Arnold Palmer Invitational prize money history
Winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational paid $216,000 in 1996, which is $461,158 at August 2026 prices. In 2026 it paid $4,000,000. On the face of the cheque that is 18.52 times as much. In real terms it is 8.76 times as much, 7.5% a year after inflation.
Every Arnold Palmer Invitational winner's cheque, then and now
Newest first. Today's money is at August 2026 prices.
| YEAR | WINNER | PAID | TODAY | $1 THEN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Akshay Bhatia | $4,000,000$4.0m | $4,040,102$4.0m | $1.01 |
| 2025 | Russell Henley | $4,000,000$4.0m | $4,161,979$4.2m | $1.04 |
| 2024 | Scottie Scheffler | $4,000,000$4.0m | $4,271,492$4.3m | $1.07 |
| 2023 | Kurt Kitayama | $3,600,000$3.6m | $3,957,729$4.0m | $1.10 |
| 2022 | Scottie Scheffler | $2,160,000$2.2m | $2,472,388$2.5m | $1.14 |
| 2021 | Bryson DeChambeau | $1,674,000$1.7m | $2,069,441$2.1m | $1.24 |
| 2020 | Tyrrell Hatton | $1,674,000$1.7m | $2,166,664$2.2m | $1.29 |
| 2019 | Francesco Molinari | $1,638,000$1.6m | $2,146,224$2.1m | $1.31 |
| 2018 | Rory McIlroy | $1,602,000$1.6m | $2,137,089$2.1m | $1.33 |
| 2017 | Marc Leishman | $1,566,000$1.6m | $2,140,089$2.1m | $1.37 |
| 2016 | Jason Day | $1,134,000 | $1,582,734$1.6m | $1.40 |
| 2015 | Matt Every | $1,134,000 | $1,602,701$1.6m | $1.41 |
| 2014 | Matt Every | $1,116,000 | $1,579,133$1.6m | $1.41 |
| 2013 | Tiger Woods | $1,116,000 | $1,604,750$1.6m | $1.44 |
| 2012 | Tiger Woods | $1,080,000 | $1,575,731$1.6m | $1.46 |
| 2011 | Martin Laird | $1,080,000 | $1,608,340$1.6m | $1.49 |
| 2010 | Ernie Els | $1,080,000 | $1,659,108$1.7m | $1.54 |
| 2009 | Tiger Woods | $1,080,000 | $1,686,322$1.7m | $1.56 |
| 2008 | Tiger Woods | $1,044,000 | $1,624,311$1.6m | $1.56 |
| 2007 | Vijay Singh | $990,000 | $1,599,436$1.6m | $1.62 |
| 2006 | Rod Pampling | $990,000 | $1,644,991$1.6m | $1.66 |
| 2004 | Chad Campbell | $900,000 | $1,595,987$1.6m | $1.77 |
| 2003 | Tiger Woods | $810,000 | $1,474,640$1.5m | $1.82 |
| 2002 | Tiger Woods | $720,000 | $1,340,665$1.3m | $1.86 |
| 2001 | Tiger Woods | $630,000 | $1,191,628 | $1.89 |
| 2000 | Tiger Woods | $540,000 | $1,050,460 | $1.95 |
| 1999 | Tim Herron | $450,000 | $904,808 | $2.01 |
| 1998 | Ernie Els | $360,000 | $739,833 | $2.06 |
| 1997 | Phil Mickelson | $270,000 | $563,518 | $2.09 |
| 1996 | Paul Goydos | $216,000 | $461,158 | $2.13 |
Today's money restates each cheque for the rise in US consumer prices from the year it was paid to August 2026. The last column is what one dollar that year buys today.
What winning it paid, at today's prices
The champion's cheque at August 2026 prices, 2007 to 2026
The biggest in real terms is 2024, not 2026: Scottie Scheffler's cheque is worth more today than the newest one.
What winning it paid, on the cheque
The champion's cheque as paid, 2007 to 2026
On the cheque the 1996 to 2026 rise is 18.52 times, 10.2% a year. Prices rose 2.11 times over the same run, which is the gap between this chart and the one above.
Against the rest of the tour
Real growth a year in the winner's cheque, the events either side of this one
| # | TOURNAMENT | SINCE | A YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kemper Open | 1997 | +13.4% |
| 2 | The International | 1997 | +11.7% |
| 3 | Doral-Ryder Open | 1998 | +10.5% |
| 4 | BellSouth Classic | 1998 | +8.7% |
| 5 | TOUR Championship | 2004 | +8.4% |
| 6 | Buick Open | 1997 | +8.1% |
| 7 | Butterfield Bermuda Championship | 2019 | +8.0% |
| 0 | Arnold Palmer Invitational | 1996 | +7.5% |
| 9 | Memorial Tournament | 1997 | +6.2% |
| 10 | RBC Heritage | 1998 | +6.0% |
| 11 | BMW Championship | 1996 | +5.6% |
| 12 | U.S. Open | 1997 | +5.5% |
| 13 | The Open Championship | 1996 | +5.4% |
| 14 | The Genesis Invitational | 1999 | +5.3% |
| 15 | Travelers Championship | 2001 | +5.1% |
| 16 | AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am | 1998 | +5.0% |
| 17 | FedEx St. Jude Championship | 2001 | +4.9% |
| 18 | PGA Championship | 1997 | +4.7% |
| 19 | Farmers Insurance Open | 1996 | +4.5% |
| 20 | Masters Tournament | 1999 | +4.3% |
| 21 | WM Phoenix Open | 1996 | +4.3% |
| 22 | THE PLAYERS Championship | 1996 | +4.1% |
| 23 | The Sentry | 2005 | +3.7% |
Each rate runs from the first winner's cheque we hold at that event to the most recent, so two events that start in different years are measured over different runs. The Arnold Palmer Invitational is 8th of 62.
Frequently asked questions
How much did the Arnold Palmer Invitational winner get in 1996?
Paul Goydos took $216,000. At August 2026 prices that is $461,158.
Has Arnold Palmer Invitational prize money kept up with inflation?
Yes. The winner's cheque grew 10.2% a year between 1996 and 2026 and prices rose less than that, so in real terms it grew 7.5% a year. That is 8th of the 62 tournaments we hold a run for.
When did winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational pay the most in today's money?
2024, when Scottie Scheffler took $4,000,000. At August 2026 prices that is $4,271,492, more than the $4,040,102 the 2026 win is worth at the same prices.
How does the Arnold Palmer Invitational winner's cheque compare with twenty years ago?
2006's cheque was $990,000, or $1,644,991 at August 2026 prices. 2026's was $4,000,000, 2.46 times as much in real terms.
Where to next
The rest of the Arnold Palmer Invitational money
Arnold Palmer Invitational prize money carries every champion, the Arnold Palmer Invitational all-time earners ranks every golfer it has paid, and the Arnold Palmer Invitational cut counts who made it each year.