Jun 5, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan listens during the Honoree Ceremony for the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club. Photo: Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY NETWORK

Jay Monahan Bags $23M: Behind the PGA Commissioner's Payout

Originally posted on On Tap Sports Net | By Tony Marchese | Last updated Nov 30, 2024 6:27 PM ET

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan is out-driving many of his fellow sporting league commissioners when it comes to his paycheck. The golf executive earned a reported staggering $23 million salary in 2023.

Monahan plays from the fairway in the competitive field of sports executives, with only the NFL's Roger Goodell outpacing him in the race for the highest-paid commissioner. That's not bad considering the current state of golf compared to the state of the NFL.

Sportico's deep dive into the PGA Tour’s 2023 tax return lifts the veil on Monahan's earnings, comprising a base, bonuses, retirement benefits, and long-term incentives. It’s a package that sings to the tune of more than double the compensation of NBA commissioner Adam Silver, placing Monahan second only to Goodell’s eye-watering $63.9 million annual haul.

Monahan's journey doesn’t end at the bank. His leadership tenure has also been marked by significant business maneuvers, like the $3 billion investment with Strategic Sports Group. Such moves are not just strokes on the course but swings for the financial future of the PGA Tour, a future that has also become rather murky under Monahan's tutelage.

The inception of LIV Golf and the declining viewership of the product over the past few seasons have left the sport in a constant state of disarray. While fans and Tour pros alike have clamored for a deal that will once again unify the game, Monahan has yet to secure a deal that will likely define his legacy within the sport.

This article first appeared on On Tap Sports Net and was syndicated with permission.

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