John Lowe: Darts Career Earnings, Net Worth & Retirement

Ask any darts fan to name the player who threw the first televised nine-dart finish, and most will say John Lowe without hesitation. The Englishman, known as “Old Stoneface,” won three world championships across three decades and set a financial benchmark that stood for years.

Born: 21 July 1945 ·
Nickname: Old Stoneface ·
World Championships: 3 ·
Career earnings (approx.): £1 million ·
First televised 9-dart finish: 13 October 1984

The table below summarises key biographical details.

How much did John Lowe earn playing darts?

Lowe’s career prize money is recorded at £395,889, according to Darts Database (statistics aggregator). That figure, however, excludes the massive bonus he earned for his nine‑dart finish and the many exhibition fees that padded his income.

Prize money from major tournaments

• 1979 BDO World Championship – estimated £3,000 (winner’s prize in that era)
• 1984 MFI World Matchplay – £102,000 total (including £100,000 for the nine‑darter plus £2,000 high‑outshot bonus) – The Mirror (UK news outlet)
• 1987 BDO World Championship – estimated £12,000
• 1993 BDO World Championship – estimated £24,000
• Total career prize money: £395,889 – Darts Database (statistics aggregator)

The implication: Lowe’s nine‑darter alone earned him roughly a quarter of his career prize total in one night, a payout that dwarfed the annual earnings of most players in the 1980s.

Career earnings breakdown

• Prize money: £395,889
• Exhibition fees: Undisclosed but significant – Lowe regularly played 100+ exhibitions per year at his peak
• Sponsorship: 40‑year deal with Unicorn Darts, one of the longest in sports – BetZillion (sports betting analysis)
• Speaking and book royalties: Additional income from autobiographies and corporate events

What this means: While his on‑paper prize money is modest by modern standards, Lowe’s off‑board income from exhibitions and endorsements made him one of the highest‑paid players of his generation.

How much is John Lowe worth?

Estimates of John Lowe’s net worth vary widely. One widely circulated figure is $2 million, but the source is a YouTube interview that itself labels the number speculative – YouTube (player interview).

Estimated net worth

• Reportedly between £500,000 and £1 million, according to the same interview – YouTube (player interview)
• Other online sources cite $2 million, but without verifiable documentation

The catch: Net‑worth claims for retired sportspeople of Lowe’s era are rarely audited. The only certainty is that his career earnings, when adjusted for inflation and pension investments, ensured a comfortable retirement.

Sources of wealth beyond darts

• Long‑term sponsorship with Unicorn Darts – BetZillion (sports betting analysis)
• Exhibition fees and speaking engagements through agencies like Champions Speakers (speaker agency)
• Book royalties from his autobiography
• Pension fund from his 1984 prize money – Lowe himself said “after taxes, the remainder went into a pension fund” – YouTube (player interview)

Why this matters: Lowe built wealth not by chasing prize money but by monetising his fame through endorsements – a model that foreshadowed how modern players manage their finances.

Where does John Lowe live?

Lowe has remained rooted in his hometown throughout his career.

• Current residence: Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England – Wikipedia (encyclopedic biography)
• He has lived in the Derbyshire area for most of his life

The pattern: Unlike many sports stars who move to tax‑friendly locations, Lowe chose to stay local – a decision consistent with his grounded, no‑frills persona.

Where is John Lowe today?

Since stepping back from the PDC circuit, Lowe has stayed visible in the darts community through legends events and autograph signings – Dartsweb (fan interview).

Life after retirement

• Reports indicate he still plays exhibition matches and appears at charity events
• In 2022 he completed a farewell tour before announcing full retirement
• He continues to be booked for corporate speaking – Trading Faces (celebrity booking)

The trade‑off: Lowe chose a quieter life over the relentless PDC schedule, but he hasn’t disappeared; he simply trades on his legacy rather than his ranking.

Public appearances

• Occasional guest slots at darts tournaments
• Autograph signings at memorabilia shows
• Interviews and podcasts reflecting on his career

What this means: Lowe remains a beloved figure in darts, and his appearances are a link to the sport’s golden era.

When did John Lowe retire from darts?

Lowe officially retired from professional darts in 2022 after a farewell tour that spanned several months – BetZillion (sports betting analysis). (Note: some sources mention an earlier “retirement” in 2008 from the full‑time circuit, but his active exhibition play continued until 2022.)

Retirement announcement

• 2022: Lowe announced he would no longer compete in ranked events
• His final matches were part of a scheduled goodbye tour

The timeline: Lowe’s career spanned 43 years – from his first professional match in the late 1970s to his last competitive appearance in 2022.

Final matches

• Participated in the 2022 BDO Legends tournament
• Played his last televised match on the World Seniors Tour

The catch: Lowe’s retirement was gradual – he effectively stopped chasing rankings years earlier, but the 2022 date marks when he publicly closed the chapter.

Who is the richest darts player ever?

When comparing wealth among top darts players, a clear hierarchy emerges. The table below shows the estimated net worth and career prize money of three standout figures.

Top richest darts players

• Phil Taylor – undisputed richest with a net worth exceeding $10 million
• Michael van Gerwen – second, thanks to PDC dominance and sponsorship
• Eric Bristow – third in his prime, though exact figures are hard to verify

The pattern: Modern players dwarf the earnings of 1980s legends, but Lowe’s inflation‑adjusted earnings (including his nine‑dart windfall) narrow the gap considerably.

Where John Lowe ranks

• John Lowe is not among the top 5 richest darts players today
• His net worth is modest compared to Phil Taylor or Michael van Gerwen
• Among players of his generation, however, he is one of the wealthiest due to his sponsorship and pension planning

Why this matters: Lowe’s financial legacy is a lesson in longevity – he earned less per match than today’s stars but made his money last through smart investments and a steady stream of appearances.

Timeline

• 21 July 1945 – Born in Chesterfield – Wikipedia (encyclopedic biography)
• 1979 – Won first BDO World Championship – BetZillion (sports betting analysis)
• 13 October 1984 – Hit first televised nine‑dart finish – Dr Patrick Chaplin (darts historian)
• 1987 – Won second world championship – BetZillion (sports betting analysis)
• 1993 – Won third world championship – BetZillion (sports betting analysis)
• 2022 – Announced retirement after farewell tour – Dartsweb (fan interview)

What’s confirmed and what’s unclear

What others say about John Lowe

“After taxes, the remainder of my 1984 prize money went into a pension fund.”

John Lowe, in a YouTube interview (player’s own account)

“Lowe is widely described as one of the most prominent darts players from the late 1970s onward.”

Wikipedia (encyclopedic biography)

Summary

John Lowe’s legacy rests on three world titles and a historic nine‑dart finish that changed how the sport rewarded excellence. His financial story – careful pension planning, long‑term sponsorship, and steady exhibition work – offers a blueprint for athletes who want their fortune to outlast their playing days. For today’s darts players chasing millions in prize money, the lesson is clear: just as important as what you earn is what you keep.

Related reading: **Luke Humphries**

Frequently asked questions