Hello, Golf fans! If you love following the Golf and admire world-class, Greg Norman is a name you’ll recognize instantly. Greg Norman, the Great White Shark, dominated golf in the 80s and 90s with his massive drives and fearless style. Even in 2026, at age 71, he’s a business powerhouse after stepping away from LIV Golf last year. Here’s the full breakdown on his life, career, and money game.
Greg Norman’s Biography
| Detail | Info |
| Full Name | Gregory John Norman |
| Nickname | The Great White Shark, The Shark |
| Born | February 10, 1955, Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia |
| Age (2026) | 71 |
| College | None (high school: Townsville Grammar, Aspley State High) |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Turned Pro | 1976 |
| Net Worth (2026 est) | $400 million |
| Salary (peak career) | Over $1M multiple PGA seasons; career PGA earnings ~$14M |
| Spouse | Kirsten Kutner |
| Relationship Status | Married |
| @shark_gregnorman |
Early Career
Greg started golf late at 15, thanks to his mom Toini who had a single-digit handicap. He went from 27 handicap to scratch in 18 months, caddying at Virginia Golf Club. By 19 in 1974, he nearly led the Queensland Open as an amateur. Turned pro in 1976 at 21, winning his first event, the West Lakes Classic, by five shots after a wild final round. That kicked off 88 pro wins worldwide.
Professional Career
Norman exploded onto the scene in the late 70s with European Tour wins like the 1979 French Open by 10 shots and his first Open in 1986 at Turnberry, where a record-tying 63 put him five ahead. He led all four majors after 54 holes that year—the “Norman Slam”—but only grabbed the Claret Jug, topping the PGA money list for the first time. In 1990, he won Doral and Memorial, repeating as money leader. After a dip, coach Butch Harmon fixed his swing, leading to his second Open in 1993 at Royal St. George’s with a killer 64 finale over Faldo.
He owned The Players in 1994 with a 24-under 264, still a record, and hit No. 1 for 331 weeks total. Wins kept coming into 1997, like St. Jude and NEC World Series. Injuries slowed him post-2000, but at 53 in 2008, he led The Open after 54 holes. Off the course, he built Greg Norman Company—apparel, wines, courses—hitting hundreds of millions in revenue. From 2021-2025, he ran LIV Golf as CEO, shaking up the sport till Scott O’Neil took over and his contract ended in 2025. Now in 2026, he’s free to design courses and enjoy grandkid time, with over 100 layouts worldwide.
Wife
Norman’s on wife No. 3: Kirsten Kutner since 2010, married on Necker Island. First marriage to Laura Andrassy (1981-2006) gave him son Greg Jr. and daughter Morgan-Leigh; she got a $105M settlement. Brief 2008-2009 run with tennis star Chris Evert ended quick. Greg Jr. works with him on ventures like Shark Wake Park, and they share grandkids—family golf outings are his happy place these days.
Greg Norman’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Greg Norman’s net worth sits at about $400 million, fueled by smart businesses over golf prizes. Career PGA earnings topped $14 million, first to hit $10M, but his Greg Norman Company—apparel to the tune of $100M peak sales, wines, real estate—multiplies that big time. Post-LIV exit in 2025, he’s cashing in on course designs and partnerships without the CEO grind.
Prize Money
| Period/Category | Prize Money Details |
| PGA Tour Career Earnings (1981–2005) | $14,484,458 |
| Single Season High (1995) | $1,654,959 (Tour-leading money winner) |
| 1990 Earnings | $1,165,477 (including Doral-Ryder Open victory) |
| 1993 Earnings | $1,359,653 (Open Championship winner) |
| 1986 Earnings | $653,296 (Open Championship winner) |
| 1994 Earnings | $1,330,307 |
| 1997 Earnings | $1,345,856 |
| Career Total from All Tours | Estimated $17.7 million+ (including European Tour, Australasian Tour, Japan Tour) |
| Major Championship Prizes | Approximately $3.6 million from major championship wins |
| Five Times Over $1 Million | 1986, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995 (Tour’s leading money winner three times) |
| Arnold Palmer Award | Three-time winner (1986, 1990, 1995) |
| Historical Achievement | First golfer to surpass $10 million, $12 million in career earnings |
Endorsements
- Greg Norman Collection (apparel) – Long‑running clothing line originally built with Reebok in the early 1990s. This was a key moment in turning Norman into a “living brand”; over time the shark logo became more prominent than Reebok’s branding.
- Reebok – Early strategic partner behind Greg Norman Collection and an important step in Norman’s corporate identity and licensing strategy.
- Cobra Golf – Equipment and brand partnership, with Norman serving as an ambassador and investor in the golf‑equipment space.
- Qantas – National‑carrier partnership that leveraged Norman’s profile as one of Australia’s most recognisable global sports figures.
- Omega – Swiss watch brand where Norman has been listed among golf ambassadors, alongside other top players.
- Greg Norman Collection (current brand) – Today run as a performance‑golf and lifestyle apparel company under the Greg Norman Collection name, marketed globally with the shark logo front and centre.
- Greg Norman Company / licensing deals – A wide web of licensing and endorsement structures around wine, beef, eyewear, real estate and more, often run through Great White Shark Enterprises and later Greg Norman Company.
Career Records
| Record Category | Details |
| Total Professional Victories | 88 (20 PGA Tour, 71 international) |
| PGA Tour Victories | 20 wins |
| Major Championship Wins | 2 (Open Championship 1986, 1993) |
| World Number One Ranking | 331 consecutive weeks (1980s–1990s) |
| Second-Place Finishes | 31 on PGA Tour; 8 in majors |
| Top-10 Finishes | Approximately 100+ across career |
| Vardon Trophy (Lowest Scoring Avg) | 3 times (1989, 1990, 1994) |
| Byron Nelson Award | 5 times (1988, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995) |
| Arnold Palmer Award | 3 times (1986, 1990, 1995) |
| European Tour Order of Merit Winner | 1982 |
| Australasian Order of Merit | 5 times (1978, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988) |
| Career Money Leaders | 185th all-time ($14.48 million PGA Tour) |
FAQs
1. What is Greg Norman’s nickname and why did he earn it?
Greg Norman’s nickname is “The Great White Shark” (often shortened to “The Shark”). He earned this nickname due to his blond hair, large physical build, aggressive playing style, and his birthplace in Australia, home to the Great White Shark. The nickname was galvanized into public consciousness during the 1986 Masters Tournament.
2. How many professional tournaments has Greg Norman won?
Greg Norman has won 91 professional golf tournaments worldwide. This includes 20 PGA Tour victories and 71 international tournament wins. He was the first PGA Tour player to surpass $10 million in career earnings.
3. How many major championships has Greg Norman won?
Greg Norman has won two major championships, both The Open Championship: in 1986 at Turnberry and in 1993 at Royal St George’s. At the 1993 Open Championship, he shot a final round of 64, which remains the lowest score by a Champion Golfer in Open history, finishing with a total of 267, which is still a record.
4. When did Greg Norman turn professional and win his first tournament?
Greg Norman turned professional in 1976 at age 21. He won his first professional tournament, the West Lakes Classic, later that same year in Adelaide, Australia, winning by five strokes.
5. What is the “Saturday Slam” and when did Greg Norman achieve it?
The “Saturday Slam” refers to leading after 54 holes (three rounds) in all four major championships in a single year. Greg Norman achieved this in 1986, but won only one major—The Open Championship at Turnberry—despite leading in all four majors going into their final rounds.
6. How long was Greg Norman ranked as the world’s number one golfer?
Greg Norman spent 331 weeks as the world’s number one ranked golfer during the 1980s and 1990s. This is the second-longest reign in history, behind only Tiger Woods‘ 683 weeks.
7. What is Greg Norman’s most famous Masters Tournament moment?
Greg Norman’s most famous Masters moment is his collapse in the 1996 final round. Despite leading by six strokes going into Sunday, he shot a 78 while Nick Faldo shot a 67, resulting in a five-stroke victory for Faldo. Norman also finished as runner-up at the Masters three times, in 1986, 1987, and 1996.
8. When was Greg Norman inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame?
Greg Norman was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2001. He was elected through the PGA Tour ballot and was inducted with the highest percentage of votes of any inductee in history at that time.
9. What business ventures does Greg Norman have beyond professional golf?
Greg Norman established Greg Norman Golf Course Design in 1987, which has designed over 140 golf courses across 35 countries and six continents. He is also the chairman and CEO of the Greg Norman Company, which operates businesses in apparel, interior design, real estate, wine production, and private equity. From 2021 to 2025, he served as CEO of LIV Golf Investments, overseeing the LIV Golf Invitational Series funded by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund.
10. In what year was Greg Norman born and where is he from?
Greg Norman was born on February 10, 1955, in Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia. His mother, Toini, introduced him to golf at age 15 by teaching him the game and allowing him to caddy for her. Within 18 months of starting golf, Norman went from a 27 handicap to scratch handicap.