Honorable mention: Rickie Fowler
Self-taught golfer Rickie Fowler showed early promise and is now the seventh-highest-paid golfer with a net worth estimated at $20 million. He won the SW League Final while he was still in school, setting him on a path toward a successful career.
He has ranked as high as fourth on the Official World Golf Ranking, a ranking he achieved after winning the HSBC Golf Championship in Abu Dhabi. Fowler was highlighted for his success by Forbes in 2015 and has been steadily growing his earnings from both tournament prizes and sponsorships.