Zach Johnson has been one of the most successful players on the PGA Tour. He’s won his fair share of PGA Tour events, giving him a modicum of financial success that the average PGA Tour player can’t compete with.
“Zach Johnson net worth” is something that many are curious about. What is Zach Johnson’s net worth? Johnson’s success might not stand among the elite in the sport, but his golf career has been an overall financial success, including two major championships. Let’s take a deep dive into Zach Johnson’s net worth and his life in professional golf.
Early Life and Background
Zachary Harris Johnson was born in Iowa City, Johnson played several sports before honing his golf skills in high school. Johnson attended Drake University, a short distance from Iowa City. Zach is one of the best golfers from Iowa of all time.
His time at Drake University saw him help the Bulldogs to a pair of Missouri Valley Championships and NCAA three regional meets.
For Zachary Harris Johnson, being a professional golfer would feel inevitable. His uncle, Tom Harris, qualified for the 1975 NAIA national tournament, illustrating a history long before Johnson began playing golf. His college career at Drake University would set the stage for Zach Johnson’s success, including two major championships.
Professional Career
Before we get into Zach Johnson’s net worth, it helps to know how his professional career has shaped up. It has been a long and winding road since he began playing golf through his time as a professional golfer. He set the stage by being a successful collegiate player, making three NCAA regional meets and a pair of Missouri Valley championships, but it was just the beginning.
Development Circuit
Johnson turned pro in 1998 and started out on the development circuit. He dominated the development circuit, winning several events on the Hooters Tour. He finally made the PGA Tour by topping the money list on the Nationwide Tour, earning almost $500,000 in prize money (a record at the time).
PGA Tour
Johnson began adding to his prize money by winning the first of many PGA tour events with the BellSouth Classic in 2004. He was so impressive that he qualified for the U.S. Ryder Cup team in 2006, his first time.
Winning the Masters in 2007 was the beginning of his ascension to the top of the PGA Tour. He began racking up prize money with that major. He would win again just six weeks later, capturing the AT&T Classic win a playoff win over Ryuji Imada.
Knocking on the door of the top 10, Johnson racked up his next Tour win in 2008 by claiming the Valero Texas Open. Johnson had a successful 2009, winning the Sony Open in Hawaii to begin the year. He finished third at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and finished fourth on the money list that year.
His 2010 season was great, making the cut in 10 of his first 11 starts. He won the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, his seventh win on Tour. He would also make the Ryder Cup in 2010, his second appearance on the team.
Johnson would go on to rack up a dozen wins on Tour while contending in several other major events. He finished T3 at the 2010 PGA Championship, and twice finished T8 at the U.S. Open (2016, 2020). Johnson had established himself as someone who would be a threat to win nearly every time he stepped on the course.
Though Johnson’s game has started to decline as he nears 50 years old, he has still flashed the ability to pull out a major finish. His best showing was 12th at the Honda Classic during the 2022-23 season. He earned money in 11 events during the course of the season, topping the $100,000 mark three times.
The Masters Tournament
Johnson won the first of his two major championships on the PGA Tour by winning the Masters Tournament. As far as major championships go, the Masters Tournament is the tournament to win. His 2007 Masters Tournament win added greatly to his prize money and was just the start of his record-breaking earnings.
Zach Johnson hits his tee shot on the fourth hole during the first round at the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club Thursday, April 11, 2024, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
The Open Championship
Of his two major championships, The Open Championship was the second. Johnson would beat Marc Leishman and Louis Oosthuizen in a four-hole playoff to win his 12th PGA tour event and second major. He became just the sixth golfer to win majors at St. Andrews and Augusta, joining Tiger Woods, Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Jack Nicklaus, and Sam Snead.
Though his career earnings and net worth were nothing to scoff at by this point, winning his second major helped bring him to another level. Though he seeks a third as of 2024, few players have managed to win more than one major in their careers.
Net Worth and Earnings
Zach Johnson net worth comes down to a few things. For one, there are his endorsement deals (more later), prize money career earnings, etc. His career earnings have been higher than virtually everyone because of his PGA Tour wins.
Being a professional golfer, winning the Masters Tournament is as it gets. He won the Masters Tournament in 2007, one of two major championships in his career. His net worth is roughly $48 million, a lot of that prize money while playing PGA Tour events.
Being a professional golfer can be lucrative, especially when you win major championships. His two major championships include the 2007 Masters Tournament and the Open Championship in 2015.
Though most compare the life of a professional golfer to Tiger Woods and his record-breaking earnings, Johnson has made well into eight figures on the PGA Tour, which is better than 99% of pros. He is one of the best paid Iowa golfers of all time, surpassing other current PGA stars like Troy Merritt.
Johnson with Graeme McDowell at the 2014 Players Championship. Johnson finished tied for 26th. (Active Magazine)
Endorsements and Business Earnings
When you Google “Zach Johnson net worth,” a major part of that is the notable endorsement deals. Johnson’s endorsement deals are numerous. Though he didn’t think of it when he began playing golf, Johnson has developed several notable endorsement deals.
“Zach Johnson net worth” includes major endorsements with Oakley, Titleist, FootJoys, NetJets, BMW, and EA Sports. Though he has substantial career earnings and prize money to speak of, his endorsement deals play a major part in his career.
Zach Johnson’s investments no doubt do well for him, though there is no solid data on what it does for his net worth. Being a professional golfer opens plenty of doors, as evidenced by his endorsement deals, but making the most of his prize money has been crucial as well.
Philanthropic Efforts
Zach Johnson’s career earnings might garner him attention, but the Iowa City native should be known for the Zach Johnson Foundation. The Zach Johnson Foundation works to provide financial assistance to children and their families in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
The Zach Johnson Foundation is the dream of Johnson and wife Kim Barclay to give back to Cedar Rapids, which is so close to his native Iowa City. His personal life doesn’t get much attention but his personal development has had a positive impact on his community. Making that impact on someone’s life at a young age is perhaps bigger than his PGA Tour wins or the most notable endorsement deals throughout his career.
Personal Life
As it relates to Zach Johnson’s personal life, he and Barclay have been married since 2003. Raised Catholic in his youth, Johnson has since joined his wife’s church. He has two sons, Will and Wyatt, and a daughter, Abby Jane. The family lives on St. Simons Island, GA after years in Florida.
Johnson had already achieved remarkable success in his career. Despite being a successful golfer, Zach Johnson’s career hit a new level. Johnson won the Payne Stewart Award in 2020, given to the player whose “values align with the character, charity, and sportsmanship that Stewart showed.” His personal life is private but his efforts to better Iowa City, Grand Rapids, and the community around him are apparent.
Media Presence and Public Perception
That Zach Johnson is involved in social media should come as no surprise to anyone. He does it, in part, to spread awareness of the Zach Johnson Foundation but it is more than that. He has a few business ventures that he promotes, and it helps with his endorsement deals.
Aside from his estimated net worth, public perception of him couldn’t be better. Winning the Payne Stewart Award shows that his record-breaking earnings, Ryder Cup nod, and lucrative endorsement deals are secondary to his off-course contributions. The Iowa City native continues to make a big impact in Grand Rapids, thanks in part to his large net worth and consistent performance on the course.
Legacy and Future Prospects
At 48 years old, Johnson has done it all. “Zach Johnson net worth” might be the first thing to come up when you search his name, but it is a fragment of his successful career. Starting at Drake University, he began playing golf on a national level and has become one of the most successful professional golfers out there.
At Drake University, he reached three NCAA regional meets and showed a strong connection with players and fans alike while on the school’s golf team. He has multiple championships, major championship victories, and even managed to make the Ryder Cup team. He did it all and his financial standing and relationship with his alma mater – not to mention his own foundation – illustrate that success.
Final Thoughts
There are few professional golfers out there who have managed to achieve success on a level like Johnson. Zach Johnson’s net worth might not compare to the biggest name like Tiger Woods, but he has become a consistent threat at PGA Tour events throughout the years.
His philanthropic contributions, particularly his alma mater, show that he has a passion for using his estimated net worth for supporting good causes and his love of college sports. The prize money, a major part of being a professional golfer, is no doubt nice but Zachary Harris Johnson has made his career about so much more.
