US Open winners will earn $3 million each — more proof that our sport stars are spoiled rotten

THE winners of this year’s US Open will each earn a ridiculous sum of money. But sport wasn’t always soaked in cash.

Rafael Nadal won more than a shiny trophy at last year’s US Open.

THE winners of this year’s US Open will each pocket $US3 million in prizemoney.

That’s not a bad reward for two weeks of work. It’ll pay the bills. But at the rate that prizemoney is increasing for the world’s tennis stars, a few million dollars could feel like a pittance soon enough.

Tennis isn’t the only sport soaking its players in absurd amounts of cash. Many golfers are, if anything, even wealthier. Over in Europe, star footballers regularly rake in tens of thousands of dollars per week, while in the US, the average gridiron, baseball or basketball player earns a six-figure salary.

Through the ages ... Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, Bjorn Borg and Rod Laver.

A few decades ago, those numbers were unimaginable. The US Open gave its male champion just $20,000 in 1970, and its female winner $7,500.

Of course, currencies change in value — the $20,000 prize from 1970 would be worth $123,000 in today’s dollars. But it’s still a far cry from $3 million.

To figure out exactly how spoiled modern sportspeople are, we’ve analysed the earnings of tennis and golf legends, both male and female, across different eras, adjusting their prizemoney totals for inflation year-by-year.

NOTE: We’re only considering prizemoney in this article — the cash players earn for their results in official tournaments. Sponsorships are another matter entirely.

TOPSHOTS Kei Nishikori of Japan celebrates his win over Novak Djokovic of Serbia during their 2014 US Open men's semifinal singles match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center September 6, 2014 in New York. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA

We’ll start with tennis, where a genuinely talented player can now earn millions of dollars without much fuss. US Open finalist Kei Nishikori, who’s won just five titles since his professional career began in 2006, has already scored himself more than $5 million. Australia’s Bernard Tomic, who is fast becoming a perpetual disappointment, has nevertheless passed $2 million at the age of 21.

For consistent superstars such as Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, the rewards reach mind-boggling proportions. Federer has picked up $84 million since 1998, compared to Djokovic’s $65 million. On average, each man earns more than a million dollars per title.

Past champions were not compensated quite so generously for their efforts. Bjorn Borg claimed a total of “just” $3.6 million ($13m after inflation) in prizemoney during the 1970s and 80s, despite winning 64 titles — 19 more than Djokovic, who is tens of millions of dollars richer.

It’s a similar story for Australian legend Rod Laver, who dominated the sport during the 1960s and 70s, but only received $1.5 million ($10m post-inflation).

Court maintenance crew workers drive dryers over the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium during a rain delay during the semifinals of the 2014 U.S. Open tennis tournament, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014, in New York. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

NOVAK DJOKOVIC

Career

2003-present

Titles won

45

Prizemoney

$65,419,345

Money per title

$1,453,763

Prizemoney adjusted for inflation

$69,063,694

Money per title adjusted for inflation

$1,534,749

FILE - In this July 6, 2014, file photo, Novak Djokovic of Serbia kisses the trophy after defeating Roger Federer of Switzerland in the men's singles final at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London. Heading into the U.S. Open, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Djokovic and Andy Murray have won 36 of the past 38 Grand Slam titles, a stretch dating to the 2005 French Open. Nowadays, there seems to be a growing sense _ or hope, maybe _ among the best of the rest on the men's tennis tour that the quartet might be more vulnerable than ever. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File)

ROGER FEDERER

Career

1998-present

Titles won

80

Prizemoney

$84,035,204

Money per title

$1,050,440

Prizemoney adjusted for inflation

$95,498,299

Money per title adjusted for inflation

$1,068,729

08/07/2012 WIRE: Switzerland's Roger Federer celebrates with the trophy after his men's singles final victory over Britain's Andy Murray on day 13 of the 2012 Wimbledon Championships tennis tournament at the All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 8, 2012. Federer won the match 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4. AFP PHOTO/ GLYN KIRK RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE Pic. Afp

PETE SAMPRAS

Career

1988-2002

Titles won

64

Prizemoney

$43,280,489

Money per title

$676,258

Prizemoney adjusted for inflation

$67,046,336

Money per title adjusted for inflation

$1,047,599

Tennis player Pete Sampras kissing trophy after winning Wimbledon Championship men's singles final match 09 July 2000. rafter/sampras/match

BJORN BORG

Career

1973-83

Titles won

64

Prizemoney

$3,655,751

Money per title

$57,121

Prizemoney adjusted for inflation

$13,358,630

Money per title adjusted for inflation

$208,729

Champion Bjorn Borg kisses trophy after winning Wimbledon Men's Singles Championship final in London, 03/07/76.

ROD LAVER

Career

1963-76

Titles won

52

Prizemoney

$1,565,413

Money per title

$20,201

Prizemoney adjusted for inflation

$10,162,388

Money per title adjusted for inflation

$195,430

09/09/2009: 09/09/2009: Aust tennis player Rod Laver with trophy upon winning the U.S. National Men's singles final. 10 Sept 1962. Laver defeated fellow countryman Roy Emerson 6-2, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.

Female tennis has also been inundated with cash in recent years. For decades, women fought to be paid the same prizemoney as men, and in 2007, Wimbledon became the last grand slam to relent. That was largely due to the efforts of Billie Jean King, who formed the Women’s Tennis Association when she was still a player in 1973.

“We took tennis from amateurism and $14 a day to professionalism,” King said recently. “If Serena (Williams) wins this tournament this year, she will get (three) million dollars.”

In other words, Williams could earn more money in two weeks than King herself managed throughout her entire, glittering career.

PIRATE: Players Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs (1918-1995) come to grips for their upcoming battle of the sexes match during promotional photo in US on 07/12/1973. Pic UPI.

MARIA SHARAPOVA

Career

2001-present

Titles won

32

Prizemoney

$30,707,705

Money per title

$959,616

Prizemoney adjusted for inflation

$33,046,477

Money per title adjusted for inflation

$1,032,702

09/06/2012 WIRE: Maria Sharapova of Russia poses with the trophy after winning the women's final match against Sara Errani of Italy at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Saturday June 9, 2012. Eiffel Tower in the background. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) Pic. Ap

SERENA WILLIAMS

Career

1995-present

Titles won

62

Prizemoney

$56,897,689

Money per title

$917,705

Prizemoney adjusted for inflation

$59,225,041

Money per title adjusted for inflation

$955,243

Serena Williams holds the winner's trophy following her victory in the women's singles final match over Sharapova at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melb, 27 Jan 2007. AFP/Greg Wood

STEFFI GRAF

Career

1982-99

Titles won

107

Prizemoney

$21,891,306

Money per title

$204,592

Prizemoney adjusted for inflation

$34,412,961

Money per title adjusted for inflation

$321,616

Steffi Graf displays trophy after winning final of 1996 US Open championship at Flushing Meadows in New York 08/09/96. Tennis P/

CHRIS EVERT

Career

1972-89

Titles won

154

Prizemoney

$8,287,186

Money per title

$53,812

Prizemoney adjusted for inflation

$44,834,447

Money per title adjusted for inflation

$291,133

04/12/1982. Chris Evert (Lloyd) holds the Australian Open tennis trophy after her win at Kooyong,

BILLIE JEAN KING

Career

1968-83

Titles won

67

Prizemoney

$1,966,487

Money per title

$29,351

Prizemoney after adjusting for inflation

$7,731,279

Money per title adjusted for inflation

$115,392

02/1969. Billie-Jean King holds the Australian Singles Championship cup which she won at Kooyong. Trophy.

Golf is the world’s other big individual sport with a penchant for exorbitance, and Irishman Rory McIlroy is at the forefront, earning an average of $2.5 million per title. That’s more than Tiger Woods, who at least can comfort himself with the knowledge that he’s claimed more than $109 million in prizemoney since debuting in 1992.

Champions from previous eras didn’t exactly struggle, but they didn’t receive such stupendous pay cheques either. Australian Greg Norman won twice has many titles as McIlroy has so far, but even after inflation, earned practically the same amount of money. The legendary Jack Nicklaus reached a similar mark, with seven times as many titles and a career spanning 48 years.

CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE, CO - SEPTEMBER 04: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland waits to play a fairway bunker shot on the 11th hole during the first round of the BMW Championship at the Cherry Hills Country Club on September 4, 2014 in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado. Scott Halleran/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

RORY MCILROY

Career

2007-present

Titles won

Nine

Prizemoney

$22,125,898

Money per title

$2,458,433

Prizemoney after adjusting for inflation

$22,919,745

Money per title after adjusting for inflation

$2,546,638

19/06/2011 WIRE: BETHESDA, MD - JUNE 19: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland poses with the trophy after his eight-stroke victory on the 18th green during the 111th U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club on June 19, 2011 in Bethesda, Maryland. Andrew Redington/Getty Images/AFP== FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

PHIL MICKELSON

Career

1988-present

Titles won

42

Prizemoney

$75,260,366

Money per title

$1,791,913

Prizemony after adjusting for inflation

$90,283,531

Money per title after adjusting for inflation

$2,149,608

Phil Mickelson of the United States gestures as he holds the Claret Jug trophy after winning the British Open Golf Championship at Muirfield, Scotland, Sunday July 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

TIGER WOODS

Career

1992-present

Titles won

79

Prizemoney

$109,612,414

Money per title

$1,387,499

Prizemoney after adjusting for inflation

$133,949,055

Money per title after adjusting for inflation

$1,695,558

FILE - This July 23, 2006, file photo shows Tiger Woods of the United States, kissing the British Open Golf Championship trophy at the Royal Liverpool Golf Course in Hoylake, England. Royal Liverpool will host the 2014 British Open, the 12th time it will stage golf's oldest major. Tiger Woods won the tournament the last time it was played on the links course at Hoylake on the northwest English coast in 2006, becoming the first back-to-back winner since Tom Watson in 1983.(AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File)

GREG NORMAN

Career

1976-2009

Titles won

20

Prizemoney

$14,484,458

Money per title

$724,223

Prizemoney adjusted for inflation

$23,942,925

Money per title after adjusting for inflation

$1,197,146

Golfer Greg Norman hugs the trophy after winning the British Open Championship at Royal St Georges club, Sandwich 18 Jul 1993.

JACK NICKLAUS

Career

1957-2005

Titles won

73

Prizemoney

$5,734,322

Money per title

$78,552

Prizemoney adjusted for inflation

$23,036,584

Money per title after adjusting for inflation

$315,570

Golf - golfer Jack Nicklaus holding trophy after winning US Open tournament in Springfield, New Jersey, USA 15 Jun 1980.

Female golfers have yet to achieve equal pay at major tournaments. This year’s US Open winner, Michelle Wie, received $720,000 — less than half of Martin Kaymer’s $1,620,000 payout for winning the men’s Open.

Still, the LPGA has come a long way. Mickey Wright, who was unstoppable during the 1950s and 60s, earned $364,709 in total throughout her career ($2.8m after inflation), while modern stars such as Annika Sorenstam have pushed past $20 million.

Whichever sport you examine, players’ salaries have risen exponentially over the last few decades. That’s the case for both genders — but clearly, it’s still far easier for a man to get filthy rich.

Golfer Michelle Wie reacts after winning the Lorena Ochoa Invitational Presented by Banamex and Corona at Guadalajara Country Club in Guadalajara, Mexico, 15/11/2009.

KARRIE WEBB

Career

1996-present

Titles won

41

Prizemoney

$18,875,812

Money per title

$460,386

Prizemoney adjusted for inflation

$23,809,942

Money per title after adjusting for inflation

$580,730

Women's Australian Open Final round at Victoria Golf Club. Karrie Webb with the Australian Open trophy after winning today. Pic Michael Klein.. Sunday Febuary 16, 2014.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM

Career

1992-2008

Titles won

72

Prizemoney

$22,573,192

Money per title

$313,517

Prizemoney adjusted for inflation

$29,572,079

Money per title after adjusting for inflation

$410,723

Annika Sorenstam poses with the trophy after winning the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship, May 15 2005, in Stockbridge. Sorenstam finished at 23-under par to win her 60th career tournament. (AP picJohn/Bazemore) sport golf o/seas headshot women smiling

NANCY LOPEZ

Career

1977-2003

Titles won

49

Prizemoney

$5,297,735

Money per title

$108,117

Prizemoney adjusted for inflation

$10,333,018

Money per title after adjusting for inflation

$210,878

Nancy Lopz celebrates sinking a birdie putt at the 10th hole in the second round of the Diners Club Matches at PGA West in La Quinta, Calif. Lopez and partner Laura Davies were among the second day's golfers vying for a win against the team of Karrie Webb and Kelly Robbins in the 18 round-robin match-play event, for each of the three pro golf tours - PGA, PGA Seniors and LPGA. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon). f/l. 11 December 1997. /golf

MICKEY WRIGHT

Career

1954-1969

Titles won

82

Prizemoney

$364,709

Money per title

$4,448

Prizemoney adjusted for inflation

$2,877,216

Money per title after adjusting for inflation

$35,088

Mickey Wright.

Originally published as US Open winners will earn $3 million each — more proof that our sport stars are spoiled rotten