LIV Golf bankruptcy filings show the league paid $15.6 million to retain seven executives before its September 8, 2026, Chapter 11 filing, including $6.375 million to CEO Scott O’Neil.

LIV Golf bankruptcy payment disclosures

The retention payments were made after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund said it would end financial support for the league. The disclosures were included in documents filed in US Bankruptcy Court in New Jersey.

Chief Financial Officer David Phillipps received $3.37 million and Chief Legal Officer John Ruzich received $2.6 million in retention payments on June 24, the same day O’Neil received his payment. O’Neil also received a $2.7 million bonus on February 13.

The filings disclosed $26 million in payments to Jon Rahm in the year before the bankruptcy filing. Former CEO Greg Norman received a $5.8 million settlement and a $3.6 million bonus on September 26, 2025, after leaving the chief executive role in January 2025.

League seeks new financial backing

LIV is seeking to emerge from bankruptcy without the backing of the Public Investment Fund, which spent more than $5 billion on the league after its launch in June 2022. The fund’s revised investment strategy led to the decision to end LIV funding after the 2026 season.

BC Partners Credit has pledged up to $300 million to support a reorganized league known as “LIV 2.0.” Keeping players is important to that effort, but Rahm, Sergio Garcia, Louis Oosthuizen, Adrian Meronk and David Puig have separated from LIV agreements or indicated they are leaving.

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