Golf legend Jack Nicklaus has been awarded $50 million by a Florida jury in a defamation lawsuit against his former company, Nicklaus Companies, over false claims about him joining the LIV Golf League and his mental fitness.
On Monday, October 20, 2025, a Palm Beach County jury delivered the verdict after finding that Nicklaus Companies actively participated in publishing false facts that damaged the 85-year-old icon’s reputation and exposed him to “ridicule, hatred, mistrust, distrust or contempt.” The six-person panel deliberated for about four and a half hours before reaching their decision, which also exonerated individual defendants Howard Milstein and Andrew O’Brien from personal liability.
Nicklaus filed the lawsuit in 2023, alleging that Milstein, the billionaire banker who owns Nicklaus Companies, and other executives spread false stories that he had secretly negotiated a $750 million deal to become the face of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf League. According to court documents, Nicklaus met with Golf Saudi representatives in 2021 about designing a course but declined any leadership role in LIV Golf, feeling loyal to the PGA Tour. The defamation claims also included assertions that Nicklaus was not mentally fit to manage his affairs, with company officials allegedly suggesting he had dementia.
The background of this dispute dates back to 2007, when Nicklaus folded his company, Golden Bear International, into Nicklaus Companies in a $145 million transaction financed by Milstein’s Emigrant Bank. Nicklaus retired from his executive role in 2017, triggering a five-year noncompete clause. In 2022, as the clause neared its end, Nicklaus sought arbitration to confirm his rights to use his name, while Nicklaus Companies sued him in New York, accusing him of breaching agreements and diverting opportunities.
During the defamation trial, Nicklaus’ attorney, Eugene Stearns, argued that the company orchestrated a campaign to damage Nicklaus’ reputation, telling jurors that the false stories were lies intended to portray him as “an old guy who sold out to the Saudis.” Stearns emphasized that no one intervened to save Nicklaus from a nonexistent deal, and the claims about mental fitness were unfounded. In contrast, defense attorneys Barry Postman and Daniel Shapiro contended it was a business dispute with no evidence of harm, arguing that Nicklaus’ reputation remained stellar.
The jury’s verdict brings closure to a contentious legal battle, with Nicklaus expressing relief through his attorney, who praised the jury’s dedication. Attorneys for the defendants did not immediately comment, and an oral motion for a mistrial was made but not ruled on. This outcome follows a July 2024 arbitration ruling that freed Nicklaus from the noncompete clause, allowing him to design courses independently, and an April 2025 New York court decision affirming his rights to use his name and likeness.
In the broader context, this case underscores the challenges in managing celebrity brands and intellectual property in professional sports. With the defamation suit resolved, Nicklaus can focus on his legacy and future projects, while Nicklaus Companies must navigate its operations without its founder’s direct endorsement. The $50 million award sets a precedent for how false statements can impact public figures, highlighting the importance of truth in business and media relations.