Steve Williams Net Worth

What is Steve Williams' net worth?

Steve Williams is a New Zealand-born professional golf caddy who has a net worth of $20 million. Steve Williams is one of the most accomplished and recognizable golf caddies in the history of the sport, known for his intense work ethic, no-nonsense demeanor, and remarkable success alongside several of the world's greatest players. Williams began caddying at age ten and was working professionally by his teens. His early career included stints with prominent golfers such as Peter Thomson, Ian Baker-Finch, and Greg Norman, but his true breakthrough came in 1999 when Tiger Woods hired him as his full-time caddie. Their partnership became one of the most dominant runs the sport has ever seen.

From 1999 through 2011, Williams was on the bag for 13 of Woods's 15 major championships and more than 60 PGA Tour victories. Known for his ability to manage pressure, read greens, and maintain strict focus, Williams was widely credited with helping Woods navigate high-stakes moments during the peak of his career. Their on-course chemistry, combined with Williams's physical strength and authoritative presence, made the pairing legendary.

After his split with Woods in 2011, Williams joined Adam Scott and quickly added another major win to his resume when Scott captured the 2013 Masters. He later worked with other top players, including Daniel Berger, before gradually stepping back from full-time caddying.

Over several decades, Williams built a reputation as one of golf's most fiercely competitive and highly paid caddies, with a career defined by loyalty, precision, and a central role in some of the most memorable championship moments of the modern era.

Steve Williams Salary

Most caddies earn a standard salary of 5% of whatever the pro makes in tournament play, plus a weekly salary. During his time with Tiger, Steve Williams earned 15% of Tiger's tournament prizes. In most of the Tiger years, Steve Williams earned significantly more money than most of the professional tournament players. In 2007, he earned $1.4 million in commissions alone, which would put him in the top 75 of PGA earners for the year. Williams also earned money through endorsements and gifts from Tiger.

Tiger Woods Earnings

During his time caddying for Tiger Woods, Steve earned at least $12 million in bonuses and salary alone. Tiger also reportedly gave Steve 10 vehicles that were won at tournaments.

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Early Life

Steve Williams was born on November 29, 1963, in Wellington, New Zealand. His fascination with golf started almost immediately. As a young child, he spent hours at his local course, obsessively practicing and learning the game from the ground up. He began caddying at age ten, quickly developing a reputation for being unusually dedicated and highly knowledgeable for someone so young. By age thirteen, he was caddying thirty-six holes a day on weekends, and by his mid-teens, he was already working with top amateur players.

Williams briefly considered a playing career, but his skillset and temperament aligned more naturally with caddying. His disciplined personality, comfort under pressure, and eagerness to immerse himself in the sport made him a standout. Before he turned twenty, he secured opportunities to caddie internationally, setting the stage for a life spent traveling with the world's best golfers.

Early Career

In the 1980s and early 1990s, Williams caddied for some of the top names in global golf. He spent time working with Australian legend Peter Thomson, a five-time Open Champion, and later joined the bag of Ian Baker-Finch. He also had a long stint with Greg Norman during a period when Norman was one of the most dominant figures in the game.

Williams quickly gained a reputation for being tough, protective, honest to a fault, and deeply committed to the job. He expected the same intensity from his players and was never shy about sharing his opinions. His reputation for discipline and loyalty elevated him into the small elite circle of caddies trusted by top-ranked golfers, and by the late 1990s, he was well-established on the global tour circuit.

Partnership with Tiger Woods

Williams's career reached historic heights in 1999 when Tiger Woods hired him as his full-time caddie. Their partnership became one of the most successful in the history of professional golf. Williams's authoritative presence, strategic acumen, and ability to maintain composure during enormous pressure complemented Woods's brilliance on the course.

Together, they won more than 60 PGA Tour events and 13 major championships, including multiple Masters titles, U.S. Opens, and Open Championships. Williams played a crucial role during Woods's peak years, assisting with course management, reading greens, and protecting Woods from distractions. His controlled demeanor and physical strength were often noted, such as when he aggressively cleared crowds or guarded Woods's line of play in intense conditions.

Williams also became one of the highest-paid caddies of all time, reportedly earning significant bonuses from Woods's major victories and tournament wins. Their partnership lasted through career highs, personal turmoil, and injury comebacks before ending in 2011.

Partnership with Adam Scott

Shortly after parting ways with Woods, Williams joined Australian golfer Adam Scott. The new partnership produced immediate success. In 2011, Scott won the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational with Williams on the bag, an emotional victory that Williams famously described as one of the best weeks of his career. Two years later, Williams helped guide Scott to his first major championship, the 2013 Masters, becoming the first Australian player to win the tournament.

Williams's experience, preparation, and calmness under pressure proved invaluable to Scott, and the two enjoyed a productive multi-year run highlighted by consistent top-ten finishes and major contention.

Later Career

As he moved into his fifties, Williams reduced his schedule, opting for semi-retirement to spend more time with his family in New Zealand. He occasionally returned for short-term caddying roles, including working with Daniel Berger, but he increasingly focused on personal projects.

Williams published a memoir and dedicated time to philanthropic efforts, particularly through motorsports charity work in New Zealand. He also became known for his involvement in race car driving, competing at the amateur level and supporting youth racing programs in his home country.

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