2025 Championship Tour Surfers Are Getting $11 Million in Prize Money

In total, the WSL is shelling out $6,135,320 to the men and $4,099,540 to the women for 11 “regular season” events. For the first seven events, the WSL will dish out $574,760 and $370,220 to the men and women, respectively, per contest. The money awarded to each surfer increases after the mid-year cut because there are fewer competitors. After the Margaret River event in May, events will be trimmed from 36 to 22 men, while the women’s draw will go from 18 to 15 (counting wildcards and full-time competitors). That means the prize purse changes to $528,000 (men) and $377,000 (women) per event for the last four CT comps. A larger slice of a smaller pie. 

Cut-wise, 2025 is an unusual year for the women because the field is expanding next year. In 2026, the women’s pool will grow from 18 to 24 surfers (pre-cut). As a result, only three women will be cut after Margaret River in 2025. 

The pot gets even deeper when 10 surfers compete in the WSL Finals, which this year will be held at Cloudbreak in September. The male and female world title winners get $200,000 each. The runner-ups get $100,000. Third, fourth and fifth-place finishers get $75,000, $60,000 and $45,550, respectively. Scroll below for the full breakdown of CT prize money in 2025.

Men

Pre-cut (7 events)

1.$80,000

2. $45,000

3. $25,000

5. $16,000

9. $13,500

17. $11,610

33. $10,500

Post-cut (4 events)

1.$100,000

2.$63,000

3. $40,000

5. $20,000

9. $13,500

17. $12,125

Women

Pre-cut (7 events)

1.$80,000

2. $45,000

3. $25,000

5. $16,000

9. $13,500

17. $11,610

Post-cut (4 events)

1.$100,000

2. $63,000

3. $40,000

5. $20,000

9. $13,500

WSL Finals (men and women)

1. $200,000
2. $100,000
3. $75,000
4. $60,000
5. $40,550

Of course, this money doesn’t exist in a vacuum. A life chasing scores means a life covering expenses. Each event requires a logistical juggling act of flights, accommodations and transportation. Taxes take a chunk out of each check, as well as a manager’s cut. Most surfers also retain the services of a coach and/or a filmer(s), which adds up. Depending on plane seat preference and the size of the entourage, the CT prize money may not cover everything when traveling the world for waves over the course of a season.

Now let's attach some numbers to names based on last year's figures. 2024 World Champion John John Florence earned $485,423 (before expenses) in prize money from the regular season and WSL Finals. By comparison, Rio Waida, who finished ninth after a turbulent season with multiple 33rd and a runner-up in Fiji, received $201,050 in WSL checks. 

On the women’s side, reigning champ Caity Simmers, who won three events and the world title, cleared the half-a-million mark in 2024. She earned $392,500 from nine CT events, then an additional $200,000 for winning the WSL Finals at Lowers. She never finished worse than equal ninth, won three events and received $592,500 in total prize money. Not a bad year for camp Simmers. By comparison, Rookie of the Year Sawyer Lindblad (second at Rio and Margaret River) earned $229,500 in 2024, before expenses. 

Prize money from the WSL alone isn’t the only way for CT surfers to make money. Sponsorships offer a more consistent and thorough paycheck. But the data above shows there is still real money to be made on the tour. It may not get you a house in California, but it's still worth surfing for.