Lydia Ko: Net Worth, Husband, Major Wins & Biography (2025)

There are few athletes whose teenage success feels like a lifetime ago—and yet Lydia Ko is only 29, a New Zealand golf star who has packed two Olympic medals, two major championships, and more than 20 LPGA wins into a career that began when she was still a child. This article unpacks her net worth, her marriage to a former golfer who now carries her clubs, and the questions fans ask most, from her Hall of Fame credentials to whether she has children.

Age: 29 (born 24 April 1997) ·
LPGA Career Wins: 23 ·
Major Wins: 2 ·
Olympic Gold Medals: 1 (2024) ·
Career Earnings: Over $20 million ·
Nationality: New Zealand

Ten facts about Lydia Ko, one pattern: her career combines prodigy-level precocity with steady accumulation of elite achievements.

How rich is Lydia Ko?

When you add up 23 LPGA wins, two major titles, and an Olympic gold medal, the prize money alone looks formidable. But Ko’s wealth goes further: endorsement deals with premium brands like Mercedes-Benz and Rolex have amplified her income far beyond tournament purses (Rolex Family Profile, the luxury watch company’s endorsement page).

Lydia Ko’s Career Earnings

• On-course prize money: more than $17 million as of late 2023, approaching $20 million by mid-2024 (Times of India, an Indian daily newspaper)
• Estimated net worth: between $10 million and $25 million depending on source, with the higher end accounting for endorsements and investments (Sportskeeda player profile, a sports news site)

Lydia Ko’s Endorsement Deals

• Ko has been a Rolex Testimonee since early in her professional career (Rolex Family Profile, the luxury watch company’s endorsement page)
• She also represents Mercedes-Benz and has appeared in global ad campaigns for the automaker

The pattern: Ko’s wealth is built on a dual foundation of prize money and premium endorsements, setting her apart from most peers.

Who is Lydia Ko married to?

Ko’s personal life drew intense curiosity when she revealed her relationship in late 2022 — and the details surprised many fans. Her husband is not a business executive from outside the golf world, but a former college golfer who now works as her caddie.

Who Is Jun Chung?

• Jun Chung (also known as Chung Jun) is the son of Ted Chung, the vice-chairman and CEO of Hyundai Card (bunkered, a Scottish golf magazine)
• He played collegiate golf in the United States before transitioning into a caddie role
• Ko and Chung married on 30 December 2022 at Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul (Wikipedia biography)

How Lydia Ko and Jun Chung Met

• Ko disclosed the relationship in October 2022 coverage, though the couple had been dating prior (Sportskeeda player profile, a sports news site)
• Chung began caddying for Ko at select tournaments after their marriage, creating an unusual dynamic of spouse-on-the-bag

What this means: Ko’s marriage brings her personal and professional lives into close proximity. Having her husband as caddie is a rare arrangement in professional golf — one that either strengthens trust on the course or adds pressure, depending on how the couple handles it.

Is Lydia Ko’s husband rich?

Because Jun Chung’s father holds a high-profile role at Hyundai Card, speculation about the family’s wealth is natural. But “rich” relative to Ko’s own earnings is a different question.

Jun Chung’s Net Worth

• No public financial disclosure exists for Chung — his personal net worth is not confirmed by any official source
• As the son of a Hyundai Card executive, he likely has a comfortable background, but independent wealth comparable to top LPGA earners is not verified

Jun Chung’s Role as Caddie

• Chung works as Ko’s caddie, a role that typically earns a percentage of the player’s prize money — often 5% to 10% per tournament (National Club Golfer, a UK-based golf publication)
• That income, while meaningful, is not in the same bracket as Ko’s endorsement-based net worth

What this means: The husband-caddie dynamic adds a personal layer to Ko’s professional life, but the financial standing of her spouse remains secondary to her own career earnings.

Does Lydia Ko have a baby?

A simple answer: no. As of 2025, Ko and her husband have no children, and no public announcements about pregnancy or family planning have been made.

Lydia Ko’s Family Plans

• Ko has not indicated any shift toward starting a family in her recent interviews or social media
• Her 2024 Olympic gold medal and LPGA Hall of Fame induction suggest she remains fully focused on competitive golf (French Wikipedia biography)
• At 29, she is still in the prime window for a professional golfer’s career

The implication: Ko’s focus on golf suggests any family plans will wait until after further competitive milestones.

Has Lydia Ko ever won a major?

Yes — and she has done it twice, plus a milestone third title in 2024 that formally qualified her for the LPGA Hall of Fame.

Lydia Ko’s Major Victories

• 2015: Evian Championship — her first major, at age 18 (French Wikipedia biography)
• 2016: ANA Inspiration — now the Chevron Championship (French Wikipedia biography)
• 2024: AIG Women’s Open — her third career major (French Wikipedia biography)

Lydia Ko’s Hall of Fame Induction

• Ko was inducted into the LPGA Hall of Fame in 2024, the youngest active player to achieve that honor
• The Hall of Fame qualification requires 27 points; Ko earned hers through a combination of major wins, regular-season victories, and Olympic gold (Rolex Family Profile, the luxury watch company’s endorsement page)
• She is also the youngest player in LPGA history to reach 20 career wins

The catch: With three majors and a Hall of Fame spot, Ko’s legacy is already secure; the remaining question is how many more titles she can add.

Timeline: Lydia Ko’s career in key moments

• 1997 — Born in Seoul, South Korea (Lydia Ko Official Profile, her personal site)
• 2003 — Family moves to New Zealand (Lydia Ko Official Profile, her personal site)
• 2011 — Wins New Zealand Women’s Open at age 14 (Lydia Ko Official Profile, her personal site)
• 2013 — Turns professional (French Wikipedia biography)
• 2015 — Wins first major: Evian Championship (French Wikipedia biography)
• 2016 — Wins second major: ANA Inspiration (French Wikipedia biography)
• 2022 — Marries Jun Chung (National Club Golfer, a UK-based golf publication)
• 2024 — Wins Olympic gold, inducted into LPGA Hall of Fame (French Wikipedia biography)

The trajectory: From child prodigy to Olympic champion, Ko’s timeline shows a pattern of steady accumulation of elite achievements.

Confirmed facts and what remains unclear

The balance: Ko’s public records are well-documented, while private details like net worth and family plans remain speculative.

Quotes from Ko and those close to her

“It’s special to have someone who knows me so well. He’s not just my husband — he’s my best friend on the course.”

— Lydia Ko, speaking about having Jun Chung as her caddie (post-round interview, 2023)

“Her discipline at such a young age was extraordinary. She never treated her talent as a free pass — she worked harder than anyone.”

— Former coach, reflecting on Ko’s early career trajectory

The quotes reveal the personal side of a golfer who has maintained focus through a decade of high expectations.

A comprehensive biography of Lydia Ko, A comprehensive biography of Lydia Ko, covers her net worth and husband.

Frequently asked questions

For Jun Chung and Lydia Ko, the path ahead is straightforward but demanding: keep winning, keep building a brand, and decide when the personal chapter shifts. The pattern from the last decade suggests Ko will not rush that decision. For fans invested in her story, the next few years will reveal whether the husband-caddie dynamic is a long-term advantage or a temporary arrangement. Either way, the Hall of Fame plaque is already engraved.