Masters winner's money went from $1,500 in 1934 to $4.2 million in 2025

USA Today

13-04-2025

Masters winner's money went from $1,500 in 1934 to $4.2 million in 2025
When Horton Smith won the first Masters – it was called the Augusta National Invitation Tournament then – he was awarded a prize of $1,500. In 2025, the winner will take home (before taxes) $4.2 million.
The total purse for the 2025 Masters is $21 million, a $1 million increase from a year ago. The first-place prize is up $600,000 from last year. That continues a trend, as the top prize has increased every year since 2021 and, in all, 54 times over an 89-year span.
How Masters first-place prize money payouts have increased
1934: $1,500
The inaugural event featured a $5,000 purse and $1,500 winner's share, which went to Smith. Those amounts stayed the same for the first five playings of the tournament.
1946: $2,500
The Masters to be played after three-year hiatus during World War II saw Herman Keiser take home a $2,500 prize.
1958 - $11,250
Arnold Palmer took home the first five-figure payday.
1984: $108,000
Masters money reached six figures in the mid-80s with Ben Crenshaw the first to claim that milestone. A 60-foot birdie putt on No. 10 highlighted his final-round 68.
1989: $200,000
Just five years later and the top prize had nearly doubled, with Nick Faldo winning the first of his three green jackets.
1998: $576,000
The first time the winner got more than a half a million dollars is when Mark O'Meara won the Masters in his 15th attempt, which was a then-record for most appearances before a victory.
2001: $1,008,000
Tiger Woods is the first Masters champ to clear a million bucks for winning at Augusta National.
2019: $2,070,000
Woods was also the first to earn a check for more than $2 million at Augusta.
2023: $3,240,000
Jon Rahm is the Masters first $3 million man.
2025: $4,200,000
This year's winner will be the Masters first $4 million man.
Masters first-place prize money year-by-year, 1934 to 2025
2025: $4,200,000
2024: $3,600,000
2023: $3,240,000
2022: $2,700,000
2021: $2,070,000
2020: $2,070,000
2019: $2,070,000
2018: $1,980,000
2017: $1,980,000
2016: $1,800,000
2015: $1,800,000
2014: $1,620,000
2013: $1,440,000
2012: $1,440,000
2011: $1,440,000
2010: $1,350,000
2009: $1,350,000
2008: $1,350,000
2007: $1,305,000
2006: $1,260,000
2005: $1,260,000
2004: $1,117,000
2003: $1,080,000
2002: $1,008,000
2001: $1,008,000
2000: $828,000
1999: $720,000
1998: $576,000
1997: $486,000
1996: $450,000
1995: $396,000
1994: $360,000
1993: $306,000
1992: $270,000
1991: $243,000
1990: $225,000
1989: $200,000
1988: $183,800
1987: $162,000
1986: $144,000
1985: $126,000
1984: $108,000
1983 ;$90,000
1982: $64,000
1981: $60,000
1980: $55,000
1979: $50,000
1978: $45,000
1977: $40,000
1976: $40,000
1975: $40,000
1974: $35,000
1973: $30,000
1972: $25,000
1971: $25,000
1970: $25,000
1969: $20,000
1968: $20,000
1967: $20,000
1966: $20,000
1965: $20,000
1964: $20,000
1963: $20,000
1962: $20,000
1961: $20,000
1960: $17,500
1959: $15,000
1958: $11,250
1957: $8,750
1956: $6,000
1955: $5,000
1954: $5,000
1953: $4,000
1952: $4,000
1951: $3,000
1950: $2,400
1949: $2,750
1948: $2,500
1947: $2,500
1946: $2,500
1942: $1,500
1941: $1,50
1940: $1,500
1939: $1,500
1938: $1,500
1937: $1,500
1936: $1,500
1935: $1,500
1934: $1,500