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More staggering numbers have been revealed in LIV Golf’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy case, showcasing how much money some of the league’s top executives were paid earlier this year amid the Saudi PIF ending its funding and many vendors and contractors not getting paid.
According to bankruptcy documents filed late Thursday, LIV CEO Scott O’Neil received a $6.375 million “retention payment” on June 24, which came during the league’s 47-day summer break and just over two weeks after Front Office Sports reported LIV may not have enough funding to complete its season as planned. O’Neil had received a $2.68 million bonus on Feb. 13. His biweekly payroll allotment was $107,345.42. In total, he was paid $13.67 million from Sept. 12, 2025, through Aug. 28, 2026.
Six other LIV executives received retention payments on either June 24 or Aug. 7:
- David Phillips, chief financial officer: $3.36 million
- John Ruzich, chief legal officer: $2.61 million
- Chris Heck, president of business operations: $1.31 million
- Jennifer Frieman, global chief people officer: $1.04 million
- Katie O’Reilly, EVP and head of team business operations: $555,801
- Ilana Finley, chief communications officer: $331,531
When asked about unpaid vendors on Aug. 19, O’Neil said LIV was “doing everything we can to make sure we can do right by them and the work they committed, and I hope we can.”
Meanwhile, Jon Zinman and Eugene Davis, LIV’s independent board directors hired in April, were each paid $750,250 in $150,000 installments through July 31.
Former LIV CEO Greg Norman, who was replaced by O’Neil in January 2025 but didn’t officially leave the league until August 2025, was paid $9.41 million on Sept. 26, 2025, in the form of a $5.81 million settlement and a $3.6 million bonus.
Top Players Paid Big, Too
Jon Rahm was paid $26.64 million by LIV in the past year, mostly via four quarterly player participation agreement payments of just over $4.94 million each, as well as prize money. Rahm reached a settlement with LIV earlier this month in which he forfeited all future payments he was owed.
Bryson DeChambeau was paid $13.86 million during that time frame; his quarterly PPA payment was just over $2.16 million. Dustin Johnson was paid $10.73 million. Cam Smith and Bubba Watson received single PPA payments of $2.33 million on Jan. 30.
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