Phil Taylor, the most decorated player in darts history, amassed a multi-million pound fortune during his career but adopted an astonishingly frugal personal strategy to stay motivated. Despite winning 16 PDC world titles and numerous other championships, 'The Power' famously paid himself a weekly wage of just £200 while investing heavily in bricks and mortar.
The Modest Wage of a Darts Millionaire
Taylor's dominance of darts spanned over two decades, a period where prize money grew significantly. When he claimed his first PDC world crown in 1995, he earned £12,000. By his final victory in 2013, the top prize was £100,000. This pales in comparison to the £1 million awarded to the 2025/26 champion, highlighting the sport's financial evolution.
Nevertheless, his relentless winning allowed him to accumulate vast wealth, which he shrewdly channelled into property. At the peak of his portfolio, Taylor owned as many as 30 houses. Yet, he deliberately kept his personal income minimal.
Explaining his philosophy at a 2023 event, Taylor said: "I paid myself £200 a week wages, so I was always skint, always on the breadline." He believed this self-imposed hardship fuelled his competitive fire, adding: "A hungry lion will fight harder than a lion that hasn't eaten. You have got to keep yourself hungry. I had 30 houses, I was worth millions, but in my opinion that basic wage was all I was worth."
A Special Tenant: Pete Williams
One of Taylor's properties holds a particularly notable tenant. He rents a bungalow to Pete Williams, the father of global pop star and fellow Stoke-on-Trent native, Robbie Williams. Pete suffers from Parkinson's disease, and Taylor has taken on a supportive role.
In 2023, Taylor revealed he regularly checks on Pete and provides updates to Robbie. "He lives in one of my bungalows," Taylor told OLBG. "So, I’ll just give [Robbie] a little update on his dad, just to keep him informed really."
This care extends to the festive season. Taylor's Christmas routine involves hosting family and a friend who would otherwise be alone. He then personally delivers Christmas dinner to Pete. "I'll go down to Pete's and take him some dinner down to the bungalow... and have a couple of hours with him," Taylor explained. "He isn’t too well, so I like to check in on him and spend time with him."
From Sporting Legend to Property Mogul
Phil Taylor's story is a unique blend of sporting excellence and astute financial planning. His conscious decision to reinvest his winnings into a substantial property empire, while maintaining a spartan personal budget, underscores a disciplined mindset that mirrored his approach on the oche.
His ongoing kindness towards his tenant, Pete Williams, also reveals a community-focused side to the legend, rooted in their shared Staffordshire origins. Taylor's legacy, therefore, is not only one of unmatched sporting success but also of shrewd wealth management and local loyalty.
