Jon Rahm Eats Crow, Admits Earning Hundreds Of Millions To Join LIV Golf Has In Fact Changed His Life
When it comes to speaking with the media, Jon Rahm is one of the more honest and to-the-point golfers in the world. When the Spaniard speaks, fans and media members alike pay attention, and they certainly were back in 2022 when Rahm offered up what is undoubtedly the most questionable take of his career.
Ahead of the U.S. Open in June when rumors about certain players leaving the PGA Tour for LIV were dominating headlines, Rahm was asked about the possibility of himself ever making the move to the Saudi-backed circuit.
Rahm of course joined LIV in December 2023, but even if he didn't and stuck around on the PGA Tour, his answer to the question would still be considered ridiculous.
"Money is great, but when [my wife] Kelley and I started talking about it, and we’re like, Will our lifestyle change if I got $400 million? No, it will not change one bit," Rahm explained at the time.
"Truth be told, I could retire right now with what I’ve made and live a very happy life and not play golf again. So I’ve never really played the game of golf for monetary reasons. I play for the love of the game, and I want to play against the best in the world. I’ve always been interested in history and legacy, and right now the PGA Tour has that."
Essentially, Rahm said money, even hundreds of millions of dollars, wouldn't persuade him to join LIV nor would it change his lifestyle at all.
It was a tough sell from Rahm. He's earned over $51 million on the PGA Tour plus millions more off the course through endorsement deals, but if $400 million was put into your bank account then your life is going to change, period.
(Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Shortly after signing with LIV, Rahm did admit that money played a factor in his decision, but is still standing by his comments in 2022 given reality then is not what reality is today.
The reality today is he has a few more zeros in his bank account, which he's admitted has made his feelings change.
"Yes, for me to want to change, there had to be reasons beyond the money, right? So when I said that [in June 2022] I fully meant it and it was true," Rahm told Dylan Dethier of Golf Magazine. Now, when they slap you with a large amount of money in your face, your feelings do change. I try not to be a materialistic person, but I do owe it to my family as well to set them up for success the best I can, and having kids I think changed that quite a bit. So the money is a part of it; I’m not going to lie. But again, when I said that I wasn’t fully aware of what I was saying because you don’t really understand."
The exact sum of guaranteed money and Rahm's contract details with LIV are unknown, but rumors have mentioned many different sums ranging in the $300-$500 million range.
Rahm's sentiment that "you don't really understand" those sums of money until "they slap you" in the face with it is fair, very few people have experience dealing with hundreds of millions of dollars.