John Daly has always been a walking contradiction. A two-time major champion with raw talent and an iron grip, he’s equally known for his chaotic lifestyle—chain-smoking on the course, drinking Diet Coke by the case, and hitting 300-yard drives in jeans. But of all Daly’s vices, none has drained his bank account or is more famous than his gambling habit.
After years of whispers and rumors, in 2014, John Daly finally revealed exactly how much money he lost gambling between 1991 and 2007. The amount?
$55 million
Actually, it’s even more shocking.
Daly elaborated by explaining that he actually gambled away closer to $90 million during his lifetime, but he managed to win back $35 million. Leaving his overall loss total at $55 million.
When he was asked how he managed to blow such an insane amount of money, Daly gave a one-word answer: “Stupidity“.
John Daly Gambling Losses / Mark Runnacles/Getty Images
How Did He Lose So Much?
Daly cites three distinct factors that cost him $55 million. First of all, when he gambled at a casino, he regularly played multiple hands of blackjack simultaneously. He would bet between $10-$15 thousand per hand.
Depending on what website you want to believe, the house has an advantage of around .25%. So if Daly bet $10,000 per hand, he would lose $25 per hand. This assumes Daly plays perfectly. It also assumes the game goes exactly as planned in terms of odds; this rarely, if ever, happens.
Secondly, Daly also talked about his love of slot machines. There’s no exact number on the house advantage. It could be 2%. It could be 20%. Regardless of the number, it makes sense that Daly would lose more money on slots because the house has a much higher advantage than the table games. Again, this assumes the game goes exactly as planned, which rarely, if ever, happens.
And finally, Daly has been open about issues with alcohol. It’s difficult, and some would argue impossible, to play perfectly under the influence of alcohol. Any of the above factors could easily be magnified if Daly weren’t making good gaming decisions. And it’s not just alcohol that could have been impairing his judgement. Daly once told Howard Stern that at his peak, he would drink 26-28 cans of Diet Coke PER DAY and would smoke 40 cigarettes.
Combining the rules, stakes, house edge, and lifestyle, it’s actually not a stunning surprise that Daly managed to lose tens of millions of dollars.
That Time He Gambled Away a $750,000 Paycheck
Perhaps the most infamous story involves his 2005 runner-up finish at the WGC-American Express Championship. Daly earned $750,000 for the performance—and then immediately went to the Wynn in Las Vegas and lost $1.5 million on slots in one sitting.
Where Did the Money Come From?
Daly’s official PGA Tour earnings total just over $10 million—not even close to his estimated gambling losses. But Daly also earned tens of millions from endorsements, appearance fees, autograph shows, and merchandise sales. He’s a cult icon with his own line of loud clothing (Loudmouth Golf), golf bags, and even wine and spirits. He’s also appeared in commercials and played paid pro-am events around the world.
Casinos also notoriously extend lines of credit to high rollers, and Daly’s fame likely opened doors that amplified his ability to lose money he didn’t immediately have. Add to that his four divorces and the $40,000 a month in child and spousal support payments he’s been ordered to make, and the financial picture becomes clearer.
Despite all the chaos, Daly is still standing. In recent years, he’s played regularly on the PGA Tour Champions and won the 2021 PNC Championship alongside his son, John Daly II. He’s survived multiple health scares, including bladder cancer and emergency surgery in 2025, and still draws crowds wherever he goes.
