In the world of modern sports, prize money has become a significant indicator of how much it means to win a tournament. While team events often make headlines for their colossal television deals, it’s usually individual sports like tennis and golf, and elite season-ending tournaments such as the FedEx Cup and ATP Finals, that offer the most lucrative paydays for athletes.
From the Grand Slams in tennis to the historic majors in golf and high-stakes year-end championships, top individual events now regularly award more than many team athletes earn in an entire season. Here’s a rundown of the nine highest prize money events in individual sports, based on total purse and payouts for the champions…
1 – 2025 FedEx Cup Playoffs (£76.1million)
The 2025 FedEx Cup Playoffs hold the title for the richest individual prize pool in global sports, with $100m (£76.1m) shared among PGA Tour players. Fleetwood pocketed the champion’s $10m (£7.6m) bonus after winning the 2025 Tour Championship in Atlanta and clinched the FedEx Cup title with a strong 18-under finish.
2 – 2025 US Open (tennis) (£68.8m)
The US Open continues to lead the way in tennis prize money, offering a record-breaking $90m (£68.8m) purse in 2025. The men’s and women’s singles champions – Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka – each walked away with the $5m (£3.8m) winner’s prize. The total prize pool represents a 20 per cent increase from 2024, and the winner’s payout a 39 per cent jump.
3 – 2025 Wimbledon Championships (£55.5m)
In 2025, Wimbledon upped its prize fund to a whopping $72.6m (£55.5m), with both singles champions pocketing approximately $4.07m (£3m). The men’s singles title was clinched by Jannik Sinner and the women’s singles crown was won by Iga Swiatek, each taking home the record-breaking payout.
4 – 2025 French Open (£49m)
The French Open in 2025 saw Roland Garros boost its prize pool to an estimated $64m (£49m), with both the men’s and women’s singles champions bagging €2.9m (£2.2m). Alcaraz defended his title in a marathon match lasting five hours and 29 minutes, while Coco Gauff defeated world No.1 Sabalenka to secure her first French Open singles title.
5 – 2025 Australian Open (£44m)
The Australian Open in 2025 increased its prize pool to $59.9m (£44m). Both the men’s and women’s singles champions walked away with $2.2m (£1.6m) each. The men’s singles title was claimed by Sinner and the women’s singles title was won by Madison Keys.
6 – 2025 Daytona 500 (£23m)
The 2025 Daytona 500 boasted a record-breaking total purse of $30m (£23m), setting a new high for the event. William Byron emerged victorious, and although the exact payout isn’t publicly disclosed, estimates suggest his earnings were around $2.4m (£1.8m) to $3m (£2.2m).
7 – 2025 Players Championship (£19m)
Often referred to as “the fifth major,” The Players Championship boasted a $25m (£19m) prize fund in 2025. Rory McIlroy emerged victorious, collecting $4.5m (£3.4m) after beating J.J. Spaun in a playoff. Both golfers completed regulation at 12-under-par before McIlroy claimed his second Players Championship crown in the three-hole aggregate playoff.
8 – 2025 US Open (golf) (£17m)
The US Open offers the largest prize fund amongst men’s golf majors, with a total pot of $21.5m (£16.94m) for the 2025 tournament. The champion collected $4.3m (£3.39m), and the purse has remained the biggest for the majors since 2022. Spaun took the title, sealing victory with a spectacular 64-foot putt to capture the championship.
9 – 2025 Masters Tournament (£16m)
The 2025 Masters Tournament increased its overall purse to $21m (£16.55m), with the winner’s portion established at $4.2m (£3.31m). McIlroy triumphed, completing the career Grand Slam by prevailing in a playoff against Justin Rose.