Speculation surrounding Bryson DeChambeau’s future with LIV Golf has been running rampant recently, with his $280 million contract with the breakaway tour expiring in a matter of months

Bryson DeChambeau, the two-time U.S. Open champion, has been a polarizing figure in golf since his blockbuster move to LIV Golf in June 2022.

After signing a four-and-a-half-year deal worth over $125 million, DeChambeau left the PGA Tour for the Saudi-backed league, becoming captain of Crushers GC and a prominent advocate for its team format. His 2024 U.S. Open victory at Pinehurst, edging out Rory McIlroy, solidified his status as a major contender, while his 2M-subscriber YouTube channel has amplified LIV’s reach.

Despite an up-and-down 2025 LIV season, with a win in Korea and strong major performances, DeChambeau’s future with the league is in focus as his contract nears its 2026 expiration, sparking speculation about his financial demands and loyalty. Here, Mirror US breaks down all the latest developments with DeChambeau and his future with LIV, including reports of an astronomical contract demand and a telling admission about his worth. It comes as Tiger Woods’ son Charlie claimed ‘I’m broke’ after a trust fund revelation.

The ‘broke’ comment

In 2022, shortly after inking his lucrative LIV Golf deal, DeChambeau raised eyebrows by jokingly claiming he was “broke” on the Country Club Adjacent podcast. Despite the reported $125M signing bonus, DeChambeau explained he had funneled much of his wealth into various ventures, including his foundation, real estate, and a planned multi-sport complex in Dallas.

He also mentioned supporting content creation through his Regecy platform and reinvesting in his local communities in Dallas and California. These investments, he said, aligned with his view of golf as a business, not just a sport.

DeChambeau’s lighthearted remark about being “broke” underscored his ambitious financial strategy. While his comment was tongue-in-cheek – hardly reflective of true financial distress – it highlighted his willingness to take risks with his earnings.

The “broke” narrative has resurfaced in recent weeks with DeChambeau’s contract nearing its end. Critics are questioning whether his heavy spending necessitated a new, even larger deal.

However, his on-course success, including roughly $40M in LIV prize money and over $30M from the PGA Tour, suggests he’s far from financially strained. DeChambeau’s ability to generate buzz, both on and off the course, continues to make him a valuable asset to LIV, even as his financial decisions spark debate.

The ‘$280M demand’

Earlier this year, rumors swirled that DeChambeau had demanded a staggering $280M extension from LIV Golf to remain with the league beyond 2026. The claim suggested that the Public Investment Fund (PIF) rejected the figure, prompting speculation that DeChambeau might return to the PGA Tour in 2027.

The rumored demand – more than double his original $125M deal – raised questions about his valuation of himself, especially given LIV’s reported plans to scale back spending by up to 12 per cent globally.

The $280M figure seemed astronomical, even for a player of DeChambeau’s caliber. That said, his achievements since joining LIV, including two event wins in 2023 and a second U.S. Open title in 2024, bolstered his case for a significant raise.

His YouTube channel, with over 2M subscribers, has also brought unprecedented visibility to LIV, appealing to younger audiences and enhancing the league’s cultural relevance. Additionally, with LIV’s top earners like Jon Rahm (who signed a $300M deal with the league) and Phil Mickelson ($200M) setting a high bar, some could argue that DeChambeau’s alleged demand was justifiable.

The rumor gained traction amid ongoing PGA Tour-LIV merger talks, with some suggesting DeChambeau’s demand was a strategic move to leverage interest from both sides. There is still plenty of bad blood between players on the PGA Tour and those who defected, but McIlroy, speaking in Netflix’s Full Swing series, offered something of an olive branch by praising DeChambeau as “exactly what golf needs,” hinting at a potential PGA Tour return.