Within the last month, we’ve witnessed two of sport’s biggest contributors and stars become billionaires. Future HOF golfer Tiger Woods has recently joined the small group of athletes to accomplish this feat. Earlier this month, Los Angeles Lakers SF LeBron James also became a billionaire only goes to show you how the game is changing. In the Black community, these gentlemen are so rare to come by; however, it shows that the goal is possible to reach. These gentlemen both changed their respective games forever. While also proving to be a beacon of hope for young Black athletes around the world.
“According to sports agent Leigh Steinberg, [he has] shown remarkable skill in leveraging aspects of various businesses to establish their own ventures, surpassing the achievements of previous athletes,” as reported by Forbes.
A huge milestone for Tiger 💰 pic.twitter.com/wGgufFDHk2
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 10, 2022
Tiger Wood’s sponsorship deals have helped him surpass $1 billion, reported Forbes . His relationships with Nike, Gatorade, Monster Energy, TaylorMade, and Rolex. The only other known billionaire athletes are Michael Jordan and LeBron James. In fact, Jordan was the first Black billionaire athlete. In his 27-year career, he earned $1.7 billion as a collective of salary, endorsements, and other statures of income. However, many would-be surprising majorities of his money have not come from the game of golf. In fact, it’s been primarily in sponsorships.
“According to veteran sports business consultant Joe Favorito, he entered the sport at the perfect moment, possessing a diverse background as an athlete and being relatable,” as stated in Forbes. “Brands love knowing they’re getting someone they can embrace. Not only by the die-hard fans, but also by the casual ones.
Tiger Woods Choosing to Prioritize His Body and Mind
Ironically, this news surfaced a few days after he announced he was withdrawing from the upcoming US Open. Tiger Woods recently tweeted and appears to be resting and preparing for the following tournament (British Open).
“I let the USGA know that I won’t be participating in the @usopengolf because I need more time to recover and prepare for major championship golf,” he tweeted. “I hope and intend to be ready for the @JPProAm and @TheOpen in Ireland next month. Can’t wait to get back out there soon!”
Tiger Wood’s legacy is far from over, however, becoming a billionaire only further cements it.
