Stephen Hendry admits it would be 'incredible' if Ronnie O'Sullivan became the first player to win £2million in a single season.
However, Hendry says he is 'more jealous' of the Rocket's snooker ability, rather than the money he brings in from his success.
O'Sullivan has won five tournaments so far this season, including the first two Triple Crown events at the UK Championship and the Masters.
That is despite the 48-year-old making a conscious effort to reduce his schedule and only play the tournaments that wants to compete in.
Stephen Hendry admits he is jealous of Ronnie O'Sullivan's snooker ability
Getty
O'Sullivan has committed to three more tournaments before the end of the season, starting at the World Open in China next week.
He will then be at the Tour Championship in Manchester in early April before the World Snooker Championship begins at the Crucible later that month.
O'Sullivan's prize money this season already stands at £1,141,500, overtaking Judd Trump's previous record for the most in a single campaign.
If he is victorious at the next three tournaments, as well as scooping high break prizes, he has the potential to be the first player to win over £2m in a season.
Seven-time world champion Hendry believes it is a possibility with the form O'Sullivan has shown in the last nine months or so.
But he insists he is jealous of O'Sullivan's level at the table rather than his prize money.
Hendry said on the WST Podcast: "Look at the money he is making. He is absolutely trousering hundreds of thousands of pounds every single week it seems.
"I'm more jealous of the snooker he plays rather than what he is earning. Ronnie has so far earned £1,141,500.
"If he was to win the World Open, Tour Championship and the World Championship, he could go over £2m in earnings for a single season.
"Which would be incredible. If he did do it, it would be a pretty good advert for snooker.
"Because I think people think snooker is not what it was, and the prize money and titles, people think snooker is not as big a sport as it was.
"But if someone was to win £2m in one season, I think it would be a pretty good advert for our sport."
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
Stephen Hendry says it would be incredible if Ronnie O'Sullivan broke the £2m barrier
Getty
O'Sullivan will be aiming to break the record he holds with Hendry and win an eighth World Championship in Sheffield.
Hendry has explained the simple reason behind his old rival's sustained success.
The Scot added: "When he’s at his best, as he was against Higgins in Saudi Arabia and against Ding [Junhui] in the Players [Championship], he just never misses.
"Obviously his cue ball control is better than anyone else’s.
Ronnie O'Sullivan has three more tournaments to play this season
Getty
"The thing with Ronnie, if you watch Ronnie through a season, he very, very rarely misses anything easy. He always pots the balls he’s supposed to pot.
"I say many times in commentary, it’s the easy shots that find you out.
"A lot of the other players do miss easy balls now and then and Ronnie never seems to. That’s the secret."
