How can you find out how much a professional darts player earns?
Here is an effective way to estimate a professional darts player’s earnings:
Check the world darts rankings, also known as the ‘PDC Order of Merit’.
This ranking, compiled by the Professional Darts Corporation, shows a player’s earnings over the last 24 months.
Simply take the total amount shown in the table and divide it by 24 to work out the player’s monthly income.
Example: In April 2024, Michael Van Gerwen’s competition earnings over the previous 24 months stood at £1,092,500. Dividing these earnings reveals that Mighty Mike earned approximately £45,520.83 per month (1,092,500 / 24 = 45,520.83).
List of the 15 richest darts players of all time
Unlike athletes in team sports who receive a salary from their club, professional darts players are not affiliated with any club, team or similar organisation that pays them.
Professional darts players are self-employed, with their income depending on their turnover, which varies mainly according to their competition winnings. As they are also public figures, a significant portion of the top players’ income comes from sponsorship and the sale of merchandise, particularly darts branded with the professional players’ likeness.
Some players are also true entrepreneurs and know how to put the money they earn to work. Professionals such as Peter Wright or Michael Van Gerwen could potentially earn more from their business ventures than from darts tournaments.
How much do darts players earn in the Premier League?
The Darts Premier League is the most popular competition in the sport, alongside the World Championship. Over the course of 17 match nights, it brings together the eight best darts players of the moment to compete against one another.
Below is a breakdown of the prize money won by players based on their position in the rankings.
Ranking | Prize amount |
|---|
1st | £275 000 |
2nd | £125 000 |
3rd and 4th | £85 000 |
5th | £75 000 |
6th | £70 000 |
7th | £65 000 |
8th | £60 000 |
Weekly bonus | £10 000 x 16 |
Total | £1 000 000 |
How much money can a professional darts player earn in a year?
Every year, professional darts players have the opportunity to take part in numerous events and tournaments across Europe and around the world. Each tournament offers the chance to win a prize or qualify for another, more prestigious competition.
If I take the example of one of the world’s top 10 players, capable of securing first place in the world’s most lucrative competitions, the maximum amount a professional darts player can win in a year is £1,347,000.
I arrive at this figure by adding together the first-place cash prize from the main televised ranking events and the PDC Pro Tour events.
Tournament | Winner | Runner-up | Semi-finalists | top 8 |
|---|
World Championship | £500 000 | £200 000 | £100 000 | £50 000 |
World Matchplay | £200 000 | £100 000 | £50 000 | £30 000 |
Grand Slam of Darts | £150 000 | £70 000 | £50 000 | £25 000 |
World Grand Prix | £130 000 | £60 000 | £30 000 | £20 000 |
European Championship | £120 000 | £60 000 | £32 000 | £20 000 |
UK Open | £110 000 | £50 000 | £30 000 | £15 000 |
Players Championship Finals | £100 000 | £50 000 | £25 000 | £15 000 |
13 European Tour events | £25 000 | £10 000 | £6 500 | £5 000 |
30 Players Championship events | £12 000 | £8 000 | £4 000 | £3 000 |
Do darts players pay tax on their winnings?
Yes, darts players pay tax on their winnings, just like any other citizen. As professionals often operate as a business, their tax liability varies depending on the structure they have set up. Most set up limited liability companies and pay a reasonable amount of tax.
It is also important to note that when a player wins a prize, part of the winnings is first used to cover the running costs of their business (travel, accommodation, meals, equipment, etc.). Next, a portion is allocated to the players’ union, and finally, the remainder is deposited into the winner’s bank account. It is on this final sum that taxation is primarily calculated.
