Stephen Hendry is one of the most successful snooker players of all time, but it’s not just his cue action that keeps him in the headlines. The snooker legend Stephen Hendry, famous for clinching his first snooker world championship at the tender age of 21 has built a huge net worth through his illustrious career. Yet in recent years, it’s his personal life that has made just as much noise. His relationship with children’s entertainer and actress Lauren Thundow, who is 20 years younger, has turned heads across the snooker world.
This article is worth reading because it dives deep into Hendry’s net worth, the remarkable milestones of his snooker career, and the details of his personal life, including the age gap romance that continues to fascinate fans. We’ll explore his seven world titles, his rivalry with Ronnie O’Sullivan, and why Hendry still matters in the snooker world decades after his first wife, first World Championship triumph, and early stardom.
Who is Stephen Hendry and Why is He a Snooker Legend?
Stephen Hendry isn’t just a snooker star, he’s a snooker legend who dominated the sport like few before him. He turned professional at the tender age of 16 in 1985 and clinched his first snooker world championship just five years later at the age of 21 years and 106 days, becoming the youngest ever champion.
Hendry’s snooker career saw him rack up world titles throughout his career, including five UK Championships, four European Masters and British Opens, and the prestigious World Masters men’s doubles. By the mid 1990s, snooker was all that mattered to him, and he sat firmly on top in an individual sport that was gaining worldwide recognition.
Alongside the likes of Steve Davis, Hendry also carried snooker into the mainstream. The likes of Steve Davis had made snooker a household spectacle, but Hendry added a ruthless winning streak that made him the best in snooker and snooker’s first modern superstar.
Stephen Hendry’s Net Worth: How Much is He Worth Today?
Talk of Stephen Hendry’s net worth has always fascinated fans. After an illustrious career that included seven world titles, five UK Championships, and countless other honours, Hendry’s personal fortune is remarkable. Today, Stephen Hendry’s net worth is estimated at around £13.5 million, an impressive net worth built from prize money, endorsements, exhibitions, and punditry.
This impressive net worth puts him right alongside snooker’s other greats, including Ronnie O’Sullivan and Steve Davis. While Ronnie may have overtaken him in world championship tallies, Hendry’s financial legacy remains secure thanks to smart money related decisions and his longevity in the game.
Hendry was a dominant snooker star in the 1990s, earning prize money when the sport was at its television peak. His winnings, combined with appearances in the Legends Snooker Exhibition and modern projects like his Cue Tips YouTube channel, keep his name alive in the snooker world.
How Did Stephen Hendry Build His Huge Net Worth?
Hendry’s huge net worth was not an accident, it came from total domination. Between 1990 and 1996, he won the World Championship five consecutive times, a record that may never be matched. Those years cemented his status as a seven time snooker world champion and built the foundation of his wealth.
Beyond titles, Hendry’s money came from consistent winning. He lifted trophies at the World Championship, five UK Championships, and including four European Masters. Each win added prize money and prestige, making him the face of the snooker world during its golden era.
Endorsements, exhibitions, and media roles bolstered his finances further. Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan often appeared together in Legends Snooker Exhibition events, proving that fans still flock to see the two greatest names in the world of snooker.
Stephen Hendry’s Personal Life: From First Wife to Lauren Thundow
Hendry’s personal life has been almost as public as his snooker career. He met his first wife, Amanda Tart, at the age of 16, and they were married in 1995. Amanda Tart was a constant figure throughout his early career, supporting him while he became the best in snooker. Together, they had two sons, and for years Hendry’s family life appeared picture perfect.
But in time, Hendry and Amanda Tart separated. Hendry’s personal life entered the spotlight once again when he met his new partner. It was clear that Hendry’s personal life was evolving, even as his professional commitments continued.
The drama of his personal life deepened when wife Mandy asks about his future and Hendry admitted he was no longer as involved in the game as before. By the time of their split, Hendry’s personal life had become tabloid fodder, and the next chapter was about to surprise everyone.
Who is Lauren Thundow, Stephen Hendry’s Girlfriend 20 Years Younger?
Lauren Thundow is a children’s entertainer and actress. When entertainer and actress Lauren Thundow entered Hendry’s life, the headlines wrote themselves. They first met Lauren when Thundow was 26 and Hendry was 45, sparking talk of a 19 year age gap. Some papers stretched it to call her Stephen Hendry’s girlfriend 20 years younger, fuelling the gossip even further.
Thundow’s career as children’s entertainer and actress Lauren added another layer of intrigue, as fans wondered how Hendry, a reserved snooker legend, paired with someone from such a different world. But Hendry himself insisted the age gap didn’t matter, describing Thundow as his biggest support in life away from the snooker table.
For Hendry, the relationship has been both personal and public. It revived interest in him outside the baize and gave him a new narrative beyond his seven world titles.
Age Gap Romance: Does It Matter in the Snooker World?
The age gap between Hendry and Lauren has been one of the most talked about elements of his personal life. Thundow was 26 and Hendry was 45 when they began dating, and the 19 year age gap (often reported as 20 years younger) became a headline in itself.
For some, the relationship reflected a new chapter of Hendry’s personal life after decades of being defined by snooker. For others, it was tabloid gold, especially when compared with the private nature of his first marriage.
Hendry brushed off the talk, much like he brushed off opponents in his heyday. For him, being with Lauren was simply about happiness, a personal life choice that showed he wasn’t just the cold, robotic snooker machine of the 1990s.
Stephen Hendry vs Ronnie O’Sullivan: A Tale of Two Snooker Legends
Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan remain forever linked in the snooker world. Both became seven time snooker world champions, both defined eras, and both became snooker stars with impressive net worth figures. Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan’s rivalry has become symbolic, Hendry representing dominance in the 1990s, Ronnie embodying flair in the 2000s and beyond.
Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan often faced each other in exhibitions, including the Legends Snooker Exhibition. Hendry also praised O’Sullivan for keeping the sport alive when Hendry stepped back. The two, along with Steve Davis, form the holy trinity of the modern snooker world.
The Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan debate often boils down to style, one clinical, one flamboyant. But in terms of legacy, both sit comfortably as the best in snooker and snooker’s global ambassadors.
Stephen Hendry’s Illustrious Career and World Titles Throughout His Career
Stephen Hendry’s illustrious career is built on numbers that remain staggering. Seven world titles, five UK Championships, four European Masters, and countless invitational trophies, Hendry also won the BBC Scotland Sports Personality award and remains one of the sport’s most decorated champions.
He clinched his first snooker world championship at the age of 21, becoming the youngest ever champion, and then dominated for a decade. He was professional at the tender age of 16 in 1985, entered Pontins to hone his skills, and won the World Championship just five years later.
Hendry’s reign ensured he would always be remembered as a snooker legend. For many, snooker was all that mattered when Hendry was at his peak, and his name defined the sport worldwide.
What is Stephen Hendry Doing Now?
Today, Hendry’s life is a mix of commentary, exhibitions, and YouTube. He is involved in the game as a pundit and regularly shares insights on his Cue Tips YouTube channel, where he dissects shots, techniques, and stories from his career.
Hendry also appears in Legends Snooker Exhibition events alongside Ronnie O’Sullivan and Steve Davis, reminding fans that the old guard still has charisma. His career as a snooker legend continues even though he has officially retired from the tour.
Away from the table, Hendry’s personal life with Lauren Thundow keeps him in the headlines, proving that a snooker legend’s story doesn’t stop when the trophies do.
Stephen Hendry’s Legacy: Best in Snooker and Snooker’s Cold King
Stephen Hendry’s legacy rests on his seven world titles, his dominance through the 1990s, and his ability to turn himself into a brand. For years, Hendry was top in an individual sport where mental toughness was as important as technical ability.
Hendry also embodied professionalism. His first wife Amanda Tart once said snooker was all that mattered to him, and perhaps that single mindedness explains why he achieved so much. Yet, Hendry’s personal life after Amanda, including his romance with Lauren has shown a softer side.
Even now, Hendry’s impressive net worth, his reputation as a seven time snooker world champion, and his place alongside Steve Davis and Ronnie O’Sullivan ensure his name will live forever in the snooker world.
Summary: Stephen Hendry’s Net Worth & Age Gap Romance
- Stephen Hendry’s net worth is estimated at around £13.5 million, an impressive net worth built on his seven world titles and consistent winning.
- He clinched his first snooker world championship just five years after turning pro at the age of 16 in 1985, becoming champion at 21 years and 106 days.
- Hendry’s illustrious career included five UK Championships, four European Masters, and countless invitational wins.
- He met his first wife Amanda Tart young, married in 1995, and had two sons before separating.
- Hendry’s personal life hit headlines when he first met Lauren Thundow, a children’s entertainer and actress who was 26 and Hendry was 45, a relationship with a 19 year age gap, often framed as “girlfriend 20 years younger.”
- His romance with Lauren Thundow and life away from the snooker table keep him in the public eye.
- Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan remain forever compared as the two greatest names in the world of snooker, alongside Steve Davis.
- His legacy as a seven time snooker world champion and one of the best in snooker and snooker history remains untouchable.
