Forbes magazine has announced that Tiger Woods is the first athlete to surpass $1 billion in earnings and endorsement money.

The magazine estimates that golf’s top-ranked player crested the plateau when he earned $10 million for winning the FedEx Cup on Sunday.

Woods has been the world’s highest-paid athlete since 2002 when he surpassed Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher.

His earnings have surged in recent years as he launched a golf course design business and has three courses underway that pay him more than $10 million per project.

It is Nike though that has been Woods’ most lucrative partner.

The relationship has been hugely beneficial for both parties as Nike launched a golf division from scratch on the back of Woods and sales are now $800 million annually.

Source: Forbes – Photos: Telegraph / Dailymail