When one thinks of the highest-paid athletes in the world, names like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo generally come to mind. While those two soccer stars are among the most financially successful sportsmen today, another athlete has quietly built an even more impressive fortune. If you think you don’t follow boxing, think again.
The sport of boxing is one that generates a lot of interest from casual and die-hard fans alike, so much so that some of the biggest names in this industry have been able to accumulate massive fortunes from their involvement in it. The most prominent boxer with a net worth north of $400 million is none other than Floyd “Money” Mayweather, Jr. Is one of only a handful of professional boxers to compete at the highest level over the past decade (others include Manny Pacquiao, Sugar Shane MENDY, and Anthony “the Canecutter” COLLAZO), Money has been able to parlay his talent into a fortune few others can match.
How much is Floyd Mayweather worth?
It’s impossible to say exactly how much Floyd Mayweather is worth, but there are some estimates we can work with. Typically, financial analysts crunch the numbers by looking at a combination of the present value of a person’s future earnings (what their earnings are worth today) and incorporating an equity value based on ownership of properties or shares in a business.
Because Mayweather has earned so much and has shrewdly invested a sizable portion of his earnings, his earnings and equity are each estimated at more than $400 million. These two values combined represent a total net worth of more than $800 million.
How did Floyd Mayweather earn his money?
Floyd Mayweather’s career in boxing began when he was only 19 years old, following a stint as an amateur boxer. At age 26, Mayweather turned pro and proceeded to win 26 consecutive fights, 23 of them by knockout. When Mayweather was 27 years old, he made his pay-per-view debut in a fight against Argentinian boxer Carlos HENDERSON, which he won in a unanimous decision. Since that time, Mayweather has fought in numerous high-profile events, generating millions of dollars in revenue for each.
Unfortunately for Mayweather, his biggest money-making fights have been against other boxers. When a boxer wins a fight against another boxer, he is not paid a set rate or salary, but rather a percentage of the revenue generated by the event. In other words, the more people who buy the pay-per-view, the larger Mayweather’s paycheck will be.
Floyd Mayweather’s most lucrative fights
Mayweather’s most lucrative paydays have come in three fights against Manny Pacquiao (which grossed $847 million), a bout against fellow boxer Saul “Canelo” ALVAREZ (which grossed $150 million), and a fight against mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Conor McGregor (which was expected to bring in $350 million). While Mayweather’s paydays have been astronomical, the revenue from these events has been split with various other parties. For instance, out of the $350 million expected to be generated by the Mayweather-McGregor fight, Mayweather’s total earnings (after paying taxes) were estimated to be $100 million.
Mayweather’s endorsement deals
In addition to his massive paydays from fight purses, Mayweather has also generated a significant amount of money from endorsements. When he was 27 years old and still an up-and-coming boxer, Mayweather signed a $750,000 deal with Pepsi. Since then, he has partnered with brands like Hublot, T-Mobile, and many more. In addition to earning a significant amount of money from these deals, Mayweather has also been able to parlay his reputation and connections into a position as a promoter. That’s right, Mayweather has also founded or co-founded various businesses and investment funds, including a boxing league called the Money Team Elite, and a technology company called the Migme Media Group.
Bottom line
Nobody becomes a top-earning athlete like Floyd Mayweather without being a gifted and hard-working person. From the beginning of his career, Mayweather has been willing to do whatever it takes to win, whether that means training harder than anyone else, or out-negotiating his opponents in the boxing ring.
That said, Mayweather has also been extremely savvy when it comes to managing his money and building his brand. From living modestly and putting a significant portion of his earnings into investments, to wisely leveraging his stardom to earn more money from endorsements, Mayweather has proven himself to be a true champion. Such an impressive track record is sure to keep Mayweather at the top of the list of richest athletes for years to come.
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