Luke Donald became the first man to win the US and European money lists in one year after finishing third at the season-ending Dubai World Championship.
The world number one needed a top-nine finish to complete the feat and shot a bogey-free 66 for a 16 under total.
Rory McIlroy, who had to win the Dubai event for a chance of the money list, closed with a 71, 10 shots adrift.
Spaniard Alvaro Quiros, the overnight leader, won the title by two shots after a 67 left him at 19 under.
After accumulating £4.19m in winning the US money list, Donald finished with earnings of £3,632,685 from his tournaments on the European Tour.
"There's a lot still to achieve," he said, after being presented with the lavish Race to Dubai trophy. "The beauty of this game is that you are always looking for ways to improve.
"I'd love to pick up a major," added the Englishman, whose best finish to date in golf's big four annual events is joint third in the Masters and PGA Championship.
"It's fun being number one but I know there are lots of great players chasing me and that will keep me motivated to work hard."
It was a typically assured performance from 34-year-old Donald, who did not drop a shot over the final 46 holes of the tournament.
He began the final day four behind overnight leader Quiros and made the perfect start with a measured approach that trickled to within nine feet of the flag at the first hole and a calm birdie putt.
After a successful up and down from the sand at the fourth he recorded another birdie at the fifth when another fine approach finished within five feet of the pin.
Donald missed several birdie opportunities but finished in style by picking up shots at each of the closing three holes.
At the treacherous par-three 17th over water he pitched to within five feet for a two then at the par five last his wedge shot from the fairway finished two feet from the cup.
McIlroy holed a 20-foot putt at the 10th for his second birdie of the day to reach 10 under but his anger was evident when he missed a par putt from six feet at the next.
The US Open champion parred his way in to a round of 71 and second place in the Race to Dubai standings.
"I can't wait to have a few weeks off," said the 22-year-old, who has been troubled by a possible case of Dengue fever and has withdrawn from next week's Thailand Golf Championship, the last event of the season on the Asian Tour.
"The doctor told me that no matter how bad I'm feeling now I'd be even worse if I played next week."
Quiros had lost his two-shot advantage by the turn after veteran Scotsman Paul Lawrie picked up five shots in his first eight holes.
However, the long-hitting 28-year-old secured his fifth European title when he eagled the last for the second time in the tournament.
Meanwhile the European Tour announced that a new three-year agreement had been signed for the Dubai tournament to continue as the finale to the season.
LUKE DONALD FACTFILE
2002 Claims first US Tour win
2004 Wins twice on the European Tour, helps Europe to Ryder Cup victory and wins World Cup with Paul Casey
2006 Records a second US title and wins all three matches in another European Ryder Cup victory
2008 Wrist injury forces him out of Ryder Cup, which Europe lose
2010 Wins Madrid Masters and takes three out of four points as Europe regain Ryder Cup
2011 Wins World Match Play and European Tour's PGA Championship to become world number one
EUROPEAN MONEY LIST
2010 Martin Kaymer (Ger)
2009 Lee Westwood (Eng)
2008 Robert Karlsson (Swe)
2007 Justin Rose (Eng)
2006 Padraig Harrington (Ire)
