Snooker
Snooker’s Millionaires’ Row: A Data & Expert Ranking of All-Time Career Prize Money Leaders
You can say what you want, but in the world of snooker, a fool-proof method of identifying long-term success and excellence in the sport is a having a look at career prize money. The biggest checks are reserved for the biggest nights and to consistently win a big night suggests class and ability far beyond your average player. SportsBoom takes a look at the money some players have managed to win as well as their standing in the eyes of the so-called experts – the SB Market Index.
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Ronnie O'Sullivan/Getty Images
The Final Verdict First: The SB Market Index – Snooker’s Top Earners Ranked
Our SB Market Index looks at two distinct metrics, the SB Score (20%) and the Industry Insights (80%).
| Rank | Player | Career Prize Money (Pounds) | SB Score | Weighted (20%) | Industry Insights | Weighted (80%) | SB Market Index |
| 1 | Ronnie O’Sullivan | 14,725,734 | 1.0000 | 0.200000 | 9 | 7.20000 | 7.40000 |
| 2 | John Higgins | 10,527,519 | 0.7149 | 0.14298 | 9 | 7.20000 | 7.34298 |
| 3 | Stephen Hendry | 8,807,081 | 0.5981 | 0.11962 | 9 | 7.20000 | 7.31962 |
| 4 | Mark Williams | 8,500,854 | 0.5773 | 0.11546 | 9 | 7.20000 | 7.31546 |
| 5 | Steve Davis | 5,623,536 | 0.3819 | 0.07638 | 9 | 7.20000 | 7.27638 |
| 6 | Judd Trump | 9,276,854 | 0.6299 | 0.12598 | 8 | 6.40000 | 6.52598 |
| 7 | Neil Robertson | 7,285,745 | 0.4947 | 0.09894 | 8 | 6.40000 | 6.49894 |
| 8 | Mark Selby | 8,505,679 | 0.5776 | 0.11552 | 7 | 5.60000 | 5.71552 |
| 9 | Shaun Murphy | 6,434,212 | 0.4370 | 0.08740 | 7 | 5.60000 | 5.68740 |
| 10 | Mark Allen | 5,645,540 | 0.3834 | 0.07668 | 1 | 0.80000 | 0.87668 |
Takeaways from the SB Market Index
O’Sullivan is the undisputed financial leader with his 14.7-million-pound kitty. This haul of financial supplication is matched only by his undeniable legacy in the sport. John Higgins, Stephen Hendry, Mark Williams and Steve Davis are all leaders in the Industry Insights market and while Mark Allen might be a formidable player, he has not yet garnered the recognition of an elite-level player.
Deconstructing the Ranking: How the Scores Were Achieved
The SB Score – Measuring Career Prize Money
To ascertain the SB Score, we first normalize the prize money for each player against that of O’Sullivan. This then gives us a proportional view of financial success based purely on winnings.
The SB Score
| Rank | Player | SB Score |
| 1 | Ronnie O’Sulivan | 1.0000 |
| 2 | John Higgins | 0.7149 |
| 3 | Judd Trump | 0.6299 |
| 4 | Stephen Hendry | 0.5981 |
| 5 | Mark Selby | 0.5776 |
| 6 | Mark Williams | 0.5773 |
| 7 | Neil Robertson | 0.4947 |
| 8 | Shaun Murphy | 0.4370 |
| 9 | Mark Allen | 0.3834 |
| 10 | Steve Davis | 0.3819 |
There is of course an argument to be made for Steve Davis here. he might rank lowest for raw earnings, but he also achieved many of these wins in an era with considerably less prize pools.
Final Thoughts: What Makes a Snooker Legend?
Our SB Market balances objective financial success with subjective greatness. From that, O’Sullivan is in a league of his own while Higgins, Hendry, Williams and Davis remain iconic and relevant to the sport’s history.
Judd Trump and Neil Robertson have kept the new generation relevant – but this is all based on our particular model.
Industry Insights
| Player | Total Mentions |
| Ronnie O’Sullivan | 9 |
| John Higgins | 9 |
| Stephen Hendry | 9 |
| Mark Williams | 9 |
| Steve Davis | 9 |
| Judd Trump | 8 |
| Neil Robertson | 8 |
| Mark Selby | 7 |
| Shaun Murphy | 7 |
| Mark Allen | 1 |
Final Thoughts: What Makes a Snooker Legend?
Our SB Market balances objective financial success with subjective greatness. From that, O’Sullivan is in a league of his own while Higgins, Hendry, Williams and Davis remain iconic and relevant to the sport’s history.
Judd Trump and Neil Robertson have kept the new generation relevant – but this is all based on our particular model.
Disclaimer
This analysis uses verified career prize money and a specific weighted SB Score model, combined with surveyed 'Industry Insights'. The SB Score is directly proportional to prize money. Different methodologies, weightings, or sources for
Industry Insights could yield different conclusions. This is for illustrative and discussion purposes.
Ryan Liberty is an experienced sports writer whose articles have featured in some of the biggest sports publications in South Africa. With a strong understanding of all major sports and an in-depth understanding of betting, Ryan consistently delivers insightful content. He's also known for his ability to break down complex topics into engaging, reader-friendly pieces.