Tiger Woods The First Billion-Dollar Athlete

Yes, that's B as in $1 billion.

Forbes magazine figures that Tiger Woods has topped $1 billion in career earnings, not just from prize money but also all that loot Nike, Gatorade, Tag Huer and other advertisers pay the golf star, plus income from his golf design business and lofty appearance fees.

In fact, the magazine says that the $10 million Woods pocketed Sunday by winning the FedEx Cup title pushed him over the $1-billion mark.

Woods, who is 33, turned pro in 1996 and won the Masters the next year, the first of his 14 professional majors.

What's equally remarkable about Woods' earning power is that the only two other athletes anywhere near him have already retired: Michael Jordan has career earnings of $800 million, Forbes says, including $45 million a year from Nike as the Air Jordan brand continues to soar in sales. And ex-Formula One driver Michael Schumacher has earned $700 million in his career.

Given Woods' relatively young age, Forbes predicts: "This is only the first billion for Woods."

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2009/10/tiger-woods-billion-dollar-athlete.html

All I can say is wow and not surprised he is the first either.

I am a little surprised though that Jordan is ahead of Schumacher, but that's for another discussion.

Wow. That's an impressive feat for Woods.

Although, just on the Jordan/Schumacher thing, I'm not surprised at all the Jordan's ahead of Schumacher, with Jordan's shoe sponsorship and the fact that he practically made the NBA instantly recognizable around the world.

Best sportsman of all time perhaps I love Tiger, he's such a legend and has produced so many good memories...great feat by him!

Also, I agree with Feldy about the Jordan/Schumacher thing.

First of all, I've followed golf for ages but only fully got into it this year.

Secondly, I've watched videos, read the stories about his amazing comebacks and I still remember sitting in front of the telly and watching that wonder shot by Tiger go in at the 05 Masters...just because I havent been fully into golf doesnt mean I cant look back and see the amazing memories he's produced.

jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez
thats amazing, but not surprising. hes got a few more billion to come too

I'm not saying it's MY memory, I'm saying that Tiger has provided great memories for many. I didnt say anywhere in my post that he provided me personally with good memories, I just said he has provided many good memories...that was a general expression.

And I swear that I was actually watching the TV when he hit that shot in 2005, I'll admit I havent seen much of his brilliant stuff LIVE other than that though, the stuff he has become real famous for, I've just watched clips of them.