Masters Tournament prize money history
Winning the Masters Tournament paid $720,000 in 1999, which is $1,447,693 at August 2026 prices. In 2026 it paid $4,500,000. On the face of the cheque that is 6.25 times as much. In real terms it is 3.14 times as much, 4.3% a year after inflation.
Every Masters Tournament winner's cheque, then and now
Newest first. Today's money is at August 2026 prices.
| YEAR | WINNER | PAID | TODAY | $1 THEN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Rory McIlroy | $4,500,000$4.5m | $4,545,115$4.5m | $1.01 |
| 2025 | Rory McIlroy | $4,200,000$4.2m | $4,370,078$4.4m | $1.04 |
| 2024 | Scottie Scheffler | $3,600,000$3.6m | $3,844,343$3.8m | $1.07 |
| 2023 | Jon Rahm | $3,240,000$3.2m | $3,561,956$3.6m | $1.10 |
| 2022 | Scottie Scheffler | $2,700,000$2.7m | $3,090,485$3.1m | $1.14 |
| 2021 | Hideki Matsuyama | $2,070,000$2.1m | $2,558,987$2.6m | $1.24 |
| 2020 | Dustin Johnson | $2,070,000$2.1m | $2,679,208$2.7m | $1.29 |
| 2019 | Tiger Woods | $2,070,000$2.1m | $2,712,261$2.7m | $1.31 |
| 2018 | Patrick Reed | $1,980,000$2.0m | $2,641,346$2.6m | $1.33 |
| 2017 | Sergio Garcia | $1,980,000$2.0m | $2,705,860$2.7m | $1.37 |
| 2016 | Danny Willett | $1,800,000$1.8m | $2,512,277$2.5m | $1.40 |
| 2015 | Jordan Spieth | $1,800,000$1.8m | $2,543,969$2.5m | $1.41 |
| 2014 | Bubba Watson | $1,620,000$1.6m | $2,292,290$2.3m | $1.41 |
| 2013 | Adam Scott | $1,440,000$1.4m | $2,070,645$2.1m | $1.44 |
| 2012 | Bubba Watson | $1,440,000$1.4m | $2,100,975$2.1m | $1.46 |
| 2011 | Charl Schwartzel | $1,440,000$1.4m | $2,144,453$2.1m | $1.49 |
| 2010 | Phil Mickelson | $1,350,000$1.3m | $2,073,885$2.1m | $1.54 |
| 2009 | Ángel Cabrera | $1,350,000$1.3m | $2,107,902$2.1m | $1.56 |
| 2008 | Trevor Immelman | $1,350,000$1.3m | $2,100,403$2.1m | $1.56 |
| 2007 | Zach Johnson | $1,305,000 | $2,108,347$2.1m | $1.62 |
| 2006 | Phil Mickelson | $1,260,000 | $2,093,625$2.1m | $1.66 |
| 2005 | Tiger Woods | $1,260,000 | $2,161,161$2.2m | $1.72 |
| 2004 | Phil Mickelson | $1,170,000 | $2,074,783$2.1m | $1.77 |
| 2003 | Mike Weir | $1,080,000 | $1,966,187$2.0m | $1.82 |
| 2002 | Tiger Woods | $1,008,000 | $1,876,931$1.9m | $1.86 |
| 2001 | Tiger Woods | $1,008,000 | $1,906,606$1.9m | $1.89 |
| 2000 | Vijay Singh | $828,000 | $1,610,705$1.6m | $1.95 |
| 1999 | José María Olazábal | $720,000 | $1,447,693$1.4m | $2.01 |
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 2026 cheque is the biggest here in real terms as well as on its face.
What winning it paid, on the cheque
The champion's cheque as paid, 2007 to 2026
On the cheque the 1999 to 2026 rise is 6.25 times, 7.0% a year. Prices rose 1.99 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 0 | 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% |
| 24 | World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play | 2003 | +3.6% |
| 25 | Greater Milwaukee Open | 1999 | +3.1% |
| 26 | Truist Championship | 2003 | +3.0% |
| 27 | THE NORTHERN TRUST | 2001 | +2.9% |
| 28 | Shriners Children's Open | 1996 | +2.7% |
| 29 | Valspar Championship | 2002 | +2.7% |
| 30 | Texas Children's Houston Open | 1999 | +2.6% |
| 31 | Valero Texas Open | 2000 | +2.6% |
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 Masters Tournament is 20th of 62.
Frequently asked questions
How much did the Masters Tournament winner get in 1999?
José María Olazábal took $720,000. At August 2026 prices that is $1,447,693.
Has Masters Tournament prize money kept up with inflation?
Yes. The winner's cheque grew 7.0% a year between 1999 and 2026 and prices rose less than that, so in real terms it grew 4.3% a year. That is 20th of the 62 tournaments we hold a run for.
When did winning the Masters Tournament pay the most in today's money?
2026, when Rory McIlroy took $4,500,000. At August 2026 prices that is $4,545,115, the most recent cheque we hold.
How does the Masters Tournament winner's cheque compare with twenty years ago?
2006's cheque was $1,260,000, or $2,093,625 at August 2026 prices. 2026's was $4,500,000, 2.17 times as much in real terms.
Where to next
The rest of the Masters Tournament money
Masters Tournament prize money carries every champion, the Masters Tournament all-time earners ranks every golfer it has paid, and the Masters Tournament cut counts who made it each year.