Tiger Woods — The Billion-Dollar Golfer

Before Tiger, the total PGA Tour purse in 1996 was $60 million. By 2024, it was $450 million — a 650% increase driven almost entirely by Tiger's gallery effect. TV ratings tripled when he played. Tournament sponsors paid premiums for "Tiger Sundays." His Nike deal, signed in 1996 for $40 million over 5 years, was the richest athlete endorsement at the time. Career endorsement earnings exceed $1.7 billion. He's the first athlete to earn $1 billion while still active. Tiger didn't grow golf — he WAS golf's economy for two decades.