, they strive to infuse TGR with the qualities that have fueled Tiger's remarkable success.

In addition to his business ventures, Tiger's foundation, started in 1996, operates under TGR. The foundation focuses on providing students from under-resourced communities with access to education and opportunities.

Both his business ventures and his foundation contribute to Tiger's impact beyond the PGA Tour, aligning seamlessly with the core messages that TGR promotes.

Golf

Tiger Woods continues to build on his legacy on the golf course, fitting seamlessly with his personal brand while integrating with his foundation, maintaining ties with the PGA Tour, and strengthening relationships within the golf community. 

Among his annual events are:

The Genesis Invitational: An invite-only yearly PGA event at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, California.

Tiger Jam: A mix of golf, poker, and entertainment at the Aria & Shadow Creek Golf Club in Las Vegas.

Nexus Cup: An amateur golf tournament with 18 foursomes competing over two days at Nexus Club, New York.

TGR JR Invitational: An invite-only event where 60 golfers compete at Spanish Bay and The Hay in Pebble Beach.

Tiger Woods Invitational: Three days of golf at the top-ranked courses of Monterey Peninsula, including Pebble Beach.

Hero World Challenge: A competition of 20 top-ranked pros in Albany, Bahamas.

Every Golfer’s Dream

Outside of playing on the golf course, Tiger also designs them through TGR Design. This sector of TGR allows Tiger to create thoughtful and challenging, yet enjoyable golf courses. 

Courses designed by TGR Design include:

Bluejack National: The first TGR Design in the US, located in Montgomery County near Houston.

Diamante: Featuring three courses in Cabo San Lucas - El Cardonal at Diamante, Legacy Club at Diamante, and the Oasis Short Course.

Jack’s Bay: Known as “The Playground,” offering breathtaking views of the Bahamas.

Payne’s Valley: The first public TGR Design golf course in the US, located in Ridgedale, Missouri.

The Hay: A reimagined 9-Hole course on the historic site of Peter Hay Golf Course at Pebble Beach.

Marcella Club: A private club in Deer Valley with views of Jordanelle Ridge.

Trout National - The Reserve: A championship course in southern New Jersey co-founded with MLB All-Star Mike Trout.

Cobbs Creek Short Course: Located in Philadelphia, integrated with the historic Cobbs Creek Golf Club.

South Shore & Jackson Park Golf Course Restoration: A transformative restoration project in Chicago’s historic Jackson Park.

Jupiter Island Practice Facility: A practice facility with tournament-conditioned turf and bunkering to recreate the feel of major courses.

A New Take of Golf

Amid the LIV Golf vs. PGA Tour drama, Tiger announced a collaboration with Rory McIlroy to create TMRW Sports and the TGL League.

This indoor golf league fuses technology and golf, in partnership with the PGA Tour, which owns an 18% stake.

Headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, the league will feature six teams of three PGA Tour players competing head-to-head in 18-hole matches during a 2-hour Monday-night primetime slot. The league will incorporate full-swing shots using simulators and real-life short game shots in front of a live stadium audience. 

It’s backed by celebrities and athletes, including Justin Bieber, Stephen Curry, Shohei Ohtani, Lewis Hamilton, Serena Williams, and Justin Timberlake.

 The first season was initially set for January 2024 but postponed to 2025 after the arena roof collapsed.

Face of the Franchise

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Tiger also became the face of a video game franchise, similar to Tony Hawk.

EA Sports approached Tiger to front their PGA Tour video game franchise, resulting in a successful partnership from 1998 to 2013. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003 was a breakthrough in sports video games, released during Tiger’s era of peak dominance. 

An estimated 25 million copies were sold, generating $771 million in revenue and paying Tiger an estimated $6 million annually. 

EA Sports parted ways with Woods in 2013 amid controversy, with Rory McIlroy taking his place as the face of the franchise.

He returned in 2023 to be on the cover of the new 2K golfing video game franchise.

Numbers Don’t Lie

Tiger entered the golf simulator market through a deal with Full Swing in 2015. 

This is a market currently worth an estimated $1.5 billion globally and is projected to double by 2031. Tiger had been using Full Swing products before entering the deal, so the partnership was a natural progression. 

Full Swing simulators start at $9.5k, with traditional options at $14k and premium versions running between $55-60k. 

Full Swing is also partnering with the TGL League as their technology provider. 

Bruin Capital acquired a majority stake in Full Swing in 2021.

Hospitality

Outside of golf, Tiger’s next favorite area to invest his time, money, and energy is the hospitality industry. 

His journey began in 1995 with a joint venture alongside other athletes like Andre Agassi, Wayne Gretzky, and Shaquille O’Neal to open a sports bar chain called the All-Star Cafe. 

The chain opened locations in Times Square, the Las Vegas Strip, and Walt Disney World, featuring authentic sports memorabilia. 

The flagship Times Square location is famously known for the 1998 heist of valuable baseball cards, one worth around half-a-million dollars at the time. 

However, the chain struggled with customer retention, receiving criticism of being a “one-and-done” experience and not fostering local relationships, eventually closing its last location at Walt Disney World in 2007.

If it’s Broken, Fix it

Despite the setback with the All-Star Cafe, Tiger remained determined to bring his vision of an elevated sports bar to life. 

In August 2015, he opened a legendary sports bar experience in Jupiter, Florida. 

Designed as a place to relax with friends and family, it aimed to provide the home-cooked meals Tiger longed for after years on the road. Located on Jupiter Island, one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the nation, it offers a luxury sports bar experience.

Tiger didn't stop there. In September 2023, he and business partner Justin Timberlake opened the T-Squared Social Club in Manhattan, New York, in collaboration with 8AM Golf, the parent company of Golf Magazine. 

Spanning an entire city block on East 42nd Street, the club features Full Swing golf simulators, bowling lanes, dining, and the largest indoor single screen in New York City (200 inches) for watching big games.

The Perfect Synergy

With his extensive experience in both hospitality and golf, Tiger launched PopStroke in 2018, a technology-infused take on mini-golf that combines a restaurant and bar with two, 18-hole putting courses. 

PopStroke currently boasts nine locations across Florida, Arizona, and Texas, with an additional 15 locations anticipated for 2024-2025. 

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While it's unclear how much Tiger owns of the company, PopStroke is estimated to generate approximately $50 million in revenue. 

In 2023, TaylorMade became an investor, valuing the company at $650 million.

Real Estate

Like many successful businessmen, Tiger Woods has a significant focus on real estate, often called one of the best investments you can make. 

Tiger approaches the real estate industry from various angles, with numerous purchases in the residential sector:

1996: Purchased an 8,000 sq ft home in Windermere, FL.

2004: Acquired a $3 million condo in Corona Del Mar, CA, with a view of Catalina Island.

2006: Bought property in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, with his then-wife, as well as a home on Jupiter Island for $40 million. Additionally, he purchased a private island home in Lake Malaren, Sweden, which was placed back on the market for $7.1 million in 2015 following his divorce.

2007 and 2010: Bought his mother two plots of land in Jupiter, one for $2.4 million and another for $1.3 million.

Tiger currently resides on Jupiter Island, where he tore down the original structures and built a new estate featuring both a 12,000 sq ft home and a 14,000 sq ft home, along with a multipurpose building, a 3.5-acre golf course, and an indoor putting green. 

He quite literally lives on golf!

Diversified Portfolio

Tiger is also a shareholder in Nexus, a global real estate development company, alongside Justin Timberlake and British billionaire Joe Lewis. 

Nexus is the same company through which Tiger and Timberlake opened T-Square. They also plan to open another sports gastropub in St. Andrews, Scotland, featuring dining, a lounge, and golf simulators.

In addition, Tiger owns a stake in a 600-acre luxury hotel in the Bahamas called Albany, which opened in 2010. The estate features a golf course, equestrian center, tennis courts, and a 15,000 sq ft fitness center.

Another notable piece of Tiger's real estate portfolio, albeit mobile, is a $20 million yacht named "Privacy," purchased in 2004. The yacht boasts three floors, five bedrooms, a jacuzzi, and a gym. Tiger sold the vessel privately in 2018 for an undisclosed amount.

The Success Strategies of Tiger Woods

1. Stay in Your Lane: Tiger Woods is synonymous with golf, and rather than venturing too far from his core expertise, he has focused on expanding his influence within the golf industry. 

2. Build Around Your Brand: Tiger has skillfully expanded his presence in the golf world by hosting tournaments, designing golf courses, investing in golf technology, and even creating his own league.

3. Real Estate is King: Like many successful athletes and investors, Tiger recognizes the value of real estate and has diversified his investments by including significant real estate holdings in his portfolio.

4. Two Heads are Better than One: Tiger consistently surrounds himself with the right people and partners with subject matter experts, forming collaborations that enhance his ventures.

The Bottom Line

Amid the success, fame, and controversy, Tiger has risen to the top in both his profession and business. 

He has expertly built his personal brand around golf in a calculated yet patient manner, especially in the latter part of his career. 

His journey demonstrates the power of consistency and hard work, adding to his business portfolio over time without overextending himself.

Tiger Woods is a living testament to the principle that nothing is given; everything in this world must be earned.