Buddy Hall made $85,000 in 1982
- Thread starter jjohnson
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While $85,000 does seem like a good amount in 1982, the cost-benefit ratio of professional pool is brutal when it comes to profit. Back then, most traveled the American pool tournament trail, but lodging, airfare, gas, food, living out of a suitcase, it adds up. Cost of gas was $1.28 a gallon in 1982. Average cost of a hotel room was $58 a night. A pack of cigarettes cost $1.20 in 1982. If a player got sick, however, most did not have medical insurance, an unknown cost.
Today's professional pro must travel an international pool trail to turn a profit. I cannot imagine the expenses involved to attend two, three, and four tournaments around the world on a regular basis.
My personal opinion is 50 percent of earnings per annum in professional pool cover expenses for that year because only a minute few—Shane, Joshua, Kaci, Fedor come to mind—are capable to win, place, and show in all tournaments. For an aspiring pro to keep up with the "regulars" on the professional tournament trail, the costs are heavy.
I'd be interested to hear other views on this topic.
except for a select few all make no money and go broke or live like paupers when they get older. some survive gambling and some dumping. others find jobs or stake horses which end up supporting them.
a couple every generation make some money in business using their pool fame or skills to better themselves . most die broke.
it is the nature of the game. called a fools dream.
a couple every generation make some money in business using their pool fame or skills to better themselves . most die broke.
it is the nature of the game. called a fools dream.
is there a point here? that was pretty good coin in'82. He made probably another 50ish, maybe more, in action. He was pimping Meucci's then too. I bought one from him at Fat Randy's poolhall.
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good payday for him that year. but a person needs to make it every year. expenses go up.
if one invests a good portion then in the future they may do fine. some do or move on to better earning things like cards or a good side hustle.
good for those that do. in any en-devour you cannot remain stagnant as time and old age creeps up on you and sports things cannot last in competition.
the old saying of invest in things that go up in value with 10% of your gross earnings every year. then in the future you will be fine.
if one invests a good portion then in the future they may do fine. some do or move on to better earning things like cards or a good side hustle.
good for those that do. in any en-devour you cannot remain stagnant as time and old age creeps up on you and sports things cannot last in competition.
the old saying of invest in things that go up in value with 10% of your gross earnings every year. then in the future you will be fine.
I’ve won over 100 tournaments myself, but 75 of them had to be one game double elimination eight ball tournaments on week nights. I don’t think counting those really means much.
I got a note that said, Nick Varner believes Kim Davenport has won more nine ball tournaments than anyone else in the history of the game. I think Kim would agree that a lot of those were regional and even lower tier events.
Back then they played anything nearby. Pool didn't pay much and snapping off these lil events kept 'em on the road.
Both Sigel and Varner won over $100k USD in a single year for tournament winnings in the late 80’s. The 100th ranked golfer at the time also had won over $100K USD in those years as well.
Pimping sounds very denegrating , was he actually pimping them, or just selling them to make a little extra money and advertise the cues. A mutually beneficial endeavor, many cue makers employed, usually to give back something to the players ,more than for the huge boon in sales.
Just a phrase used for anyone out front pushing other's stuff. I know exactly what the term means.
I'll bite. What is the source that he made 85k? Does that source show what the top 10 made? There were some years with huge winner take all events that didn't paint the complete picture of what the "pros as a group" earned.
Probably just a guess based on Billiard Digest reports. I don't think very accurate yrly. amts. were available in those days.
Guys like that must have a floating actual winnings balance. win, lose, win more...
Shane Van Boening said in his "60 Minutes" interview that only a few pro players today are capable of earning and clearing $100,000. It is because of the exorbitant expenses incurred to travel from tournament to tournament. As an example, I do wonder how much it costs the American pro to go to the WNT event in Fulda this week, e.g., airfare, lodging, food, and miscellaneous. I'm not sure of WNT's membership perks, whether entry fees are required to be paid for each event.
Though some pros do have sponsors and/or stakehorses, most of the American pool sponsors give product. Many times you will see Facebook auctions for a cue stick or some other pool-related item that was product given to the American pro player as a way to provide income for them by a pool industry member.
It is worthy of mention, however, that in 1982, some American pool players made more money in the off-hours of a pool tournament in games of stake. I'm sure these earnings are not recorded anywhere.
With the advent of computer technology today, taxes are required. I know Mike Zuglan sends out 1099s to those who cashed, and I'm sure many other tournament organizers do as well. I wonder what the P&L is of a pool player as an occupation. Imagine all the tournaments where a player did not win, place, or show and/or break even after expenses. I've known some tournament organizers to withhold a third of a non-American pro player's winnings if they cannot present an American tax ID number for themselves.
I do believe Buddy Hall probably made more money in 1982 than most of the other American pro players. It will be interesting to see if Barry Hearn will be successful in his quest to help pro players earn a decent living, as he's said many times, using darts as an example. And to think, some snooker pros complain that the snooker tournaments don't pay enough. They have to travel globally, which does eat into the profits, especially if you don't cover expenses, and snooker pays more than pool.
I noticed there's quite a few American no-shows at the WNT Fulda event. Tyler said he had to bow out because of an emergency medical treatment, but there are other no-shows as well.
Though some pros do have sponsors and/or stakehorses, most of the American pool sponsors give product. Many times you will see Facebook auctions for a cue stick or some other pool-related item that was product given to the American pro player as a way to provide income for them by a pool industry member.
It is worthy of mention, however, that in 1982, some American pool players made more money in the off-hours of a pool tournament in games of stake. I'm sure these earnings are not recorded anywhere.
With the advent of computer technology today, taxes are required. I know Mike Zuglan sends out 1099s to those who cashed, and I'm sure many other tournament organizers do as well. I wonder what the P&L is of a pool player as an occupation. Imagine all the tournaments where a player did not win, place, or show and/or break even after expenses. I've known some tournament organizers to withhold a third of a non-American pro player's winnings if they cannot present an American tax ID number for themselves.
I do believe Buddy Hall probably made more money in 1982 than most of the other American pro players. It will be interesting to see if Barry Hearn will be successful in his quest to help pro players earn a decent living, as he's said many times, using darts as an example. And to think, some snooker pros complain that the snooker tournaments don't pay enough. They have to travel globally, which does eat into the profits, especially if you don't cover expenses, and snooker pays more than pool.
I noticed there's quite a few American no-shows at the WNT Fulda event. Tyler said he had to bow out because of an emergency medical treatment, but there are other no-shows as well.
Cannot remember. I searched for it but could not find it. Maybe from a YouTube pool video a commentator may have said it. But here is where some of it came from: "In 1982 Buddy won the Caesar's Tahoe Nine-ball Championship by edging out Allen Hopkins in the final with a score of 11–6, winning $35,000 for his efforts; the biggest first prize money in a tournament at the time."
- 1982 St. Louie 9-Ball Open
- 1982 Jackson Mississippi 9-Ball Open
- 1982 Bowling Green 9-Ball Open
- 1982 Clyde Childress Memorial 9-Ball Open
- 1982 Caesars Tahoe Billiard Classic
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I was around back then, even sponsored a player or two, and in my opinion, things were similar to where they are today. At least in competition, only a small group had much left after bearing the costs of competing. The guys who had more, typically, earned it in action.
Found it! Here is the YouTube link. At 1:09:00 in this video: