Luke Littler capped off a remarkable twelve months on Friday by dominating Michael van Gerwen to claim the PDC World Darts Championship. The teenager, who is still 17 years old for another couple of weeks, raced out to a 4-0 lead and held his nerve to win 7-3 and claim the biggest prize in darts, along with a cheque for £500,000.
Despite this incredible achievement, the ground-breaking win came with significant financial repercussions for Littler under UK tax laws. 'The Nuke' will have to relinquish almost half of the prize money to HMRC, losing just over £230,000. This hefty tax deduction means Littler has paid over £650,000 on his career winnings to date, highlighting the financial challenges many athletes face.
Before clinching the half-a-million-pound prize for the World Championship, Littler had already won over £1 million during his meteoric rise to the top of the sport. He captured eleven ranking titles throughout 2024, including the Grand Slam and World Series, netting him £811,000. When calculating his total tax payments over the last two years, Littler handed over almost £370,000 to the taxman, bringing his total tax bill for his winnings to approximately £675,985 by the time he reaches his 18th birthday.
This extraordinary amount of money for someone so young does not even represent his full financial picture, as Littler has other revenue streams from endorsements and sponsorships. These include reportedly multi-million-pound deals with companies like Target Darts and Boohoo Man. With his significant earnings, Littler is already positioned to make sound financial decisions. Dan Squires, Chief Commercial Officer at Saxo, remarked, “If he invested half of his career earnings today, or £500,000, and put it away in an index fund returning 7% annually, he would earn £36,145.04 in interest the first year alone.” Squires added, “If he leaves the £500k there for his retirement at age 65, he would have £13,293,751.87 without ever throwing another dart again.”
Despite the dazzling figures attached to his triumphant title run, Littler remains grounded. Having spoken shortly after his victory, the young champion expressed delight about his win and future aspirations. His recent championship victory has left him with significant winnings, but he has modestly indicated his intent to save and wisely invest rather than splurge extravagantly.
His mind is set on purchasing his first car after winning the World Darts Championship, something he alluded to after the match. “I've always loved a Mercedes A-Class - just a small car,” said Littler enthusiastically. He humorously noted, “Last year, I was looking at driving, and I loved the Ford Focus, but now I’ve gone up just a little!” The 17-year-old admitted he hasn’t yet had driving lessons because of his busy schedule but is eager to tackle driving before he turns 18 when he feels it might be too late to start.
Even with his remarkable achievements, Littler's spending habits reflect humility. “I have knuckled down. I don’t go out wandering around the streets,” he said, highlighting his focused approach to his career. Maintaining his perspective on wealth and fame, Littler noted, “One thing I do enjoy when I do lift the trophy is when all the confetti falls down.”
Currently, Littler remains under the financial management of his team until he turns 18. His manager, Martin Foulds, confirmed, “He just gets a budget every month sent across to his personal account, and he can buy what he wants with it: FIFA points or trainers. If he ever needs anything, or if he wants something extravagant, he can just ask.” This plan is intended to keep the young athlete focused on his game rather than his finances.
Littler has been rapidly moving up through the ranks of professional darts; winning the World Championship not only caps off his successful 2024 season but also sets the stage for his continued rise. Now ranked second in the PDC's Order of Merit, Littler's next step includes defending his title on the Premier League stage, where he hopes to build on his already illustrious career.
With aspirations for both his career and his growing portfolio of wealth, Littler stands at the threshold of potential — and it seems clear, his financial acumen is just as impressive as his dart-throwing prowess as he charts his future.