Ronnie O’Sullivan’s enormous prize money, leaving Hendry, Trump, and Carter in the dust
In order to put his health and wellness first, Ronnie O’Sullivan announced that he will be taking a vacation from snooker, beginning with this week’s German Masters. Three straight victories for the Rocket, including the UK Championship and Masters, have left some people happy that the 48-year-old is taking a break from the game.
The 48-year-old’s achievements, according to CueTracker, have helped him earn a career income of almost £14 million, or £13,957,734, to be precise. Despite enjoying a remarkable career of his own, former opponent Hendry, who earned £8,804,081, trailed behind him.
In fact, he isn’t even the top-ranked Scottish player in the rankings. Hendry’s earnings place him third, behind fellow countryman John Higgins, who has earned £9,631,769 and is still playing professional snooker.
This month at the Alexandra Palace, the world No. 1 defeated Carter in a tense Masters final that left Carter accusing his opponent of “snotting on the floor” in an attempt to act in an unsportsmanlike manner. Following a fierce verbal exchange, O’Sullivan questioned the character of the runner-up and called him a “nightmare” to play against.
Carter’s career earnings of £3,371,656 have been hampered by health issues. That is less than 25% of O’Sullivan’s total earnings, though his percentage would have been higher if he hadn’t taken an unpaid leave of absence from the sport in 2014 following his lung cancer diagnosis.
