A few decades ago, darts was still widely ridiculed in Germany. Many young players today see darts as a way to earn a living.
However, the market is highly competitive . Professionals in Germany often struggle to establish themselves due to a lack of sponsors. The top stars of the darts scene, on the other hand, are raking in big money.
Prize money at major tournaments has literally exploded over the past 10 years. Many people wonder how much darts professionals earn. In this article, we provide insight into the wealth of darts players.
The earnings of darts players – how darts players earn money
Anyone who believes there's only one way for darts players to generate income is seriously mistaken. Darts players' fortunes are often not generated through regular prize money . Rather, they come from additional income that shouldn't be ignored.
A darts player's earnings are ultimately made up of 5, 6, or maybe even 7 components. Depending on their fame, these individual pieces of the pie vary in size. We'll take a look at the options available to increase darts players' wealth.
Earnings as a darts professional are often determined by prize money. If you play well , you can afford a lot . However, if you play poorly as a professional, you'll be lucky if you can cover your costs with your darts earnings.
The majority of earnings as a darts player come from prize money from regular association tournaments . Some darts players also have highly lucrative advertising or sponsorship contracts , which can significantly increase their earnings as a darts professional.
Due to the ongoing darts boom, even local national heroes are becoming very popular in their home country. This allows them to earn so much from endorsement contracts that the pressure to succeed in darts is significantly reduced.
Because: there is no fixed darts professional salary, like in many other jobs and professions.
Dart professional earnings – Other sources of income for dart players
In addition to prize money and advertising contracts, there are usually at least four other components.
One of these four financial components for a higher darts professional salary is so-called invitational tournaments . The PDC darts association invites players to selected tournaments .
One example of this is the PDC World Series of Darts, where invited players from all over the world compete at the dartboard. The prize money from these invitational tournaments does not appear in the Order of Merit , the darts money list. This makes it a nice way to earn extra money .
Speaking of exhibitions , the next point is this: Professional darts players are in high demand, especially in the scene. For example, even amateur players would like to play against the stars and can " book " them for a certain fee . Depending on their fame and success, a player will naturally cost more than a less well-known player.
The penultimate opportunity to increase your wealth as a darts professional is through events . For example, the Celebrity Darts World Championship on ProSieben. An event in which the player is paid by the broadcaster for their participation.
Similar to invitational tournaments, only not organized by the association and therefore of course with significantly less importance. These shows and events often serve more as a marketing tool for the players .
Speaking of marketing: Of course, the players also sell their own merchandise—they are actively involved in merchandising . Especially among the top 20 players in the world, the proportion of merchandising revenue can be extreme. The general rule in this scene is: win a major tournament, and your merchandising revenue will skyrocket.
The players' personalities also come into play here. Of course, it's much easier for specific players like Peter Wright or Simon Whitlock to market themselves as players. Players like Glen Durran , on the other hand , find it much more difficult (they're successful, but relatively boring as a character).
The fortune of the top stars – this is how high the darts player fortune is
But how much do darts professionals actually earn? A look at the Order of Merit, which includes all regular prize money, provides some insight into what the stars earn from their sporting achievements in relation to other players.
An overview of the top 32 of the Order of Merit (as of August 29, 2020), who are automatically seeded at a Darts World Championship .
The earnings as a darts professional are often determined by the prize money .
| position | name | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael van Gerwen | £1,535,250 |
| 2 | Peter Wright | £913,000 |
| 3 | Gerwyn Price | £809,000 |
| 4 | Michael Smith | £560,250 |
| 5 | Rob Cross | £545,750 |
| 6 | Nathan Aspinall | £486,000 |
| 7 | Daryl Gurney | £453,750 |
| 8 | James Wade | £425,000 |
| 9 | Gary Anderson | £390,750 |
| 10 | Dave Chisnall | £374,250 |
| 11 | Ian White | £357,500 |
| 12 | Dimitri Van den Bergh | £336,250 |
| 13 | Glen Durrant | £297,000 |
| 14 | Mensur Suljovic | £278,250 |
| 15 | Krzysztof Ratajski | £274,750 |
| 16 | Adrian Lewis | £262,750 |
| 17 | Simon Whitlock | £253,750 |
| 18 | Jonny Clayton | £226,250 |
| 19 | Chris Dobey | £223,500 |
| 19 | Stephen Bunting | £223,500 |
| 21 | Joe Cullen | £222,000 |
| 22 | Danny Noppert | £205,500 |
| 23 | Jermaine Wattimena | £196,500 |
| 24 | Jeffrey De Zwaan | £192,750 |
| 25 | Steve Beaton | £191,000 |
| 26 | Ricky Evans | £190,750 |
| 27 | Mervyn King | £189,250 |
| 28 | Vincent van der Voort | £170,250 |
| 29 | Max Hopp | £167,750 |
| 30 | Keegan Brown | £159,750 |
| 31 | Brendan Dolan | £158,500 |
| 32 | Darren Webster | £149,500 |
Now let's take a look at the fortunes of three very special darts players: veteran Phil Taylor , current PDC number one Michael van Gerwen , and reigning world champion Peter Wright .
Phil Taylor Net Worth – The Man Who Still Cashes In Even In Retirement
According to the wealth magazine, Phil Taylor's estimated net worth is around 10 million euros . Even in 2020, when Taylor is no longer actively playing darts as a professional, his income is still at least 1.5 million euros .
Michael van Gerwen’s fortune – becoming a millionaire in no time
Michael van Gerwen, the current world number one , also has a considerable fortune. At just 31 years old, his net worth is estimated at around €8 million —and rising sharply . Van Gerwen has already earned more than €9 million just from darts.
Similar to Taylor, his income in 2020 is estimated at around €1.5 million . The difference: MvG plays professionally while already retired. This once again highlights the appeal of "The Power," which he uses to increase his wealth .
Bird of paradise Peter Wright uses his brand for extra income
Finally, let's take a look at the net worth of Peter Wright, the reigning PDC World Champion . Peter Wright's net worth is estimated at around 4.5 million euros .
He is one of the players who generates a lot of money beyond prize money through merchandising, advertising contracts and events .
Remarkable: In 2020, with around 2 million euros, he is the player who earned the most money of all darts players this year.
Ready to immerse yourself in the fascinating world of darts? Discover the secrets, tactics, and captivating stories behind this exciting sport. Click in now and become a darts enthusiast!
- How to become Darts Pro : Discover the secrets of a successful darts career and fight your way to the top. Click here for the path to the top!
- Experience the magic of Ally Pally Darts. Excitement, emotion, and precise throws. Click here to learn all about the prestigious darts spectacle!
- Darts entrance music - The musical prelude to your darts adventure & the key to the perfect atmosphere. Click here to experience the sound of the pros!
Das im Beitrag gezeigte Bildmaterial mit Bezug zu Dartspielern und verwandten Themen unterliegt – sofern nicht anders angegeben – dem Copyright der Professional Darts Corporation (©pdc)
