Net Worth Ranker
What Is Michelle Wie West’s Net Worth?
Michelle Wie West, a prominent figure in the world of professional golf, has accumulated a substantial net worth of $20 million. This financial success is a result of her achievements on the golf course, lucrative endorsement deals, and strategic investments.
Early Life and Amateur Career Highlights
Born Michelle Sung Wie on October 11, 1989, in Honolulu, Hawaii, Michelle’s journey in golf began at a very young age. Her parents, immigrants from South Korea, instilled in her a passion for the sport. Michelle attended Punahou School in Honolulu before enrolling at Stanford University, where she earned a degree in communications in 2012. She was not eligible to play on the university’s golf team because of her professional status.
Wie’s early career was marked by remarkable achievements. At the age of 10, she qualified for the 2000 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship, making her the youngest person ever to qualify for the event, a record she held for eight years. In 2001, at age 11, she won the Jennie K. Wilson Women’s Invitational and the Hawaii State Women’s Stroke Play Championship. The following year, she won the Hawaii State Open Women’s Division and qualified for the Takefuji Classic, becoming the youngest golfer to qualify for an LPGA event.
In 2003, Michelle became the youngest golfer to make an LPGA cut when she competed in the Kraft Nabisco Championship. That same year, she secured the title of the youngest person to win an adult USGA event by winning the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship. She was also the youngest player to make the cut at the U.S. Women’s Open, again in 2003. At the 2004 Sony Open, Wie became the youngest female (and fourth female ever) to compete in a PGA tour event. Her second-round score of 68 set the record for the lowest score by a woman in a PGA Tour event. She also finished fourth at the Kraft Nabisco Championship in 2004. She was also a member of the U.S. team that won the Curtis Cup.
Professional Golf Career and Earnings
Michelle Wie’s decision to turn professional in October 2005 marked a significant turning point in her career. She signed lucrative sponsorship deals with Sony and Nike, reportedly worth at least $10 million per year, which greatly contributed to her overall net worth. Her first professional event was the 2005 LPGA Samsung World Championship. She was disqualified after she signed an incorrect scorecard. She later finished second in the Evian Masters and tied for third at the Kraft Nabisco Championship.
Throughout her professional career, Michelle has secured several notable victories, further boosting her earnings and net worth. These include:
- 2009: Lorena Ochoa Invitational
- 2010: CN Canadian Women’s Open
- 2014: LPGA Lotte Championship
- 2014: U.S. Women’s Open
- 2018: HSBC Women’s World Championship
Her win at the 2014 LPGA Lotte Championship, coupled with her second-place finish at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, led to her receiving the Rolex Annika Major Award in 2014. Michelle was also featured on ESPNW’s “Impact 25” list that same year, solidifying her status as a prominent figure in sports. In addition to individual achievements, she contributed to the U.S. team’s victories at the Solheim Cup in 2009, 2015, and 2017.
In late 2019, it was announced that Michelle would be contributing to CBS Sports’ golf coverage, adding another dimension to her career and potential income streams. While specific financial details of her earnings from tournaments and sponsorships are not publicly available, it is evident that they have played a significant role in building her $20 million net worth.
Real Estate Ventures
Michelle Wie has also engaged in real estate investments, contributing to her overall financial portfolio. In 2011, she purchased a home in Jupiter, Florida, for a little under $4 million, later selling it in 2019 for $4.8 million, realizing a profit of $800,000. After marrying Jonnie West, they acquired a home in San Francisco for $3 million in 2019, which they sold in September 2021 for $3.5 million, resulting in a gain of $500,000. In December 2021, the couple invested $5.7 million in a mansion located in the Los Angeles suburb of Encino. This property was listed for sale in January 2024 with an asking price of $6.5 million.
Personal Life and Other Ventures
In March 2019, Michelle became engaged to Jonnie West, the son of NBA legend Jerry West. Jonnie serves as the Director of Basketball Operations for the Golden State Warriors. They married in Beverly Hills on August 10, 2019, and welcomed their daughter, Makenna Kamalei Yoona West, on June 19, 2020. Michelle’s activities extend beyond golf, as she guest-starred on the CBS series “Hawaii Five-0” in 2015 and appeared in the 2021 documentary “The Day Sports Stood Still.”
In February 2007, it was reported that Michelle fell and hurt her left wrist while running, and her public relations reps said that she wouldn’t be able to play golf for four to six weeks. In April 2008, Wie revealed that three bones in her wrist were broken, and a 2009 article stated that Michelle and her family didn’t “understand or accept the severity of the injury” and that Wie took multiple painkillers a day to be able to play during the 2007 season.
