Ronnie O’Sullivan has amassed a fortune thanks to his legendary snooker career – and the Rocket used his eye-watering earnings to make one bizarre purchase a few years ago
Snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan once splashed out on a £130,000 canal boat, only to sell it a year later.
The seven-time world champion has earned more money over his long, glittering career than any other player in the history of the sport, with his prize money amounting to £14.73million.
O’Sullivan holds most of the sport’s records, including the highest number of Triple Crown titles and maximum breaks. However, his spending habits haven’t always aligned with what you might expect from an international sports icon.
That was clear to see in 2018 when he decided to buy a luxury narrow boat, named Morfe Lady Three, instead of a yacht or a multi-million-pound mansion as others might have.
Moored on Regent’s Canal, which runs between north and east London, the 60-foot boat provided a peaceful retreat from the stresses of the English capital. It boasted a cosy lounge area complete with an indoor fire chimney, a sofa, chair and rug, as well as a television.
O’Sullivan downplayed his purchase to TV presenter Matt Smith in a popular Eurosport clip. In his typical nonchalant fashion, he quipped it’s “no big yacht but it’s alright.”
Yet, the boat still featured a modern kitchen with an oven and wooden oval table, a bedroom with a double bed, and an en-suite bathroom adorned with a tiled floor, redwood vanity units with granite worktops, and a large wash basin.
The 49-year-old snooker legend revealed to Smith (via the Mirror): “I lived on a boat about seven or eight years ago in London and I loved it. I spent about three or four months living on it but couldn’t use it because I had to get back to work – but I always had it in my mind that I’d buy another one.”
He went on to explain why he made the unique purchase, saying: “I couldn’t sit in a hotel room but I come in, have a little kip, put the snooker on, the TV on, have a few friends come in. You don’t feel like you’re cooped up so much. It’s nice to see water.”
But it appears O’Sullivan’s work commitments took priority once more, leading him to put his boat on the market just a year later for £129,950, without looking to buy another.
Since then, he has added two more world championships to his tally, though he missed out on a record eighth title after being defeated in the semi-finals of the 2025 tournament by eventual winner Zhao Xintong earlier this month.
Making his first professional appearance since January after taking an extended break from snooker, the veteran displayed flashes of brilliance but repeatedly voiced concerns over his confidence levels.
That was partly due to issues with his cue, having snapped it in frustration during his last outing earlier in the year. He struggled to adapt to his new one throughout the recent World Championship and even changed his cue tip during the first session against Zhao.
Despite starting Friday morning’s session level at 4-4 with his Chinese rival, O’Sullivan was ultimately defeated 17-7. His tumultuous season included last-minute withdrawals from the German Masters and UK Open, as well as calling off an exhibition match with John Higgins in Helsinki.