Ernie Els has earned $48,641,427 in official PGA Tour prize money from 482 starts, 1991–2024, plus $1,854,000 in FedEx Cup bonuses, for $50,495,427 in total. That ranks 25th on the PGA Tour's career money list. Adding the DP World Tour and LIV Golf, he has earned $52,681,654 in prize money.
He has 19 PGA Tour wins, including 4 majors. His best season was 2004, when he earned $5,751,725 and finished 3rd on the money list.
Ernie Els earnings by year
Official prize money each season. Labels show his money-list rank when he finished in the top 10. Click a bar for that season.
| Season | Starts | Wins | Money list | FedEx bonus | Prize money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | 0 | 643rd | $0 | $0 |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | 339th | $0 | $46,200 |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 | 677th | $0 | $0 |
| 2021 | 1 | 0 | 565th | $0 | $0 |
| 2020 | 2 | 0 | 310th | $0 | $18,673 |
| 2019 | 17 | 0 | 194th | $0 | $304,590 |
| 2018 | 15 | 0 | 237th | $0 | $112,868 |
| 2017 | 20 | 0 | 237th | $0 | $155,926 |
| 2016 | 21 | 0 | 153rd | $0 | $559,024 |
| 2015 | 18 | 0 | 166th | $0 | $453,579 |
| 2014 | 24 | 0 | 54th | $134,000 | $1,799,569 |
| 2013 | 19 | 0 | 74th | $110,000 | $1,173,761 |
| 2012 | 22 | 1 | 16th | $195,000 | $3,453,118 |
| 2011 | 21 | 0 | 98th | $110,000 | $948,872 |
| 2010 | 20 | 2 | 3rd | $550,000 | $4,558,861 |
| 2009 | 19 | 0 | 37th | $245,000 | $2,145,735 |
| 2008 | 16 | 1 | 20th | $280,000 | $2,537,290 |
| 2007 | 16 | 0 | 20th | $230,000 | $2,705,715 |
| 2006 | 17 | 0 | 29th | No FedEx Cup | $2,188,720 |
| 2005 | 13 | 0 | 46th | No FedEx Cup | $1,627,184 |
| 2004 | 15 | 3 | 3rd | No FedEx Cup | $5,751,725 |
| 2003 | 17 | 2 | 9th | No FedEx Cup | $3,197,487 |
| 2002 | 17 | 2 | 5th | No FedEx Cup | $3,093,895 |
| 2001 | 19 | 0 | 16th | No FedEx Cup | $2,128,456 |
| 2000 | 20 | 1 | 3rd | No FedEx Cup | $3,469,405 |
| 1999 | 18 | 1 | 15th | No FedEx Cup | $1,710,756 |
| 1998 | 15 | 1 | 36th | No FedEx Cup | $763,783 |
| 1997 | 19 | 2 | 9th | No FedEx Cup | $1,243,008 |
| 1996 | 18 | 1 | 14th | No FedEx Cup | $906,944 |
| 1995 | 18 | 1 | 14th | No FedEx Cup | $842,590 |
| 1994 | 11 | 1 | 19th | No FedEx Cup | $684,440 |
| 1993 | 6 | 0 | 190th | No FedEx Cup | $38,185 |
| 1992 | 3 | 0 | 213th | No FedEx Cup | $18,420 |
| 1991 | 1 | 0 | 274th | No FedEx Cup | $2,647 |
Every Els start, season by season
Ernie Els made 482 starts over 34 seasons. Each square is one tournament. Click one for the leaderboard.
Where Els's money came from
Career split, then season by season: Majors 27%, The Players 3%, Other events 67%, FedEx Cup bonus 4%.
Ernie Els at the majors
99 major starts and $13,437,442 in prize money. Darker squares paid more, and an orange ring is a win.
Ernie Els's PGA Tour wins
It took Els about 17 starts to win on the PGA Tour for the first time, at the 1994 U.S. Open. The $320,000 winner's check took his career earnings from $274K to $594K, more than doubling them. His biggest winner's check was $1,405,890 at the 2012 Open Championship. Wins account for 30% of his career prize money, finishes from 2nd to 10th for 48% and everything else for 22%. See how that compares with other winners.
- 2012The Open ChampionshipMajor$1,405,890
- 2010Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard$1,080,000
- 2010World Golf Championships-CA Championship$1,400,000
- 2008The Honda Classic$990,000
- 2004WGC-American Express Championship$1,200,000
- 2004The Memorial Tournament$945,000
- 2004Sony Open in Hawaii$864,000
- 2003Sony Open in Hawaii$810,000
- 2003Mercedes Championships$1,000,000
- 2002British Open ChampionshipMajor$1,106,140
- 2002Genuity Championship$846,000
- 2000The International
- 1999Nissan Open$504,000
- 1998Bay Hill Invitational$360,000
- 1997Buick Classic$270,000
- 1997U.S. OpenMajor$465,000
- 1996Buick Classic$216,000
- 1995GTE Byron Nelson Golf Classic$234,000
- 1994U.S. OpenMajor$320,000
Career earnings over time
Running total, check by check. Orange dots mark wins at the majors and The Players.
Ernie Els's biggest paydays
His ten largest single checks. Click one for the full payout.
Ernie Els's recent results
Els earned $121,151 from his last 10 starts, June 2019 to July 2024, and made the cut in 3 of them. His best finish was T32 at The Open Championship, worth $56,278. That is $12K a start, about 12% of his career average of $101K.
| Date | Event | Finish | Prize money |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-07-18 | The Open | MC | $0 |
| 2023-07-20 | The Open | MC | $0 |
| 2023-04-13 | RBC Heritage | T56 | $46,200 |
| 2022-07-14 | The Open | MC | $0 |
| 2021-07-15 | The Open Championship | MC | $0 |
| 2020-07-16 | The Memorial Tournament pres. by Nationwide | MC | $0 |
| 2020-06-18 | RBC Heritage | T48 | $18,673 |
| 2019-08-01 | Wyndham Championship | MC | $0 |
| 2019-07-18 | The Open Championship | T32 | $56,278 |
| 2019-06-27 | Rocket Mortgage Classic | MC | $0 |
Ernie Els on the DP World Tour and LIV Golf
Prize money from DP World Tour events that aren't co-sanctioned with the PGA Tour (the majors and WGCs are counted on the PGA Tour side), and LIV Golf individual prize money, team prize money and season bonuses. LIV contracts and signing fees aren't public and aren't included.
| Season | Tour | Starts | Wins | Top 10s | Prize money | LIV team & bonus | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | DP World Tour | 1 | 0 | 0 | $0 | — | $0 |
| 2023 | DP World Tour | 2 | 0 | 0 | $17,048 | — | $17,048 |
| 2021 | DP World Tour | 2 | 0 | 0 | $2,420 | — | $2,420 |
| 2020 | DP World Tour | 2 | 0 | 0 | $17,419 | — | $17,419 |
| 2019 | DP World Tour | 11 | 0 | 1 | $190,208 | — | $190,208 |
| 2018 | DP World Tour | 8 | 0 | 1 | $82,645 | — | $82,645 |
| 2017 | DP World Tour | 5 | 0 | 0 | $70,814 | — | $70,814 |
| 2016 | DP World Tour | 6 | 0 | 0 | $58,843 | — | $58,843 |
| 2015 | DP World Tour | 7 | 0 | 0 | $159,127 | — | $159,127 |
| 2014 | DP World Tour | 9 | 0 | 1 | $305,379 | — | $305,379 |
| 2013 | DP World Tour | 7 | 1 | 2 | $752,113 | — | $752,113 |
| 2012 | DP World Tour | 4 | 0 | 2 | $422,803 | — | $422,803 |
| 2011 | DP World Tour | 8 | 1 | 1 | $475,271 | — | $475,271 |
| 2010 | DP World Tour | 7 | 0 | 1 | $230,702 | — | $230,702 |
| 2009 | DP World Tour | 10 | 0 | 3 | $1,255,435 | — | $1,255,435 |
Ernie Els's DP World Tour and LIV Golf wins
| Date | Tournament | Tour | Prize money |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-06-23 | BMW International Open | DP World Tour | $439,896 €333,330 |
| 2010-12-19 | South African Open Championship | DP World Tour | $209,553 €158,500 |
How Els compares
Players just above and below him in career prize money. Full ranking →
Top earners from South Africa
Ernie Els earnings FAQ
How much has Ernie Els earned in his career?
Ernie Els has earned $48,641,427 in official PGA Tour prize money from 1991–2024, or $50,495,427 including FedEx Cup bonuses. His DP World Tour and LIV Golf earnings are shown separately on this page. Endorsements aren't included.
How many PGA Tour events has Ernie Els won?
19 wins from 482 starts, including 4 majors.
What was Ernie Els's best season?
2004, with $5,751,725 from 15 starts and 3 wins.
What is Ernie Els's biggest paycheck?
$1,405,890 for winning The Open Championship.
How much does Ernie Els earn per tournament?
$100,916 per start on average, counting missed cuts.
What are Ernie Els's career earnings in today's dollars?
Adjusted for inflation, Ernie Els's $48,641,427 in official prize money is worth about $83,000,626 in 2026 dollars, counting each season's earnings at that year's prices.
How much has Ernie Els won at the Masters?
$2,486,843 from 23 appearances.
How much has Ernie Els earned on all tours?
$52,681,654 in prize money across the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf.