Since it first started in 1934 until last year, the first-place prize money at the Masters has increased more than 226,000 percent.
It sort of boggles the mind in those terms but the numbers are the numbers: When Horton Smith won the what was then called the Augusta National Invitation Tournament, he was awarded a prize of $1,500. In 2024, when Scottie Scheffler won his second Masters Tournament, he earned $3,600,000.
The money has changed quite dramatically over the 88 years of the tournament. The total purse and first-place money for the 2025 Masters has not been announced yet but the winner's share has gone up for three consecutive years. In all, the top prize has increased 53 of those 88 years.
How Masters first-place prize money payouts have increased
1934: $1,500
The inaugural event featured a $5,000 purse and $1,500 winner's share, which went to Smith. Those amounts stayed the same for the first five playings of the tournament.
1946: $2,500
The Masters to be played after three-year hiatus during World War II saw Herman Keiser take home a $2,500 prize.
1958 - $11,250
Arnold Palmer took home the first five-figure payday.
1984: $108,000
Masters money reached six figures in the mid-80s with Ben Crenshaw the first to claim that milestone. A 60-foot birdie putt on No. 10 highlighted his final-round 68.
1989: $200,000
Just five years later and the top prize had nearly doubled, with Nick Faldo winning the first of his three green jackets.
1998: $576,000
The first time the winner got more than a half a million dollars is when Mark O'Meara won the Masters in his 15th attempt, which was a then-record for most appearances before a victory.
2001: $1,008,000
Tiger Woods is the first Masters champ to clear a million bucks for winning at Augusta National.
2019: $2,070,000
Woods was also the first to earn a check for more than $2 million at Augusta.
2023: $3,240,000
Jon Rahm is the Masters first $3 million man.
2024: $3,600,000
Scottie Scheffler
Masters first-place prize money year-by-year, 1934 to 2024
2024: $3,600,000
2023: $3,240,000
2022: $2,700,000
2021: $2,070,000
2020: $2,070,000
2019: $2,070,000
2018: $1,980,000
2017: $1,980,000
2016: $1,800,000
2015: $1,800,000
2014: $1,620,000
2013: $1,440,000
2012: $1,440,000
2011: $1,440,000
2010: $1,350,000
2009: $1,350,000
2008: $1,350,000
2007: $1,305,000
2006: $1,260,000
2005: $1,260,000
2004: $1,117,000
2003: $1,080,000
2002: $1,008,000
2001: $1,008,000
2000: $828,000
1999: $720,000
1998: $576,000
1997: ...
