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Legendary Golf Star Jack Nicklaus Wins $50 Million Lawsuit

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated Oct 21, 2025 3:21 PM ET

Jack Nicklaus was awarded $50 million in a defamation lawsuit against a company bearing the iconic golfer's name.

A Florida jury ruled in Nicklaus's favor over Nicklaus Companies, owned by banker Howard Milstein. According to The Palm Beach Post, the jury determined that the company contributed to the publishing of misinformation that damaged the 18-time major champion's reputation and exposed him to "ridicule, hatred, mistrust, distrust or contempt."

The defamation lawsuit alleged that Nicklaus Companies, Milstein, and executive Andrew O’Brien spread false claims that Nicklaus had negotiated a $750 million deal to become a public face of the Saudi Arabia-funded LIV Golf league.

"It's always hard in a defamation case to prove damages to reputation, because in particular for a guy like Jack, it's always such a good one," Nicklaus' attorney, Eugene Stearns, told ESPN's Mark Schlabach after the verdict. "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 for the Saudi golf, when it was not true. So, we're happy that Jack's been vindicated."

More on Nicklaus verdict

AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 11: Honorary starter and Masters champion Jack Nicklaus plays his shot during the First Tee ceremony to start the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Nicklaus Companies paid the golfer $145 million for exclusive promotional, branding, and marketing rights in 2007. Nicklaus resigned ten years later and stepped down from the company board in 2022 after a non-compete clause expired.

Shortly after, Nicklaus Companies sued Nicklaus for alleged tortious interference, breach of contract and breach of judiciary duty.

According to Nicklaus' defamation suit, a Nicklaus Companies official urged him to meet with a Saudi representative about designing a golf course in Saudi Arabia. He was then offered a leadership role in LIV Golf.

"According to Nicklaus, he had no interest in the offer and declined because he felt the PGA Tour was an important part of his legacy," the court document said, "and if the PGA was not in favor of a new league, he did not want to be involved."

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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