LIV Golf's Scott O'Neil given $6.3M before bankruptcy protection filing

Scott O'Neil, the CEO of LIV Golf, received a retention payment of approximately $6.4 million shortly before the tour filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Court documents revealed that O'Neil was awarded a bonus of $6.375 million on June 24, following a previous bonus of around $2.7 million in February. From September 2025 to August 2026, he reportedly received over $13.6 million in total compensation, including payroll, bonuses, and other payments.

The bankruptcy filing occurred on September 8, with LIV Golf indicating it had assets between $100 million and $500 million and liabilities ranging from $500 million to $1 billion. The court has allowed the league to pursue a restructuring plan with BC Partners, which may offer up to $300 million in financing for a potential LIV Golf 2.0. An initial loan of $4 million has been approved to support operations during the bankruptcy process, and a decision on the future of the league is expected by the end of the month.