Jack Nicklaus wins £37m lawsuit against former company over LIV Golf claims
The golf legend has been awarded the payout in his defamation lawsuit against his former company, Nicklaus Companies.
A Florida jury has handed Jack Nicklaus £37 million in his defamation case against his former firm, Nicklaus Companies.
The 85-year-old golf legend launched legal action following remarks made by current owner Howard Milstein – a billionaire financier – and other company executives in an earlier court battle.
In the defamation claim, the 18-time major winner alleged the defendants implied he had entertained a £600 million proposal to front the Saudi Arabian-funded LIV Golf League and spread those bogus assertions to news outlets.
However, Nicklaus' legal team produced proof that a Nicklaus Companies executive had organised his 2021 encounter with Golf Saudi representatives to explore designing a golf course in Saudi Arabia.
During that discussion, Nicklaus learnt that Golf Saudi sought him for a senior position with LIV Golf.
"According to Nicklaus, he had no interest in the offer and declined because he felt the PGA Tour was an important part of his legacy, and if the PGA was not in favour of a new league, he did not want to be involved," the court documents said.
Legal papers also disclosed that Nicklaus accused the defendants of insinuating he lacked the mental capacity to handle his commercial interests and was battling dementia. The jury concluded that the firm had tarnished Nicklaus' standing and exposed him to "ridicule, hatred, mistrust, distrust or contempt."
Nevertheless, the jury absolved Milstein and Nicklaus Companies executive Andrew O'Brien of individual responsibility.
This development follows just six months after a Manhattan trial judge threw out Nicklaus Companies' legal bid to prevent Nicklaus from utilising his own name to market his golf course design projects and other commercial activities.
The business row, meanwhile, kicked off in 2007, when the firm handed Nicklaus £145 million for sole rights to his golf course design services and marketing, promotional and branding privileges.
The golfing icon quit his firm a decade later, activating a five-year non-compete agreement in the contract that barred him from creating golf courses independently, before leaving the company's board in May 2022.
Soon afterwards, Nicklaus Companies took legal action against Nicklaus and his firm GBI Investors, claiming tortious interference, contract violation and breach of fiduciary responsibility.
The legal filing alleged that Nicklaus had redirected business opportunities from Nicklaus Companies for his own financial gain.
A Florida arbitrator subsequently determined in July 2024 that Nicklaus was no longer bound by the non-compete agreement and was free to design golf courses on his own.