Michelle Wie West Exposes the Truth About LPGA’s Money Boom! | Players Finally Earning Millions
What’s really going on with LPGA prize money? Are women golfers finally being paid what they truly deserve? Retired star Michelle Wi West just lifted the curtain on what she calls a full-blown financial revolution in women’s golf and it’s changing everything that I in a candid conversation on the portfolio players podcast. The five-time LPGA tour champion spoke openly about the massive financial strides the tour has made in recent years. Players are making multi-millions on the course every year. We west revealed. It’s leveling out now in terms of endorsement deals. That statement hits differently when you consider how much the landscape has shifted since her playing days. Back then, endorsements were the primary source of income for LPGA stars, far outweighing tournament earnings. We herself earned $6.82 ate $2 million in prize money across her career, but made tens of millions more through lucrative deals with brands like Nike and Sony. Now, that dynamic has flipped completely. Between 2020 and 2025, LPGA purses have skyrocketed, up a staggering 217%. Total prize money soared from $41.3 million to $131 million. The average tournament purse is now $3.97 million, more than double what players competed for during West Prime. And the numbers don’t lie. Rising star Athea Fitle Gino earned $6.06 million in 2024 alone, nearly matching Wii West’s entire career earnings in just one season. Even more impressive, 34 players crossed the $1 million mark in 2024 compared to just 15 in 2020 that endorsement deals on the other hand have cooled. You’re not seeing athletes sign endorsement deals like before. We west admitted the focus has shifted. Players are now earning serious money through performance, not just branding. Still, the LPGA operates unlike most major sports leagues. Players aren’t salaried employees, they’re independent contractors. There’s no union, no formal collective bargaining, just 150 individual athletes trying to move the game forward together. Getting 150 independent contractors to work together without a union is an interesting place. We west laughed, but it’s working because everyone shares the same goal to increase purses, improve broadcasts, and elevate the product. And clearly, it’s paying off. Sponsors are now fighting for a spot in women’s golf. Major championships have reached $12 million purses and even regular tour events routinely exceed $3 million to these days. Wii West’s mission extends beyond her own career. She’s using her influence to grow the game as host and ambassador of the Mizuo America’s Open, a role secured through 2030. The event’s purse will rise to $3.25 million by 2026, and she’s proud to be part of that growth. She’s also optimistic about the LPGA’s next chapter under incoming commissioner Craig Kesler who officially takes over in July 2025. I think he’s extremely bright. We said he’s got the right experience and the right mindset for the job. Kesler’s challenge will be to build on this financial momentum while addressing long-standing issues like slow play and broadcast reach. We believes he’s the right leader to continue what she and others started. For her, this movement isn’t just about money. It’s about legacy. I feel a responsibility. She reflected. So many people worked hard to make the tour strong enough for me to make a living. Now it’s on us to keep pushing it forward for the next generation. Michelle Wi West make one thing crystal clear. The LPGA’s rise isn’t just about bigger checks. It’s about creating a sustainable, thriving future for women’s golf.
Michelle Wie West Exposes the Truth About LPGA’s Money Boom! 😱 Players Finally Earning Millions | Golf’s Financial Revolution
⸻
Are LPGA stars finally getting paid what they deserve? 💸 Retired golf icon Michelle Wie West just spilled the truth about the massive financial revolution transforming women’s golf forever! 🏌️♀️🔥
In a powerful new interview on the Portfolio Players Podcast, the five-time LPGA Tour champion didn’t hold back. “Players are making multimillions on the course every year,” she revealed. 💬 What used to be an endorsement-driven sport is now turning into a prize-money powerhouse — and the numbers are shocking.
From $41 million in 2020 to a jaw-dropping $131 million in 2025, LPGA purses have skyrocketed by 217%! 🚀 Top players like Atthaya Thitikul are now making in a single season what Michelle Wie West earned in her entire career. And it’s not just the stars — 34 players made over $1 million last year! 💵
But it’s not all smooth sailing. Wie West reveals the challenges of a tour built on independent contractors instead of a players’ union. She also opens up about her new mission to grow the game through her role as host of the Mizuho Americas Open and her faith in incoming LPGA Commissioner Craig Kessler to keep the momentum going. 🌟
👉 Watch this video for a full breakdown of Michelle Wie West’s powerful comments, the LPGA’s record-breaking purses, and what it all means for the future of women’s golf!
💬 Do you think LPGA players are finally getting the respect they deserve? Comment below and join the discussion! 👇
🔥 Don’t forget to LIKE 👍, SUBSCRIBE 🔔, and SHARE this video to support women’s golf and stay updated on every major LPGA development!
#MichelleWieWest #LPGA #WomensGolf #GolfNews #LPGA2025 #GolfLife #GolfMoney #GolfBusiness #AtthayaThitikul #GolfRevolution #LPGAHighlights #GolfTalk #SportsFinance #GolfUpdates #MizuhoAmericasOpen