The Top Five Prize Money Earners in Pro Darts
Luke Littler is the newest seven-figure winning player, but Darts’ Millionaire Club is not that exclusive. With over £10 million banked, Michael van Gerwen has won more prizemoney than any other. Phil Taylor sits second on the list, but young guns are hunting the duo down.
Michael van Gerwen has won more money playing darts than any other player in history. ©Kelly Deckers/PDC
When Will Luke Littler Become a Top-Five Darts Earner?
On Wednesday, December 20th, 2023, a 16-year-old, unknown to the general public, took to the stage at London’s Alexandra Palace to play Christian Kist – a Dutch professional 20 years his senior – in the opening round of Dart’s World Championship.
Many online betting sites made the youngster, who had left school just months beforehand with a single GCSE (in physical education), the underdog to win the match. However, a 3-nil demolition of his established rival allied to a breathtaking 106 three-dart-average, and his tender age meant a star had been born.
With his subsequent progression to the World Championship final punctuated with television and radio chat-show appearances and newspaper headlines, that star was about to become a household name. His name is Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler, and just 11 months after his astonishing World Championship debut, the Warrington native’s career winnings surpassed £1 million.
High Profiles and Big Bucks
Littler and Fallon Sherrock, who famously became the first female to win a match at the World Championship during the 2020 event, have immeasurably raised the profile of darts. As a result, there is mega prize money on offer in new-age darts, and prize pools continue to grow.
Here, we have listed Dart’s five biggest prizemoney earners. It is a list that does not feature Luke Littler. However, with the potential for four decades of competitive action ahead of him, the 2025 World Champion can be predicted to top this chart at some point in time.
The figures are not adjusted for inflation, and ‘earnings’ do not include income from sponsorships, endorsements and exhibitions. It is often estimated these income streams add fifty percent to prizemoney totals.
Mighty Mike Has Won Mega Money
Remarkably, Michael van Gerwen is still only 36, meaning he potentially has 20 years to further add to his £11.69 million in career winnings.
Figures produced by the Professional Darts Players Association show he has taken over 180 titles, including seven Players Championship finals and seven Premier Leagues.
The Dutchman’s three World Championship titles have contributed £1.1 million to his earnings. Four runner-up spots in the competition have added an additional £700,000. There has been a definite downturn in MVG’s form, and he failed to win a PDC Sky televised major in 2024.
It is often said, “Form is temporary, and class is permanent”. If true, ‘Mighty Mike’ should have some brighter days ahead, including a fourth World title.
Phil Has a Powerful Bank Balance
214 professional tournament victories, including 85 major titles and a record 14 PDC World Championship titles …if only Phil Talyor were at the height of his powers a decade or two after his golden years!
Phil’ The Power’ Taylor was the first darts player to surpass £1 million in prizemoney during a season, and by the time he retired in January 2018, authority databases suggest he banked £8.5 million – not including £78,000 in celebrity televised poker tournament!
Taylor’s biggest World Championship cheque was for £200,000. That competition is worth £500,000 to the winner today. Indeed, if his 15-year reign as undisputed champion had spanned 2010-2025 (and not 1995-2010), his career winnings would have been much closer to £20 million!
Wright and His £6 Million Prizemoney Bite
Playing under a Scottish flag – a country he left at age three – Peter Wright enjoyed considerable success at a relatively late stage of his career. The first of his two World Championship titles came in 2020 when he was 50.
The colourful character with the nickname ‘Snakebite’ took the title for a second time in 2022. The title bookended valuable success in the World Masters, European Championships, World Matchplay, Players Championship Finals and World Cup.
These successes boosted his career winnings considerably, and, listing 65 PDC Players Championship Order of Merit victories, the Professional Darts Players Association’s database credits Peter Wright with £6.14 million in prizemoney.
Anderson Backs up with £5.4 in Winnings
The second of two Scottish darts players who are in their 50s, have won the World Championship twice and are resident in the top five of the lifetime prizemoney list, Gary Anderson’s winnings hovers around £5.4 million.
The ‘Flying Scotsman’ has won 40 PDC Pro Tour events, including the World Matchplay, UK Open, two Premier Leagues and Players Championship Finals. His golden spell came towards the final years of the 2010s, with back problems hindering his career in later years.
Wade Approaches £5m without a Word Title
Longevity and not World Championship titles see James Wade sit fifth on the PDC’s earnings list. Wade has never made it beyond the semi-finals of the World’s, but he has finished 16 seasons ranked within the world’s top 10.
Eleven PDC major titles place the left-handed player third on the all-time list behind Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen. In total, Wade has won 38 senior PDC titles, contributing to his £4.9 million in prize money.
Other Players to Have Hit the Bullseye
While the order may change, the names in this top five list appear safe until the end of the 2025 season. Players closing in on the £5 million party include 2024 World Champion Luke Humphries, who had an outstanding year after his Alexandra Palace victory to take his career winnings beyond £3 million.
Michael Smith, the 2023 World Champion, has won £4.2 million; Rob Cross, the 2018 World Champion, has banked £3.2 million. Luke Littler, now 18, has already put a remarkable £1.77 million through his bank account!
