Golf legend Jack Nicklaus was awarded $50 million Monday in his defamation lawsuit against his former company, Nicklaus Companies, after he accused the company and two executives of spreading false rumors about him considering a $750 million deal to join LIV Golf.
A jury in Palm Beach County, Florida, returned its verdict after finding that Nicklaus’ reputation had been damaged and that the 85-year-old had been exposed to “ridicule, hatred, distrust, distrust or contempt” because of the allegations, which included claims that the 18-time major champion suffered from dementia and was mentally unfit fit to manage his affairs, according to the Palm Beach Post.
Billionaire banker Howard Milstein, executive chairman of Nicklaus Companies, and executive Andrew O’Brien were named individually in the lawsuit, but the jury ruled in their favor, meaning they will not have to pay additional damages.
Nicklaus hugged family and friends after the verdict was handed down, the Palm Beach Post reported, while directing questions to his attorney.
“It’s always difficult in a defamation case to prove reputational damage, because, especially for a guy like Jack, it’s always a very good reputation,” Nicklaus’ attorney Eugene Stearns told ESPN. “But I think what was important was the dispute that arose three and a half years ago when the company told the world that Jack was selling out the PGA Tour to benefit Saudi golf, when that wasn’t true. So we’re happy that Jack was vindicated.”
The allegations were first made in a lawsuit the company filed against Nicklaus in New York, which spread across the media.
“These are the people who made up a story,” Stearns told jurors during closing arguments, according to the Palm Beach Post. “This story is a lie. … What they wanted to create in the public mind is that Jack Nicklaus is an old man who sold himself to the Saudis.”
Lawyers for the defendants said the executives never intended to defame Nicklaus.
Nicklaus’ company, Golden Bear International, was folded into the new Nicklaus Companies in a $145 million transaction in 2007.
When Nicklaus retired from his executive position in 2017, it triggered a five-year non-compete clause that stipulated he could not endorse products outside of his former company or design golf courses, according to the Palm Beach Post.
Nicklaus filed for arbitration in 2022 to confirm that he could use his name, image and likeness again, and he was subsequently sued by Nicklaus Companies for alleged breach of agreements. The company’s suit included LIV Golf’s accusations.
