Golf legend Jack Nicklaus has spoken publicly for the first time since winning his $50 million defamation lawsuit against Nicklaus Companies, describing the verdict as “a big load off my shoulders.”
The 85-year-old icon, who founded and later sold the company that bears his name, said he only pursued the case to protect his family’s legacy rather than for personal gain.
Last week, a Palm Beach County jury ruled that Nicklaus Companies defamed him through false and damaging claims — including allegations that he had considered a $750 million offer to become the face of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf League and that he was no longer mentally fit to manage his affairs.
Those claims were made in legal filings and repeated publicly, leading Nicklaus to take legal action. Despite the company’s argument that his reputation remained untarnished given his revered status in the sport, the jury determined that the statements caused real harm to his name and reputation.
Nicklaus’s former business partners, Howard Milstein and Andrew O’Brien, were cleared of personal liability.
Speaking to the Palm Beach Post, Nicklaus said the case was never about money or ego.
“My legacy that I will have through the years will be very important to my family,” he explained. “I’m 85 years old — how long will I be around? I don’t know. It’s not about me. It’s about the future and family. But basically, [the result is] a big load off my shoulders.”
The ruling marks another chapter in Nicklaus’s legal battles with his former company. A separate case previously confirmed that he was free to use his name, image, and likeness (NIL) again — rights that had been restricted after he stepped down from the firm in 2017 and served a five-year non-compete period.
After that clause expired in 2022, Nicklaus sought arbitration, but Nicklaus Companies countered by suing him in New York, accusing him of entertaining offers from LIV Golf and diverting business opportunities — claims he denied.
“My NIL is very important to me, and it’s very important to my family,” Nicklaus continued. “Sometimes you have to stand up for it and go through what you have to go through. I’ve been very blessed. I’ve won a few golf tournaments, made a name for myself — and protecting that name is very important.”
He expressed gratitude for how the court handled the proceedings but acknowledged that the legal battle may not be completely over.
“The proceedings, the judge, the jury — they were great. I’m happy with the outcome,” he said. “Obviously, there’s probably going to be appeals and that stuff. This will continue to go on for a while.”
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