Masters Tournament Winner's Prize Money Grows from $1,500 in 1934 to Projected $4.2 Million in 2026

The Masters Tournament, one of four major championships in men's professional golf, began in 1934. Founders Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts established a total purse of $5,000, with $1,500 awarded to the winner and smaller amounts to other finishers. Horton Smith won the first tournament and received the $1,500 prize.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ CPI Inflation Calculator, the $1,500 from 1934 equates to more than $37,000 in current purchasing power. The tournament's purse has increased each year or remained stable since then, as reported by Today’s Golfer.

2 million as winner.

The winner's payout first exceeded $10,000 in 1958, when Arnold Palmer won, according to Golfweek.

By 1984, the amount reached six figures. Tiger Woods became the first winner to earn over $1 million from the tournament in 2001. Ben Hogan won the Masters in 1951 for $3,000 and in 1953 for $5,000. 5 million, according to Sports Illustrated.

As of June 2025, McIlroy's net worth was estimated at $84 million by Forbes.

In 2025, the top four finishers each received more than $1 million, and positions one through 25 earned over $100,000.

The top 50 players or so shared in the $21 million purse. The official purse and winner's payout for 2026 have not been finalized. Rory McIlroy stated in a 2022 Sky Sports interview that golfers are not underpaid compared to professions like nursing or teaching.

“I play golf for a living. There’s nurses and teachers and they’re the ones that should be getting paid a lot more. So, I just wouldn’t feel right at all saying that I get underpaid for playing a game for a living.”

Ben Hogan commented on his 1951 and 1953 wins by saying the money was secondary to the competition.

“If the Masters offered no money at all, I would be here trying just as hard.”

The inflation-adjusted $37,000 from 1934 would not cover the average U.S. home down payment of nearly $80,000, which is 19% of the median sale price of $414,900 in the fourth quarter, according to Bankrate and Zillow. It also falls short of the starting price for some new Tesla models at around $50,000.

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