Snooker stars are amongst the richest sportspeople on the planet - a single World Championship title earns you a jaw-dropping £500,000 and the winner of this week’s Masters will win a cool £350,000.
It’s a sport which has seen prize money soar in recent years thanks to television and sponsorship deals, with increasing interest in China and the Far East bolstering the tournament coffers even more.
It means that some of the greatest of all time who played in less lucrative times - including Stephen Hendry, Jimmy White and Steve Davis - aren’t even in the top five highest earners.
We’ve taken a look at the players who have won the most prize money in the history of the sport, with their true net worth being around 50 per cent more due to sponsorship, exhibition games, advertising deals, investments and media work.
Here are the 15 richest, as of January 2026, directly before the Masters.
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1. Ronnie O'Sullivan - £15,060,317
Seven times World Champion Ronnie O'Sullivan holds most of the records in snooker - including the most prize money. He's earned a remarkable 15,060,317 since turning pro at the age opf 16 in 1992. He's been helped to that total by a remarkable 23 Triple Crown wins. | Getty Images
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2. John Higgins - £10,777,119
Wizard of Wishaw John Higgins may not be able to match fellow-Scot Stephen Hendry when it comes to tournament wins, but his longevity and consistancy means he's the second highest earning snooker player of all time. He's banked £10,777,119 over a glittering career that has included four world championships. | Getty Images | Getty Images
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3. Judd Trump - £9,662,871
With 30 ranking titles and five Triple Crown titles on his CV, Judd Trump has banked £9,662,871 in his career. Last year saw the world number one overtake Stephen Hendry to take the third spot on the all-time list. | Getty Images
4. Mark Selby - £9,129,629
The second of three players to overtake Stephen Hendry for lifetime prize money in the last year is Mark Selby. He's won 10 Triple Crown titles, including four World Championships. Englishman Selby has won £9,129,629 in his career to date and still has plenty of winning years to come. | Getty Images