A Florida jury on Monday awarded Jack Nicklaus $50 million in his defamation lawsuit against Nicklaus Co., a company owned by billionaire banker Howard Milstein.
Nicklaus, 85, filed the lawsuit in response to statements made by Milstein and other Nicklaus officials in previous New York court proceedings.
In the defamation lawsuit, Nicklaus claims the defendants suggested he had considered becoming a spokesperson for the Saudi-funded LIV golf league for $750 million and spread those false accusations to the media.
“It’s always difficult to prove harm to reputation in a defamation case because, especially for someone like Jack, that’s always a good thing,” Nicklaus’ attorney Eugene Stearns told ESPN on Monday. “But I think what’s important is the controversy that happened 3.5 years ago when the company told the world that Jack was selling the PGA Tour for Saudi Golf, but that wasn’t the case. So we’re delighted that Jack has been vindicated.”
In court documents, the golfer’s attorneys wrote that a Nicklaus official asked him to meet with Saudi golf representatives in 2021 to discuss designing a golf course in Saudi Arabia. During that meeting, Nicklaus learned that Saudi Golf wanted him to accept a leadership role at LIV Golf.
“According to Nicklaus, he was not interested in the offer and declined because he believed the PGA Tour was an important part of his legacy and he did not want to be involved if the PGA Tour did not support the new league,” court documents state.
The defendant also claimed he was mentally unfit to manage his business affairs and suffered from dementia, Nicklaus claimed.
“What they said was, ‘You need to take the keys away,'” Stearns said. “But all of this combined is unfortunate and we’re glad this will all be put behind Jack soon and hopefully Nicklaus will do well as well. But it was an unfortunate incident and hopefully that’s over now.”
The jury found that Nicklaus’ company actively engaged in falsely publishing facts that damaged the 18-time Grand Slam champion’s reputation and subjected him to “ridicule, hatred, mistrust, distrust or contempt,” according to the Palm Beach Post.
The Washington Post also reported that the jury ruled in favor of Milstein and Nicklaus executive Andrew O’Brien, who was not personally liable.
Nicklaus Co. said it paid the legendary golfer $145 million in May 2007 for exclusive rights to his golf course design services as well as marketing, promotional and branding rights.
Nicklaus resigned from the company in 2017, triggering a five-year non-compete clause in the deal that prevented him from designing the golf course himself. Nicklaus resigned from the company’s board of directors in May 2022.
Shortly after, Nicklaus Corporation sued Nicklaus and his company, GBI Investors, alleging tortious interference, breach of contract and breach of judicial duty. The complaint alleges that Nicklaus diverted opportunities from Nicklaus companies for personal gain.
At the time of that lawsuit, Nicklaus said in a statement: “Howard Milstein’s claims are not true. Our relationship was a difficult one at best. I have little doubt about the outcome, but I do not intend for this to become a public spectacle if it can be avoided.”
A Florida arbitrator ruled in July 2024 that Nicklaus was no longer restricted by the non-compete clause and was free to design the golf course.
In April, New York Civil Court Supreme Court Judge Joel M. Cohen ruled that Nicklaus has the right to use his name, image and likeness, while Nicklaus owns the trademarks it purchased and can continue to sell clothing and gear bearing Nicklaus’ name, “Golden Bear” nickname and logo.
