1886, Steinitz-Zukertort: £800

The prize fund was split evenly. Steinitz won the match +10 -5 =5.

1891, Steinitz-Gunsberg: $3,000

Steinitz won the match +6 -4 =9 and took home a $2,000 winner’s share.

1921, Capablanca-Lasker: $25,000

Capablanca won the match +4 -0 =10, but only received $12,000 in prize money. Lasker got the other $13,000.

1927, Alekhine-Capablanca: $10,00

Alekhine won the match +6 -3 =25, but Capablanca received a $2,000 appearance fee.

1935, Euwe-Alekhine: $10,000

Euwe won the match +9 -8 =13 and the $10,000 stake.

1966, Petrosian-Spassky: $2,000

In this era of Soviet dominance, the world chess championship was an internal affair. Petrosian received just a $2,000 bonus for winning the match. 

1972, Fischer-Spassky: $250,000

Bobby Fischer brought unprecedented interest and money to the world chess championship. In addition to the gigantic purse, Fischer demanded — and received — 30 percent of the match’s television rights and gate.

Fischer, of course, won the match +7 -3 =11 and the winner's share of $156,250.

1978, Karpov-Korchnoi: $560,000

Karpov took home $350,000 for winning the match +6 -5 =21.

1990, Kasparov-Karpov: $3 million

Kasparov won the monster $1.875 million winner’s share by going +4 -3 =17 in the match. 

1995, Kasparov-Anand: $1.5 million

Kasparov took home a cool million for beating Anand +4 -1 =13 at the top of the world. 

2000, Kasparov-Kramnik: $2 million

Kramnik shocked Kasparov and the world and won $1.33 million for his +2 -0 =13 performance.

2006, Kramnik-Topalov: $1 million

The prize fund was arranged to be split evenly at $500,000 each regardless of result, and appropriately enough, Kramnik won the match on tiebreaks. 

2008, Anand-Kramnik: €1.5 million ($1.9 million)

Anand claimed the title by going +3 -1 =7, but each player took home the same $950,000 share

2010, Anand-Topalov: €2 million ($2.8 million)

Anand defended his title, going +3 -2 =7, and won the $1.68 million champion’s share.

2012, Anand-Gelfand: $2.55 million

Anand won the match on tiebreaks, receiving $1.53 million. He also was granted a $400,000 bonus from the Indian government.

2013, Carlsen-Anand: $2.5 million

Carlsen won the title and $1.5 million by going +3 -0 =7.

2014, Carlsen-Anand: €1 million ($1.25 million)

The winner of the match will receive $750,000, and the loser will take home $500,000.