Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

A look back at Nicklaus’ first pro paycheck: $33 in 1962

nicklaus_1920_1962_blackandwhite.jpg

Jack Nicklaus has 73 PGA Tour victories to his name, making a total of $5.7 million over the course of his career.

To put that in perspective, Brooks Koepka earned more than $9.6 million dollars last season alone.

To put it even more in perspective, here’s your annual reminder that the 18-time major winner earned just $33.33 for his professional paycheck, 58 years ago today.

That’s right, as the Golden Bear has pointed out previously on his social-media channels, his tie for 50th at the Los Angeles Open in 1962 netted him barely enough to cover this Danny Devito shower curtain ... before shipping.

Nicklaus, who turns 80 later this month, eventually earned some money, and lots of it. His net worth is north of $300 million thanks to an empire that includes golf course design, real estate, wine, ice cream, clothing, golf academies and plenty more.