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Arnold Palmer Earned Close to $1 Billion During His Career

By:
Alicia Adamczyk
2 min read
Arnold Palmer waves before Round 1 of the 80th Masters Golf Tournament on April 7, 2016. - NICHOLAS KAMM—AFP/Getty Images
Arnold Palmer waves before Round 1 of the 80th Masters Golf Tournament on April 7, 2016. NICHOLAS KAMM—AFP/Getty Images

Legendary golfer and beverage aficionado Arnold Palmer passed away Sunday. In addition to amassing millions of loyal fans, Palmer also amassed quite a fortune over his 52-year career: $875 million, according to Forbes, making him the third highest-earning sportsman in history.

Forbes writes that Palmer paved the way for massive endorsement earnings for future athletes like Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods. While the golfer pulled in $3.6 million in prize money over the course of his five-plus-decade career, he earned "240 times that from appearances, endorsements, licensing and golf course design."

More: Arnold Palmer's Life in Pictures

Palmer raked in $42 million in 2015 alone, according to Forbes. He was a spokesman for dozens of brands, including Cadillac, Hertz, and Pennzoil. He had a a 50-year long relationship with Rolex, and, of course, licensed his name to AriZona Beverage Co. for a line of popular beverages that brought in $200 million in revenue in 2015.

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