Top 10 Highest Paid Bowlers

Bowling is a sport in which players roll a ball down a narrow lane aiming to knock down more pins than their opponent. While to many, bowling is considered a recreational sport, to some, it’s their livelihood. Read on to learn more about the highest earners in the sport of bowling.

Who Are the Highest-Earning Bowlers in the World?

1. Walter Ray Williams Jr.
2. Pete Weber
3. Norm Duke
4. Parker Bohn III
5. Brian Voss
6. Amleto Monacelli
7. Chris Barnes
8. Tom Baker
9. Mike Aulby
10. Mika Koivuniemi

1.  Walter Ray Williams Jr.

Walter Ray Williams Jr. is the richest bowler in the world, earning $4,787,224 during his professional career. He joined the Professional Bowlers Association in 1980 and won his first PBA title in 1986. Williams won a record seven Player of the Year awards in his career. He was the first professional bowler to earn $4 million in prize money. In 2006, Williams was crowned as the player with the most career titles with 47 after beating Earl Anthony. After his retirement, Williams served as PBA president and was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame.

2. Pete Weber

Son of PBA Hall of Famer Dick Weber, Pete Weber is the second richest bowler earning $4,023,488. Weber was introduced to the sport at an early age. He joined the PBA at 17 years of age and was named Rookie of the Year in his first season. Two seasons later, Weber claimed his first PBA title. In his first seven seasons, Weber won 10 titles, making him the youngest to achieve that record. Weber is the only bowler to ever complete two triple crowns. He retired in 2021, capping off a stellar career with 37 PBA titles.

3. Norm Duke

PBA and USBC Hall of Famer Norm Duke is the third richest bowler in history with an earning of $3,334,193. Joining the PBA at only age 18, Duke became the youngest-ever PBA title winner in his first season in 1983. He also became the youngest bowler to date to be inducted into the United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame at 37 years of age. Duke went on to win 40 PBA titles during his professional career, placing him in third place of most PBA titles won only behind Walter Ray Williams Jr and Earl Anthony. 

4. Parker Bohn III

Parker Bohn III is the second-highest winning left-handed bowler in PBA history, only behind the great Earl Anthony. Bohn has earned $3,171,106 during his professional career as of 2023 and has yet to retire. He currently ranks fifth in all-time PBA titles with 35. In light of his achievements, Bohn was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in 2000 and the USBC Hall of Fame in 2008. He has won the PBA Player of the Year award twice and has ranked #10 in the PBA’s list of 50 Greatest Players of the Last 50 years.

5. Brian Voss

Brian Voss served in the U.S army as a teenager before making the switch to bowling in 1982. Voss went on to earn $2,563,254 in his career before retiring in 2019. He joined the PBA in 1982, which ultimately ended up being a non-successful year for him. However, in 1983, he went on to win his first of 25 PBA titles. In 1988, Voss won Male Bowler of The Year along with the PBA National Championship. He was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in 1994 and the USBC Hall of Fame in 2007.

6. Amleto Monacelli

Amleto Monacelli is the first international bowler to make it onto this list. The Venezuelan has earned $2,463,759 in his professional career as of 2023 and has yet to retire. Monacelli joined the PBA back in 1982 and is one of only 16 professionals to accumulate 20 PBA titles. He was the first ever international to be inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in 1997 and the first to win back-to-back PBA Player of the Year awards in 1989 and 1990. In 1999, Monacelli was ranked as the fourth-best Venezuelan athlete of the century.

7. Chris Barnes

Chris Barnes, another active member of the PBA on this list, has earned $2,425,996 during his stellar career as of 2023. Barnes joined the PBA in 1989 and has won 19 PBA titles, which places him 16th among all-time winners. In 1998, Barnes won the PBA Rookie of the Year award, and in 2007 he won PBA Player of the Year, making him one of only seven players to achieve both awards. In 2017, he was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame. Barnes also competed internationally with team USA in nine different tournaments in which they won four.

8. Tom Baker

Tom Baker holds the record for the most number of events bowled in the PBA tour, with a total of 831. During that time, Tom Baker earned $2,185,685. Joining the PBA in 1976, Baker won his first title in 1980. He would take his total number of titles to 10 before retiring in 2020. In 2004, he won his biggest title in the form of the 2004 PBA World Championship. Baker would go on to be inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in 1999 and the USBC Hall of Fame in 2012. 

9. Mike Aulby

Mike Aulby was a pioneer of the PBA during the 1980s and 1990s. During his career, Mike Aulby made $2,097,520. Joining the PBA out of high school in 1978, he won his first PBA title and Rookie of the Year honors in 1979. Aulby also became the youngest player at 19 to win a PBA major. He is one of two players to complete a Super Slam, in which a player wins all five major PBA tournaments. Aulby was inducted into the PBA and USCB Hall of Fame, with 29 PBA titles placing him ninth all-time.

10. Mika Koivuniemi

Mika Koivuniemi is the second international on the list, originating from Finland. Koivuniemi joined the PBA at 32 years of age and has made $1,934,556. Nicknamed Major Mika, he has claimed 14 PBA titles and is a two-time PBA Player of the Year. As a result of his illustrious career, Koivuniemi was inducted into the PBA and USCB Hall of Fame in 2019. Internationally Koivuniemi won 25 medals with the Finnish international team and is an eight-time Finnish Bowler of the Year. In 2017, Major Mika was inducted into the Finnish Bowling Federation Hall of Fame.

Honorable Mentions

• Ryan Schaffer
• Earl Anthony
• Jason Belmonte
• Bill O’Neill
• Aleta Still
• Mark Roth
• Lisa Wagner
• Don Carter
• Liz Johnson
• Don Johnson

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