The Genesis Invitational prize money history
Winning the Genesis Invitational paid $504,000 in 1999, which is $1,013,385 at August 2026 prices. In 2026 it paid $4,000,000. On the face of the cheque that is 7.94 times as much. In real terms it is 3.99 times as much, 5.3% a year after inflation.
Every Genesis Invitational winner's cheque, then and now
Newest first. Today's money is at August 2026 prices.
| YEAR | WINNER | PAID | TODAY | $1 THEN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Jacob Bridgeman | $4,000,000$4.0m | $4,040,102$4.0m | $1.01 |
| 2025 | Ludvig Aberg | $4,000,000$4.0m | $4,161,979$4.2m | $1.04 |
| 2024 | Hideki Matsuyama | $4,000,000$4.0m | $4,271,492$4.3m | $1.07 |
| 2023 | Jon Rahm | $3,600,000$3.6m | $3,957,729$4.0m | $1.10 |
| 2022 | Joaquin Niemann | $2,160,000$2.2m | $2,472,388$2.5m | $1.14 |
| 2021 | Max Homa | $1,674,000$1.7m | $2,069,441$2.1m | $1.24 |
| 2020 | Adam Scott | $1,674,000$1.7m | $2,166,664$2.2m | $1.29 |
| 2019 | J.B. Holmes | $1,332,000$1.3m | $1,745,281$1.7m | $1.31 |
| 2018 | Bubba Watson | $1,296,000 | $1,728,881$1.7m | $1.33 |
| 2017 | Dustin Johnson | $1,260,000 | $1,721,911$1.7m | $1.37 |
| 2016 | Bubba Watson | $1,224,000 | $1,708,348$1.7m | $1.40 |
| 2015 | James Hahn | $1,206,000 | $1,704,460$1.7m | $1.41 |
| 2014 | Bubba Watson | $1,206,000 | $1,706,483$1.7m | $1.41 |
| 2013 | John Merrick | $1,188,000 | $1,708,282$1.7m | $1.44 |
| 2012 | Bill Haas | $1,188,000 | $1,733,304$1.7m | $1.46 |
| 2011 | Aaron Baddeley | $1,170,000 | $1,742,368$1.7m | $1.49 |
| 2010 | Steve Stricker | $1,152,000 | $1,769,715$1.8m | $1.54 |
| 2009 | Phil Mickelson | $1,134,000 | $1,770,638$1.8m | $1.56 |
| 2008 | Phil Mickelson | $1,116,000 | $1,736,333$1.7m | $1.56 |
| 2007 | Charles Howell III | $936,000 | $1,512,194$1.5m | $1.62 |
| 2006 | Rory Sabbatini | $918,000 | $1,525,355$1.5m | $1.66 |
| 2005 | Adam Scott | $864,000 | $1,481,939$1.5m | $1.72 |
| 2004 | Mike Weir | $864,000 | $1,532,148$1.5m | $1.77 |
| 2003 | Mike Weir | $810,000 | $1,474,640$1.5m | $1.82 |
| 2001 | Robert Allenby | $612,000 | $1,157,582 | $1.89 |
| 1999 | Ernie Els | $504,000 | $1,013,385 | $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 biggest in real terms is 2024, not 2026: Hideki Matsuyama'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 1999 to 2026 rise is 7.94 times, 8.0% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 8 | 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% |
| 0 | 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% |
| 24 | World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play | 2003 | +3.6% |
| 25 | Greater Milwaukee Open | 1999 | +3.1% |
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 Genesis Invitational is 14th of 62.
Frequently asked questions
How much did the Genesis Invitational winner get in 1999?
Ernie Els took $504,000. At August 2026 prices that is $1,013,385.
Has Genesis Invitational prize money kept up with inflation?
Yes. The winner's cheque grew 8.0% a year between 1999 and 2026 and prices rose less than that, so in real terms it grew 5.3% a year. That is 14th of the 62 tournaments we hold a run for.
When did winning the Genesis Invitational pay the most in today's money?
2024, when Hideki Matsuyama 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 Genesis Invitational winner's cheque compare with twenty years ago?
2006's cheque was $918,000, or $1,525,355 at August 2026 prices. 2026's was $4,000,000, 2.65 times as much in real terms.
Where to next
The rest of the Genesis Invitational money
The Genesis Invitational prize money carries every champion, the Genesis Invitational all-time earners ranks every golfer it has paid, and the Genesis Invitational cut counts who made it each year.