Golf Digest just recently posted an article titled “Golf’s first Billion-Dollar Man” in which they talk about Tiger Woods becoming the first ever golfer to earn a billion dollars.

Since Tiger started winning PGA Tour prize money ($66 Million over his 9 years thus far), and has achieved endorsement deals ($481.8 Million thus far) from Nike, Buick, American Express, Asahi, EA Sports, Tag Heuer, Titleist, and more, it is no suprise to see such projected earnings.

Assuming Woods continues on the same earnings trajectory, Golf Digest projects that Woods will reach the $1 billion mark in career earnings by the end of 2010. According to financial experts, Woods’ net worth should surpass $1 billion by 2013, if not sooner.

An extremely interesting fact is that Tiger has the highest net worth of any American athlete.

Last year, Fortune magazine estimated Woods’ net worth at $295 million (Golf Digest had it at $266 million through 2004), highest among American athletes and $73 million more than the next-wealthiest, basketball star Shaquille O’Neal.

Endorsement list from The Divot. Article from Golf Digest.