Luke Littler has the chance to match David Beckham’s wealth from football in the eyes of Dennis Priestley.
‘The Nuke’ burst on to the oche by reaching the final of the 2024 World Darts Championship and is already a superstar with his frightening talent seeing him become a pivotal name on the PDC pro tour.
Littler looks set to pocket millions from dartsGetty
The sky is seen as the limit for the 17-year-old, who many believe has the capability of joining Phil Taylor and Raymond Van Barneveld as one of the all-time greats, given he has already captured major titles.
Littler has already pocketed £387,000 on this year’s PDC Order Of Merit, with the next instalment of the Worlds at Alexandra Palace fast approaching.
And former two-time world champion Priestley believes he can eclipse the net worth of retired football star Beckham, providing he keeps his team around him.
He told Wayne Mardle on Club 501: “Luke Littler is still so young and his career could go one way or the other.
“I just hope he’s surrounding himself with the right people who will keep him grounded.
“If they can do that and he can remain at the top of his game for 10 or so years, then he’ll be worth more than David Beckham.
“But it’s hard for any player to remain at the top for that length of time.
“Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry managed a decade at the top of snooker, but it’s very difficult to go on for longer than that.
“Phil Taylor dominated darts for nearly 20 years but that is not the norm.”
Beckham became one of the nations’ biggest stars through his footballing brilliance, emerging as a star with Manchester United before captaining his country England internationally.
Beckham has made an empire worth millions on the back of his football careerGetty
He also became a commercial star alongside his footballing endeavours, where estimates show he raked in a mammoth $800million during his 20-year stint in the sport.
The icon reportedly now has a net worth of around $450m, a number Littler must go some way to break.
Littler is estimated to have a current net worth in excess of £600,000, after just under a year on the professional circuit.
His earnings will continue to grow, particularly given the sport of darts is on such an incredible trajectory of growth itself.
The young prodigy has already picked up two major wins this year, clinching the Premier League title in May, before winning the World Series Of Darts.
And former PDC Chairman Barry Hearn believes his current route is pointing in the direction of him becoming a millionaire within the next year.
“Yeah I think it could be this year [at age of 17],” he said on the Barry Hearn Show. “Yeah I think so.
“I am pre-judging his performances, but I’d be surprised if he didn’t to be honest with you.
“There are darts players out there already earning well over £1m – £2m per year as it is.
“That is where the sport has got to and for Luke and the sport, it is only just the beginning.”