Who Has The Most Career Earnings On The LPGA Tour?

Prize purses on the LPGA Tour are climbing, so we take a look at the highest earners in the women's game

Various LPGA Players
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Alison Root
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Prize purses on the LPGA Tour are on the rise, and while the average tour player may still find it challenging to break even on a weekly basis, and there’s still work to be done for further parity in the game, the big events now offer substantial opportunities for serious earnings.

At the 2023 US Women’s Open at Pebble Beach, players competed for a remarkable prize purse of  $11 million, doubling in two years. Allisen Corpuz  secured the record-breaking $2 million winner’s payout, and Amy Yang took home the same amount after winning the season-ending CME-sponsored Tour Championship.

Back in 2006, when Annika Sorenstam won her third US Women’s Open title, her winner’s share from a $3.1 million prize purse was $560,000, and with that win Sorenstam went over $20 million in career earnings. Despite retiring in 2008, she is still the highest earner on the LPGA Tour, having amassed $22,583,693 in prize money from 307 events during her illustrious career.

Annika Sorenstam

Annika Sorenstam is the LPGA Tour's highest earner to date

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Out of the top 5 highest female earners to date, 26-year-old Lydia Ko is also the youngest in 5th spot with $16,942,692, and she has played fewer events than those above her on the table. In 2014, Ko became the youngest millionaire ever on the LPGA in her first full season as a pro. 

Since turning professional in 2010 and 240 events later, Lexi Thompson’s earnings have escalated to $13,927,016, while Amy Yang’s $2 million from this year's CME Tour Championship contributed nicely to her $13,882,919 total. 

Lydia Ko

Lydia Ko is the youngest highest earner

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The player that really stands out is Lorena Ochoa, who ranks one below Ko with $14,863,331 from just 175 events, which reflects her domination of the women’s game between 2007 and 2010.

Juli Inkster’s professional career spans 29 years to date and includes 31 wins on the LPGA Tour. While her career earnings of $14,018,391 is a significant amount, she has played in 714 events, which is far more than any other player topping the ranking list.

Highest Career Earnings On The LPGA Tour

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RankPlayerCareer Earnings Career Events Played
1Annika Sorenstam$22,583,693307
2Karrie Web$20,293,617494
3Cristie Kerr$20,179,848597
4Inbee Park$18,262,344305
5Lydia Ko$16,942,692225
6Lorena Ochoa$14,863,331 175
7Suzann Pettersen$14,837,578316
8Stacy Lewis$14,493,255341
9Juli Inkster$14,018,391714
10Lexi Thompson$13,927,016240
11Amy Yang$13,882,919328
12Minjee Lee$13,864,143207
13Anna Nordqvist$12,823,565 330
14Sei Young Kim$12,736,813200
15Se Ri Pak$12,583,712365
Row 16 - Cell 0 Row 16 - Cell 1 Row 16 - Cell 2 Row 16 - Cell 3

LPGA statistics includes verified data from 1980 to present

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Alison Root
Alison Root

Alison Root has over 25 years experience working in media and events, predominantly dedicated to golf, in particular the women’s game. Until 2020, for over a decade Alison edited Women & Golf magazine and website, and is now the full-time Women's Editor for Golf Monthly. Alison is a respected and leading voice in the women's game, overseeing content that communicates to active golfers from grassroots through to the professional scene, and developing collaborative relationships to widen Golf Monthly's female audience across all platforms to elevate women's golf to a new level. She is a 16-handicap golfer (should be better) and despite having had the fantastic opportunity to play some of the best golf courses around the world, Kingsbarns in Scotland is her favourite.

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