CEO O’Neil given $6.3M before LIV bankruptcy protection filing

LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil received a retention payment of nearly $6.4 million shortly before the league filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, according to filings in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of New Jersey. In total, O'Neil received over $13.6 million in compensation, bonuses, and expense reimbursements between September 2025 and August 2026. LIV Golf filed for bankruptcy protection on September 8, reporting up to $1 billion in liabilities.

Court records reveal the league distributed approximately $15.6 million in retention payments to top executives, including CFO David Phillips and chief legal officer John Ruzich. Former commissioner Greg Norman also received more than $9.4 million upon his departure in September 2025. Judge Michael B. Kaplan authorized a potential $300 million restructuring agreement with BC Partners, with the league deciding by month's end whether to launch LIV 2.0 or liquidate.