Revealed: The eye-watering amount Tiger Woods turned down to join LIV Golf

Tiger Woods was offered a fortune to join LIV Golf. A truly staggering fortune.

The Saudi-backed breakaway league wanted the biggest name in golf and was prepared to go to extraordinary lengths to get him. But Woods turned it down.

Four years later, LIV Golf is now over after five turbulent seasons – and the man who rejected its riches has had the last laugh.

So just exactly how much money did Woods walk away from?

Greg Norman confirmed the incredible offer

The figure emerged in 2022 when former LIV Golf chief executive Greg Norman was asked about reports that Woods had been approached.

"That number was out there before I became CEO," Norman told Fox News.

"Tiger is a needle-mover, right? So of course you've got to look at the best of the best."

Norman confirmed that LIV had originally approached Woods before his appointment, adding that the reported figure was "somewhere in that neighbourhood".

That figure?

Between $700 million and $800 million.

Yes, really.

There was an important catch, however. 

Norman later clarified that this was not an upfront cash offer. 

The reported package included the potential future value of a LIV team franchise and the wealth Woods could generate through ownership.

"We never offered that cash value to Tiger Woods," Norman explained.

Even so, it was an extraordinary proposition.

Woods, now 50, is hardly short of money. 

Forbes estimates his current net worth at around $1.5 billion, making him one of the wealthiest athletes in sporting history.

But turning down a potential package of that scale was still remarkable.

Why Woods said no – and why it matters now

Woods made his opposition to LIV clear at the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews in July 2022.

"The players who have chosen to go to LIV and to play on -- to play there, I disagree with it," he said.

He also questioned the incentive behind guaranteed contracts, asking: "What is the incentive to practice? What is the incentive to go out there and earn it in the dirt?"

His concerns extended to the future of professional golf, world-ranking points and younger players' access to major championships.

And now, the story has come full circle.

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund withdrew its backing beyond the 2026 season, while a proposed $300 million investment from BC Partners collapsed.

On November 5, LIV announced plans to wind down its operations and move towards liquidation.

The league that once hoped to sign golf's biggest superstar could not secure a sustainable future.

Woods never joined. His 15 major titles and 82 PGA Tour victories already speak for themselves.

But turning down an extraordinary fortune to stand by his beliefs has become another remarkable chapter in his career.

LIV wanted Woods. It put hundreds of millions on the table.

He said no.

And now look what happened.