Luke Littler net worth prediction as 'more than David Beckham' comment made

At the age of 17, darting prodigy Luke Littler has the world at his fingertips, with experts tipping him to surpass David Beckham's net worth if he continues his meteoric rise in the sport.

Nearly a year on from his explosive entrance onto the scene, where he reached the World Darts Championship final only to be narrowly defeated by fellow frontrunner Luke Humphries, Littler's success has seen his earnings skyrocket. His impressive run to the final pocketed him a hefty £200,000, and he didn't stop there, securing his first major title at the Premier League in May, adding another £275,000 to his winnings amidst a cascade of victories on the Pro Tour and World Series.

Dennis Priestley, the darts legend and 1994 world champion, shared his thoughts on Littler's potential during an appearance on Wayne Mardle's Club 501 YouTube channel. "Luke Littler is still so young, and his career could go one way or the other," said Priestley.

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"I just hope he's surrounding himself with the right people who will keep him grounded. If they can do that and he can remain at the top of his game for 10 or so years, then he'll be worth more than Beckham. However, it's hard for any player to remain at the top for that length of time.

"Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry managed a decade at the top of snooker, but it's very difficult to go on for longer than that. Phil Taylor dominated darts for nearly 20 years but that is not the norm."

Taking into account all his achievements, including brand endorsements and TV appearances, Littler's current net worth is just over £650,000. This figure is expected to near the £1m mark if the young star continues his successful run on the professional circuit.

However, Littler, a lifelong Manchester United fan, has a long way to go to match the staggering net worth of former Manchester United and Real Madrid player Beckham. Beckham's various ventures have amassed him an estimated net worth of nearly £400m.

Beyond his football earnings, Beckham's post-career activities include bringing expansion side Inter Miami to the MLS, with an ownership group, after being given the opportunity to establish his own team as part of his lucrative LA Galaxy deal signed in 2007. Beckham's brand deal with Adidas, signed in 1998 and exceeding £100m, added to his wealth.

Other significant deals with Pepsi, Armani, Gillette, and his own whisky brand, Haig Club, have left young Littler with a steep climb if he hopes to reach such astronomical financial heights.