After 27 years, Tiger Woods’s partnership with Nike has come to an end. It is reported that the billionaire earned $500 million during the course of the deal. Woods signed his first contract with the sportswear giant in a five-year deal worth $40 million in 1996. He signed his last contract with Nike, a ten-year extension worth approximately $200 million in 2013.
The popularity of the 15-time major golf champion propelled Nike into producing golf equipment. Although the golf category brought in hundreds of millions annually, the company discontinued its golf equipment line in 2016. Wood’s legacy at Nike has been immortalised with the company’s primary conference centre at the headquarters in Portland, Oregon being named after him.
Tiger Woods’s $500 million partnership with Nike has come to an end, here’s other mega deals the star golfer has signed.
1. Accenture
Woods signed an endorsement deal with consulting company Accenture in 2003. The firm extensively used him in adverts and campaigns customers to “Go on, be a Tiger”. It is reported that Accenture paid Woods $7 million annually. The partnership came to an end following the golfer’s 2009 scandal.
2. Gatorade
In 2007, Woods established a 5 year partnership with Gatorade. His own sports drink, Tiger Focus was released by the company. The deal with Gatorade was worth about $100 million. It however ended abruptly in 2010. Woods later signed for its competitor, Monster Energy in 2006.
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3. Tag Heuer
Tag Heuer, a unit of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton sponsored Woods between 2002 and 2011. He designed the brand’s professional golf watch, the first watch for golfer’s special needs. The partnership was the Swiss watch maker’s longest. The contract is believed to have been worth more than $10 million.
4. Rolex
After his contract with Tag Heuer ended, Woods signed with rival brand, Rolex. His role as brand ambassador was focused towards younger consumers. The five-year contract was valued at $7 million and paid in endorsement fees and royalties.
5. EA Sports
Woods helped establish EA Sports as the leading sports video game world-wide. He signed a multi-year deal lending his name and likeness to EA Sports’ “PGA Tour” series. The Tiger Woods PGA Tour series ran from 1999 to 2014, with EA Sports selling over 25 million copies of the games.
6. Hero
Indian Company Hero MotoCorp signed a four-year endorsement deal with Woods in 2014. Although the brand isn’t as well known in the United States, it is the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters. The deal with Woods was reportedly worth $36 million and further extended in 2018.
7. Bridgestone Golf
Following the end of Nike’s golf equipment business, Woods began playing with Bridgestone golf balls. He signed a multi-year contract with the Japanese company in 2016 and first played it in an annual tournament that he sponsors in the Bahamas. Woods aids in the development of balls and supports the popular Bridgestone ball-fitting program.
