Jack Nicklaus Wins $50 Million in Defamation Lawsuit Against Former Company

WEST PALM BEACH, Florida — Jack Nicklaus has been awarded $50 million by a jury in a defamation lawsuit against Nicklaus Companies, his former business. The jury’s decision, announced on Monday, followed claims that the company falsely suggested Nicklaus was negotiating a $750 million deal with LIV Golf to promote the Saudi-backed league.

Nicklaus, along with his attorney Eugene Stearns, argued that these statements, made during litigation in New York, significantly harmed his reputation. Stearns stated, “It’s always hard in a defamation case to prove damages to reputation,” acknowledging the difficulty in proving hurt to someone with a positive public image like Nicklaus. “But I think what was important was the dispute that arose 3½ years ago when the company told the world that Jack was selling out the PGA Tour, which was not true. We’re happy that Jack’s been vindicated.”

During a meeting with LIV Golf in 2021, Nicklaus claimed he was approached about the deal but refused. Nicklaus insisted he valued his legacy with the PGA Tour, where he won 73 titles and 18 major tournaments. In court, it was noted that the jury believed the defendants’ comments led to public sentiments of “ridicule, hatred, mistrust, distrust or contempt” directed at the golfer.

This case marks not the first clash between Nicklaus and Nicklaus Companies. After selling off his rights, including his golf courses and branding, in 2017, Nicklaus faced a five-year non-compete clause. In 2024, however, a Florida arbiter ruled that Nicklaus could continue designing golf courses, and in April, a judge concluded he could use his name and likeness freely.

Throughout the trial, Nicklaus maintained he was not interested in endorsing LIV Golf and had turned down substantial offers for that reason. According to Nicklaus, he conveyed to the Saudis on multiple occasions that his allegiance remained with the PGA Tour. “I said, ‘Guys, I have to stay with the PGA Tour. I helped start the PGA Tour,'” he stated during the proceedings.

In closing arguments, Stearns emphasized the impact of the defamatory statements, explaining how they aimed to reshape public perception of Nicklaus. The jury’s ruling serves as a significant moment for the golfing legend, further reinforcing his standing in the sport he has represented for decades.