published: Jun 30, 2025

updated: Aug 28, 2025

Who is richer – Cristiano Ronaldo or LIV Golf’s highest paid player?

Matt Chivers

An exploration of the highest earning players in the Saudi-backed LIV Golf, compared to the biggest names currently plying their trade in football’s Saudi Pro League

Golf and football would get on well these last few years as both have been subject to significant investment from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The LIV Golf League was introduced in 2022, luring some of the game’s biggest names with seven, eight and nine-figure sign-up fees. They began with Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson and Louis Oosthuizen and in two years, the breakaway league has since recruited Brooks Koepka, Cameron Smith, Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed and Jon Rahm.

Stalwarts of the European scene such as Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Sergio Garcia also took the plunge with the start-up league after enjoying illustrious careers on both sides of the pond and in the Ryder Cup.

At the root of LIV Golf’s creation is the desire of Saudi Arabia, specifically the sovereign’s Public Investment Fund, to invest in golf and reach its top table. This is not too dissimilar to the developments in men’s football of recent years.

ALSO: How much has each LIV Golfer made since signing up?

ALSO: What is LIV Golf? Here’s everything you need to know

The Saudi Pro League has attracted some of the world’s most popular, successful and recognisable footballers, both at the peak of their powers and approaching the twilight of their careers. Are you starting to notice a trend here?

Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the best players to lace a pair of boots, signed for Al-Nassr at the start of 2023 and is largely regarded as the marquee of all marquee acquisitions for this 18-team league founded in 1976.

Fan favourites in the Premier League of yesteryear like N’Golo Kante and Roberto Firmino also decided to join the Saudi Pro League and in doing so, signed on a dotted line that guaranteed them an almighty pay-check that, even for professional football, would make your eyes burst out of your head.

Of course, how golfers and footballers are paid is very different. DeChambeau earns money based on where he finishes on the leaderboard in each of the 14 LIV Golf events he competes in, whereas Cristiano Ronaldo has a wage inked in pen on a contract.

Below, we list the highest-paid players in the Saudi Pro League based on their wages according to reported figures and the highest-earning players from the LIV Golf roster based on their prize money tally to date plus their reported sign-on fees.

ALSO: How much has each LIV golfer made compared to their PGA Tour earnings?

ALSO: LIV Golf schedule 2025: Every date, venue and result

Saudi Pro League salaries

Cristiano Ronaldo

Team: Al-Nassr

Annual wage: £178 million

Breakdown: £14,833,333 per month, £3,423,076 per week, £487,671 per day

Karim Benzema

Team: Al-Ittihad

Annual wage: £172 million

Breakdown: £14,333,333 per month, £3,307,692 per week, £471,232 per day

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N’Golo Kante

Team: Al-Ittiihad

Annual wage: £86.2 million

Breakdown: £7,183,333 per month, £1,657,692 per week, £236,164 per day

Kalidou Koulibaly

Team: Al-Hilal

Annual wage: £30 million

Breakdown: £2,500,000 per month, £576,923 per week, £82,191 per day

Marcelo Brozovic

Team: Al-Nassr

Annual Wage: £21 million

Breakdown: £1,750,000 per month, £403,846 per week, £57,534 per day

LIV Golf money list (As of LIV Golf Team Championship 2025)

Jon Rahm

Total money: $566 million fee (widely reported figure) + $74,976,946 earnings

Earnings per LIV Golf event: $2,883,728

ALSO: What does Rick Shiels do with LIV Golf?

ALSO: How can LIV golfers also play in big DP World Tour events?

Dustin Johnson

Total money: $125 million fee + $60,886,255 earnings

Earnings per LIV Golf event: $1,242,576

Bryson DeChambeau

Total money: $125 million fee + $47,607,131 earnings

Earnings per LIV Golf event: $991,815

Brooks Koepka

Total money: $100 million fee + $44,710,115 earnings

Earnings per LIV Golf event: $931,460

Cameron Smith

Total money: $100 million fee + $47,251,040 earnings

Earnings per LIV Golf event: $1,050,023

NOW READ: Which LIV golfers can play in the majors?

NOW READ: Which England footballers are the best at golf?

What do you make of the LIV Golf money list? Tell us on X!

About the author

Matt Chivers

Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.

Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.

Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.

Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as the Masters, The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spoken to many of the biggest names in the sport.

Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.

What’s in Matt’s bag: Cleveland HiBore XL Driver driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, Benross BR-Pro irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.

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