Ai Miyazato

Ai Miyazato is a retired Japanese professional golfer who reached the World No. 1 ranking in 2010 and won nine LPGA Tour titles over a 12-year professional career. Some estimates put her net worth at around $7.5 million, built largely from tournament earnings and endorsement deals, though as with most professional athletes no fully independently verified net worth figure has ever been published.

Early Life & Family

Miyazato was born on June 19, 1985, in Okinawa, Japan. Her father, Masaru Miyazato, introduced her to golf at age four and served as her first coach. Golf ran in the family: her older brother, Yusaku, also became a professional golfer and won seven times on the Japan Golf Tour.

Rise to Fame

After a strong amateur career, Miyazato turned professional in 2003 and quickly built a winning record on the JLPGA Tour in Japan before moving to compete regularly on the US-based LPGA Tour, where her consistency and short-game skill made her a fan favourite.

Career History

Miyazato won 25 professional tournaments in total, including nine LPGA Tour titles, among them the Evian Masters in 2009 and 2011 and the LPGA Lotte Championship in 2012. In June 2010 she reached the World No. 1 ranking — notably, she was the first player to top the rankings without having won a major championship. Her best financial year on tour came in 2010, when she earned more than $1.4 million and finished sixth on the LPGA money list. She announced her retirement from professional golf in May 2017, effective at the end of that season, citing difficulty staying motivated after a decline in results.

How They Built Their Wealth

Over her 12-year LPGA Tour career, Miyazato earned more than $8 million in official prize money. Her golfing success also brought her endorsement deals with brands including Honda, Japan Airlines and Oakley.

Ai Miyazato’s wealth was built over more than a decade as one of Japan’s most successful international golfers, culminating in her reaching the top of the world rankings in 2010.