The Final Verdict First: The SB Market Index – Snooker’s Top Earners Ranked

Our SB Market Index looks at two distinct metrics, the SB Score (20%) and the Industry Insights (80%). 

Takeaways from the SB Market Index 

O’Sullivan is the undisputed financial leader with his 14.7-million-pound kitty. This haul of financial supplication is matched only by his undeniable legacy in the sport. John Higgins, Stephen Hendry, Mark Williams and Steve Davis are all leaders in the Industry Insights market and while Mark Allen might be a formidable player, he has not yet garnered the recognition of an elite-level player. 

Deconstructing the Ranking: How the Scores Were Achieved 

The SB Score – Measuring Career Prize Money 

To ascertain the SB Score, we first normalize the prize money for each player against that of O’Sullivan. This then gives us a proportional view of financial success based purely on winnings. 

The SB Score

There is of course an argument to be made for Steve Davis here. he might rank lowest for raw earnings, but he also achieved many of these wins in an era with considerably less prize pools. 

Final Thoughts: What Makes a Snooker Legend?

Our SB Market balances objective financial success with subjective greatness. From that, O’Sullivan is in a league of his own while Higgins, Hendry, Williams and Davis remain iconic and relevant to the sport’s history. 
Judd Trump and Neil Robertson have kept the new generation relevant – but this is all based on our particular model. 

Industry Insights

Final Thoughts: What Makes a Snooker Legend?

Our SB Market balances objective financial success with subjective greatness. From that, O’Sullivan is in a league of his own while Higgins, Hendry, Williams and Davis remain iconic and relevant to the sport’s history. 
Judd Trump and Neil Robertson have kept the new generation relevant – but this is all based on our particular model. 

Disclaimer 

This analysis uses verified career prize money and a specific weighted SB Score model, combined with surveyed 'Industry Insights'. The SB Score is directly proportional to prize money. Different methodologies, weightings, or sources for
Industry Insights could yield different conclusions. This is for illustrative and discussion purposes.