2 days Ago
In his opinion, Warrington's newly crowned world darts champion should comfortably progress to earn £20million in prize money over the next 10 years, while adding Littler’s meteoric rise eclipses that of Ronaldo, Messi and Beckham and that his career trajectory as a teen sensation compares to Justin Bieber more so than anyone else in sport. Wilson, speaking to LuckyBlock (www.luckyblock.
com/en), said: "Luke Littler delivered in his pursuit of darts immortality at the 2025 World Darts Championship. "Already emerging as one of the most recognisable British sportspeople after his efforts as runner up at the 2024 event, he continued to deliver a masterclass of darts throughout 2024, winning multiple titles as he travelled the world. "The 17-year-old darts sensation backed up his 2024 World Darts second place by going on to win ten senior PDC titles.
With prize money and sponsorship he’ll have amassed around £1million in the calendar year. "Littler's earnings should be extrapolated like compound interest. As each year passes his prize money will increase year on year, as will his endorsement activity as his profile grows.
"He should comfortably earn £20million in prize money over the next 10 years. "Add to that sponsorship, the inevitable ‘at home with the Littlers’ documentary that will follow and other revenue streams and his career earnings could easily hit £100million. "In sport no one has seen this sort of meteoric profile and earnings explosion.
The likes of Ronaldo, Messi and Beckham have all exceeded these numbers, but that came later in their careers. Littler is unique. "You have to look at the music industry for anything close to the same early years exposure - Bieber, Spears and One Direction spring to mind - though their earnings naturally accelerate way beyond a typical sports star.
"He’s already one of the most recognisable faces in British sport. Sitting alongside Olympic greats like Keely Hodgkinson and tennis super star Emma Raducanu. "He is fast becoming as recognisable as some of his football heroes.
He’ll soon sit alongside the likes of Jude Bellingham as a new star of British sport. "The sport looks well placed to capitalise too. Barry Hearn will be rubbing his hands together as the profile of the sport takes on a whole new dimension.
Expect a bumper Sky contract renewal - darts might even save the broadcaster from dwindling subscriber numbers. "Darts will undergo a renaissance as its popularity increases. The breakthrough with new audiences - something that many sports struggle to crack - means that big sponsors will follow and one of the major apparel companies will try to capitalise, much like Nike did with Tiger Woods in golf.
Littler could well become a new face for a sportswear giant.".
