This famous golfer, who, according to Golf 365, has a net worth of around $875million – $900million (approximately £707million – £727 million), could have been a billionaire but lost millions to gambling.

In Golf 365’s list of the seven richest golfers in the world, American golfer Phil Mickelson bagged second place just after Tiger Woods, who Forbes certified as the first billionaire golfer back in 2022.

Phil Mickelson has been open about his previous gambling addiction which according to the golfer’s biographer, Alan Shipnuck, lost him $40 million (around £32 million) between 2010 and 2014, reports the New York Post 

The revelation of money lost to the golfer close to being a billionaire came through a post on X, following an accusation that he was a “shameless pawn” for the Saudi regime after joining LIV Golf on a deal that was reported to be worth around $200million (£161million).

Amid the posts, an account made a post directed to Phil Mickelson, which read: “Speaking of professional help, how is your gambling addiction?” 

The golfer then responded: “Haven’t gambled in years. Almost a billionaire. Thanks for asking.”

Phil Mickelson currently plays in the LIV Golf League and is one of the 17 players in the history of golf to win at least three of the four major championships.

He has spent more than 25 consecutive years in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking, over 700 weeks in the top 10 and has reached a world ranking of No.2 multiple times. In 2012, he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Over the years, he has openly spoken about his previous gambling addictions.

He told Sports Illustrated: “My gambling got to a point of being reckless and embarrassing. I had to address it. And I’ve been addressing it for many years. And hundreds of hours of therapy. I feel good where I’m at there. My family and I are and have been financially secure for some time. 

“Gambling has been part of my life ever since I can remember. But about a decade ago is when I would say it became reckless. It’s embarrassing. I don’t like that people know.

“The fact is I’ve been dealing with it for some time. [Wife] Amy has been very supportive of it and with me and the process. We’re at a place after many years where I feel comfortable with where that is. It isn’t a threat to me or my financial security. It was just a number of poor decisions.