The richest darts of players of all time have been revealed as of the 2024 World Championship.
The yearly darting extravaganza is now well underway at the Alexandra Palace, with the likes of Luke Humphries, Peter Wright and Gerwyn Price all securing safe passages through to the third round.
Luke Littler is in action on Saturday night when he takes on Ryan Meikle, who defeated Fallon Sherrock by three sets to two in the first round.
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The winner of the tournament will earn a staggering £500,000 in prize money, meaning it is crucial when it comes to the two-year ranking system in which the top 64 each year earn an automatic tour card.
A total of 17 players have held a PDC tour card since the system's inception in 2011, including Michael van Gerwen, James Wade and Gary Anderson.
They have all been beneficiaries of significantly increased prize money in recent years, with the total prize pot for this year's World Championship standing at £2.5 million compared to £1 million back in 2011.
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In 2007 - the final year that the championship would be held at the iconic Circus Tavern venue in Essex - that prize pot stood at £500,000, with £100,000 given to the winner.
As a result, the top 10 list of richest darts players ever - compiled by BettingDarts.com in 2022 with updates to cover recent earnings - has a distinctly modern feel to it, although there is no Luke Littler in the list.
He has earned £633,500 on the main PDC tour since his run to the final of the 2024 World Championship - though another run to the final this time around would see him enter the top 10.
Here is the list in full:
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10) Simon Whitlock - £2.4 million+
The 2025 World Championship has felt slightly bare without the presence of Simon Whitlock, whose sensational beard has lit up the Ally Pally stage for over a decade.
The 55-year-old Australian has only won one PDC title but has long remained competitive, though results in the World Championship means he now does not have a tour card for 2025 and must enter Q-School to stay on the main tour.
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9) Luke Humphries - £2.8 million+
Current world number one Luke Humphries has amassed a staggering £1,794,250 in the most recent two-year Order of Merit period, and will maintain his status as the world's best player regardless of his performance at Ally Pally this year.
The 29-year-old has dominated the sport, winning six majors - including the 2024 World Championship - in the past two seasons.
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Humphries has been a tour card holder since 2018 but almost quit the sport in 2019 before his resurgence.
8) Gerwyn Price - £3 million+
Gerwyn Price won his, to date, only, World Championship behind closed doors in 2021. For someone who plays off the crowd to perfection, it's something he may have mixed feelings about.
One of the most entertaining players in the sport, Price has won 37 senior titles and was the world number one on three occasions between 2021 and 2022.
He comes into this year's World Championship off the back of a relatively poor 2024 season but the Welshman will hope to use the boisterous Ally Pally crowd to his advantage.
7) Adrian Lewis - £3.1 million+
Adrian Lewis was a two-time world champion by the age of 27 and was expected to dominate darts for at least the next decade.
While he hasn't yet added a third title to his resume, Lewis has regularly been a top 16 player to add to his huge prize money further.
The 38-year-old isn't an active tour card holder at present after taking time out of the sport for family reasons, but has confirmed he is planning a comeback in 2025.
6) Raymond van Barneveld - £3.5 million
Raymond van Barneveld joined the PDC in 2006 and defeated Phil Taylor in one of the greatest world finals of all time in 2007.
You would have had long odds on the Dutchman not adding to his five world titles across the PDC and BDO, but a series of near-misses and early exits have defined his World Championship appearances since then.
But the 57-year-old has won the UK Open, Premier League and Grand Slam titles and, after reversing his initial 2020 retirement, is back inside the top 32 and looking to add to his incredible prize money haul at Ally Pally this year.
5) James Wade - £4 million+
James Wade has never won a world title but has been one of darts' most consistent players for the past 15 years.
A left-handed player with a knack for hitting a double on his third dart, 'The Machine' has won 38 PDC titles including the World Matchplay in 2007.
Wade was a surprising early exit from this year's World Championship, losing in straight sets to Jermaine Wattimena in the second round. He'll be back for another attempt at the big one next year.
4) Peter Wright - £4 million+
Peter Wright has been consistently at the top of darts for a decade and is a two-time world champion.
He is the fourth most-successful player on the PDC Pro Tour, winning 34 events, and is currently ranked 17th as he looks to win a third title at Ally Pally.
3) Gary Anderson - £5 million+
Unlike some of his rivals, Gary Anderson extended his stay with the BDO until 2009 before switching to the PDC.
'The Flying Scotsman' made a quick impact on the tour, and won back-to-back world titles in 2015 and 2016.
The 53-year-old has been in and out of the top 16 in recent seasons but has enjoyed some strong form during 2024, including a semi-final appearance at the Grand Slam last month.
2) Phil Taylor - £8.5 million
Quite simply the greatest darts player of all time, 'The Power' won 85 major titles and is a 16-time world champion.
Between 1994 and 2007, not a single World Championship final didn't feature Phillip Douglas Taylor, and he almost pulled off the greatest farewell to the PDC when he reached the final again in 2018 before retiring.
Taylor collected around $10 million in prize money on the PDC and increased that further through exhibitions and appearances on the World Seniors Tour.
1) Michael van Gerwen - £9 million+
Widely regarded as the heir to Phil Taylor at the top of darts, there was a time when Michael van Gerwen was unbeatable at his best.
He was world number one for a staggering seven years up until 2021, and has won 156 PDC titles.
The 35-year-old hasn't won a major since September 2023 but remains one of darts' biggest forces and you would not count him out of adding to his three world titles at the beginning of January.
Topics: Darts, Luke Littler
Ryan Smart