Richard Sterne ended a 13-year wait for a DP World Tour title when he won the 2026 Soudal Open in Belgium — his seventh tour victory — capping one of professional golf’s most remarkable comeback stories.
From his Pretoria roots to surviving multiple surgeries and grinding back to winner’s podiums across two continents, Sterne has built a career that proves longevity, resilience, and a love for the game can outlast almost any setback.
This article covers Richard Sterne’s net worth, career earnings, endorsements, and everything you need to know about the South African veteran’s financial and professional journey.
Richard Sterne’s Biography
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Richard Sterne |
| Date of Birth | 27 August 1981 |
| Age | 44 |
| Nationality | South African |
| Height / Weight | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) / 68 kg (150 lb) |
| Plays | Right-handed |
| Official World Golf Ranking | 141st |
| Turned Professional | 2001 |
| Years Active | 2001–present |
| Tour(s) | DP World Tour, Sunshine Tour (former: PGA Tour) |
| Net Worth | $8 million |
| Career Prize Money (DP World Tour) | €11,834,869 |
| DP World Tour Wins | 7 |
| Major Titles | 0 |
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Children | 2 daughters |
Early Life and Golf Journey
Richard Sterne was born on 27 August 1981 in Pretoria, South Africa, and grew up in a family with strong sporting roots.
His father has links to motor racing, while his mother was an ice-skater. His sister, Farrah, is a distinguished squash player in South Africa.
Sterne took up golf at the age of four when he went out with his grandmother to play. His talent surfaced quickly, and he rose rapidly through South Africa’s junior structures to become one of the most decorated amateurs the country had produced in a generation.
He became only the second player, after Trevor Immelman, to win both the junior and senior South African stroke play and match play titles.
Sterne was also runner-up in the Boys’ 15–17 Division at the 1999 World Junior Golf Championships, and that year he also won the South African Amateur title.
He played on the European Challenge Tour in 2002 and graduated to membership of the main European Tour in 2003.
Sterne’s swift ascent from amateur champion to European Tour professional confirmed he was no ordinary talent — and the wins that followed would prove that point emphatically.
Professional Golf Career
Sterne won his first European Tour title at the 2004 Open de Madrid. That victory announced him as a serious presence on European soil, and he wasted little time building on it.
He secured second place at the Johnnie Walker Classic, third at the prestigious BMW PGA Championship, and fourth at the Barclays Scottish Open, culminating in a strong 14th position in the European Order of Merit for the season.
That year he also won at the Celtic Manor Wales Open, which moved him into the top 40 of the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time.
Entering 2008, Sterne achieved his career-high ranking of 29th in the Official World Golf Ranking in January.
That year proved transformative, as he captured three significant victories in quick succession — all co-sanctioned events between the European Tour and Sunshine Tour — starting with a playoff win at the Joburg Open in January, defeating Garth Mulroy and Magnus Carlsson at the second extra hole after a final-round 66.
Sterne accomplished an unprecedented feat in South African golf by winning the 2008 Joburg Open, Alfred Dunhill and South African Open Championships in one calendar year.
He also captured the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit that same season — the peak of his powers as a young player.
Back injuries derailed much of 2010 and 2011. His four-year winless streak ended in February 2013, with a wire-to-wire victory in the co-sanctioned Joburg Open.
He won it by seven strokes, ending a four-year winless drought from which he had been plagued with back injuries, and it helped him reach a career-best world ranking of 29.
Wife
Sterne has been married to Lisa-Marie Sterne since 2009, and they have two daughters, Mari and Annah Joy.
Reflecting on his 2026 Soudal Open victory, Sterne said one of his main goals was to win while his children could actually witness it — noting his oldest daughter was nearly 13, which is roughly how long it had been since his previous DP World Tour win.
Away from the golf course, Sterne has a love of fishing. His family is based between Pretoria, South Africa and Manchester, England.
Richard Sterne’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Richard Sterne has an estimated net worth of $8 million.
He built this fortune through two decades of professional prize money across the DP World Tour, Sunshine Tour, and a stint on the PGA Tour, supplemented by equipment and apparel sponsorships.
Career Prize Money
Sterne’s verified DP World Tour career prize money stands at €11,834,869 across 422 tournament appearances on the tour.
This figure does not include his considerable Sunshine Tour earnings or income from his 2015–2016 PGA Tour season.
The 2026 Soudal Open carried a total purse of $2.75 million. Sterne banked approximately $467,500 for the victory — his biggest single payday in well over a decade and a significant boost to his overall career earnings.
His biggest paycheck prior to 2026 came from his win at the Celtic Manor Wales Open, which earned him a prize of €368,812.50.
The 2026 Soudal Open win also earned Sterne 677 Race to Dubai points, lifting him 124 places in the Race to Dubai standings to 30th.
It also moved him into second in the European Swing standings, where the phase winner receives a $200,000 bonus payout.
Adding estimated Sunshine Tour earnings across 13+ seasons (typically ranging from $50,000 to $200,000+ per season for a consistent winner) and a PGA Tour season, total career prize money realistically exceeds $15 million gross across all tours before taxes and expenses.
Career Earnings By Year
| Season | Tournaments Played | DP World Tour Wins | Approx. Prize Money (€) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 22 | 1 (Open de Madrid) | ~€250,000 |
| 2007 | 27 | 1 (Celtic Manor Wales Open) | ~€800,000 |
| 2008 | 20 | 3 (Joburg Open, Alfred Dunhill, SA Open) | ~€1,100,000 |
| 2013 | 18 | 1 (Joburg Open) | ~€600,000 |
| 2024 | 12 | 0 | ~€120,000 |
| 2026 | 16+ | 1 (Soudal Open) | ~€650,000+ |
Endorsements
As of his peak years around 2013, Sterne’s verified sponsors included TaylorMade, Dunhill, GAC, and PricewaterhouseCoopers. His equipment at that time was a full TaylorMade setup, reflecting a formal equipment deal with the brand.
No confirmed updated sponsorship contracts for 2025–2026 have been publicly announced.
Given the size and profile of the DP World Tour, a typical mid-tier tour winner with Sterne’s longevity and seven-win CV can command modest equipment and apparel deals in the range of $100,000 to $300,000 annually.
His Dunhill connection reflects a long-standing affinity with South Africa’s premium lifestyle brand landscape — an alignment that fits naturally with his profile as a respected figure in that region’s sporting scene.
His 2026 Soudal Open win, combined with renewed Race to Dubai momentum, will likely attract renewed or upgraded sponsorship interest heading into the back end of the 2026 season.
Career Statistics
| Year | Events Played | Wins | Majors | Cuts Made | Year-End OWGR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 15 | ~130 |
| 2007 | 27 | 1 | 0 | 20 | ~40 |
| 2008 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 16 | 29 (career high) |
| 2013 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
| 2015 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 14 | ~120 |
| 2016 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 10 | ~200 |
| 2024 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 8 | ~250 |
| 2026 | 16+ | 1 | 0 | 12+ | 141 |
FAQs
What is Richard Sterne’s total career prize money?
Sterne’s verified DP World Tour career earnings stand at over €11.8 million across 422 events. Including Sunshine Tour and PGA Tour seasons, his total career prize money across all tours realistically exceeds $15 million.
What was Richard Sterne’s biggest single win payout?
His 2026 Soudal Open win earned him approximately $467,500 from a $2.75 million total purse — the largest single-tournament check of his career and his first DP World Tour title in 13 years.
How many DP World Tour wins does Richard Sterne have?
Sterne holds seven DP World Tour victories, including four won on home soil in South Africa. His wins span from the 2004 Open de Madrid through to the 2026 Soudal Open in Belgium.
What is Richard Sterne’s current world ranking?
Sterne sits at 141st in the Official World Golf Ranking. His career high remains 29th, reached in January 2008 following a dominant run of wins.
Has Richard Sterne ever won a Major championship?
His best Major results include a tied 25th at the Masters Tournament in 2008 and 2013, a tied 21st at The Open Championship in 2013, and a tied 28th at the PGA Championship in 2017.
