Woods Is First Athlete To Reach A Billion Bucks

NFL News - October 1st, 2009 - Written by John

Tiger Woods has long been the highest-paid athlete in the world. Forbes magazine reported in 2002 he passed racing legend Michael Schumacher on the annual list for dollars per year via endorsements and competitions. Today, Woods was put into a whole 'nother stratosphere. The magazine, which has been keeping tabs on athletic bank accounts since 1991, reported Woods is sports' first billion-dollar earner.

The magazine estimates Woods started the year with career earnings of $895 million, and after endorsement checks and several minor tournaments pushed him to the brink, finally hit the mark last week. He won a $10 million bonus for being the overall winner of the FedEx Cup that supposedly pushed him over the barrior. He is way ahead of Michael Jordan (estimated at $800 million) and Schumacher ($700 million) despite starting his career later.

Woods has been able to maintain his elite status with a clean-cut image and a regal reputation. He has sponsorships with reputable companies like Nike, Gillette, AT&T, Gatorade, and previously Buick. He is the iconic athlete in the world that has still yet to see his ability deminish like his international companions David Beckam and Roger Federer.

But he is in a sport that allows him to stay upon the elite for at least another decade and his appearance fees are at times larger than the first-place loot. Jordan still earns $45 million a year from Nike for his shoeline that just recently grossed $1 billion. Schumacher was earning $80 million a year at one point, but has been unable to earn the kind of money Woods has in competitions.

It is probably the most impressive statistic in a long string of impressive statistics in Woods' career. He was the first to net a $40 million sponsorship from Nike after a furious start to his PGA Tour career. He was the first black player ever to win the Masters and was the youngest at the same time. His 12 stroke victory was also the largest margin in the history of the tournament. He has won the money title nine times in 15 years and has won the Player of the Year award nine times, too.

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