The Finances Behind Darts

As announced by Michael van Gerwen, darts players are rarely comparable to their footballing counterparts when it comes to the flashy lifestyle. Michael, who was friends with the likes of Robin van Persie and Ron Vlaar, made it clear that he is not like the footballers he hangs around with, insisting he does not take private jets.

“I am a darts player. I am Michael. I walk around at home in my tracksuit bottoms. I am a normal guy. No private jet. I am not going to change.” This might have something to do with the money involved in darts, of course, in which we could only assume that the rockstar lifestyle would pick up if the money did. Michael’s following statement addressed this, “We are not in the position to have private jets. Not yet. We will not be changed by the money.” Will they not be changed by the money or is there simply no money?

Whilst the top players are not short for money in comparison to their often humble beginnings, the PDC takes no responsibility in regards to travel and accommodation, unlike football. Footballers routinely stay in 5-star hotels and take private jets. To organize a private jet, for example from JetApp, is seen as off the table for a darts player.

Based on just the PDC prize money from the top 159-ranked players, $40,000 and upwards can be expected from prize money alone. So, to make a comfortable living from just prize money, one would need to reach top 100 in the world.

In 2021, £2,500,000 was up for grabs between the top 64 spots - with a minimum of £7,500 being guaranteed to every participant. This money is coming from TV deals and live tickets, with the likes of DAZN’s large PDC broadcasting rights deal. Matchroom, PDC’s promotor, has a $1 billion deal with DAZN since 2018 for the boxing.

The winner received £500,000, whilst the runner-up and semi-finalists received £200,000 and £100,000 respectively.

Given the private transport and accommodation costs involved, it’s hardly worth competing if it wasn’t for the sponsorships - a similar problem that UFC fighters are currently facing, with Paddy the Baddy’s last fight being only a $12,000 appearance fee in the event that he lost (fortunately, he won some bonuses).

Paying for a place on the real estate that is a darts player’s shirt can be lucrative, particularly if they’re in tournaments with a large TV audience. James Wade is a good example of someone being upfront about sponsorships, with a dedicated page on his website. This is where figures get muddy, because the amount each player gets depends on how they brand themselves as well as their negotiation skills (or their managers).

Sometimes the darts player’s manager will actually cover the costs and organization of traveling and organizing competitions, but they’re known to take up to 50% of the winnings. More and more we see this kind of business relationship occur in the high-paying sport, and given that darts is one of the most-watched sports in the UK, it’s predictable that similarities will continue to occur