The prize money hasn't been that great in pool, however ......
We paid $3.4 Million for my last club, Carsons Palace which generated over 37 million in revenue and it was mainly because of pool. "CJ's Billiard Palace" also grossed over 17 million in the 17 years I owned and operated it, with Earl Strickland winning the Million Dollar Challenge at CJ's as well (worth $630,000 at the time of the event).
When we closed one part of the Carsons Palace deal (a million dollar personal loan) the loan officers said bluntly "we don't know why we're finalizing this loan just on your signature, although you can always attributed it to what you've accomplished in pool".
The prize money hasn't been that great in pool, however players like Allen Hopkins, Steve Mizerak, Nick Varner, and myself have generated millions as a result of leveraging other pool related businesses (billiard supply, trade shows, clubs, etc).
http://www.azbilliards.com/people/4315-shane-van-boening/
At least american. I'm sure efren is a millionaire in the Philippines with the exchange.
but anyone else ever made this kind of money in pool??