Forbes.com reports that boxer Floyd Mayweather tops the list of the World’s highest paid athletes. Mayweather earned $105 million in the past 12 months for two fights.
Mayweather’s victories over Canelo Alvarez and Marcos Maidana have netted him the top spot on Forbes’ annual list. “The One,” this past September set records for PPV, gate and revenue. His fight this past May received approximately 900,000 PPV buys and he was guaranteed at least $32 million for the fight.
Soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo came in second with total earning of $80 million broken down into $52 million in salary and $28 in endorsements. LeBron James is third with a total of $72.3 million ($19.3 salary/$53 endorsements). Lionel Messi ($64.7M) and Kobe Bryant ($61.5M) round out the top 5.
Payout Perspective:
The interesting part here is that Forbes does not list any endorsements for Mayweather as the $105 million is all his earnings from his two fights. One could only imagine if he had endorsements. Boxer Manny Pacquiao ended up on number 11 at $41.8 million. Wladmir Klitschko (No. 25, $28M) and Canelo Alvarez (No. 66, $21M) made the top 100 list. If you were wondering, no MMA fighters made the list. The number 100 athlete, soccer player Luis Suarez made a total of $17.3 million.
Sam says
Not surprising that no UFC fighters made the list.
D says
He will appear on “Broke 2” 12 years from now.
Sam says
The hate is strong in Dianne.
Funny thing is most UFC fighters are already stars in “Broke” in the middle of their careers.
🙂
D says
Samantha, pretty pathetic that you have to use 20 aliases.
No UFC/MMA fighter appeared in the original “Broke” documentary, but there were a few boxers.
Logical says
The last time he made the list there was also no mention of any endorsements, it’s crazy how much the other athletes rely on endorsements yet Mayweather tops them all without any.
No MMA fighters on the list? That’s because the UFC owners take the whole piece of the pie and leave the tiny little crumbs for the fighters — this is to be expected.
Sam says
It is beyond pathetic you copy my name, tops, etc… I shortened mine because you iz a loser with no creativity
saldathief says
wow a fighter who makes his own decisions, amazing! too bad no MMA fighter is able to do that under the current structure of the business. Him or anyone being broke in the future is just and ignorant excuse by a low value person with nothing else to say.
D says
First off, you are topps, Sam, Sampson and a various of other names. Second, I’m not the one copying you, moron.
D says
Saldaqueef, right, because when have we ever heard of a boxer who made hundreds of millions that blew nearly all of it? Tyson, Holyfield, etc.
Talk about low value.
saldathief says
yea we all know they are broke fuck wad lol what does that have to do with what they earned and what mma fighters don’t and never will earn loser
D says
Haha. Go back and read the conversation Mullet man.
Fightbusiness says
HAHAHA LOL. Hey dumbass MMA fans. Show your faces. Give me one MMA fighter who made the list? And yet Dana White will keep saying “we’re running things right and Boxing just isnt doing anything right. Mayweather makes more than the Fertitas. Where is Jones’s name? GSP, ETC. LOL.
D says
Mayweather makes more than the Fertittas???? Hahahaha!! Dumbass boxing fans. They are billionaires.
tops E says
Ufc fighters should sign managment contract with haymon and mayweather or some other boxing manager hahahaha.
saldathief says
Thats why they call him “money” now what do they call the highest paid UFC fighter? wait do we even know who that is? GSP? oh wait he’s done, Spider? oh wait he’s done too, Bones? oh wait he can’t be? Dana? oh he’s a failed fighter who’s drunk and overweight. Rousey? whats her nick name? does anyone even care? Dam I don’t think the UFC even has any superstars. Lookout 2015
Fightbusiness says
The numbers are in and they show us that Boxing kicks MMA’s ass at the box office. LOL. LOL LOL Cant wait to see those Cotto Martinez ppv numbers and the ratings Ruslan & GGG pull in this month.
D says
Yeah, that is why the UFC has dominated the ppv industry for the past 7 years.
Not to mention the level of boxing trolls that obsess on mma websites. Everytime you guys troll on here, which is endless, you just prove Dana White’s point.
tops E says
Mgm gave mayweather a bugatti….as a gift…..what did mgm give to gsp or anderson? when i saw the preview of henderson fight…dan hendersons room was really small that it looked cramped ….now check alex ariza in youtube touring marcos maidana’ s mgm suite..it was 2 floors and has many rooms …dan henderson has a bigger name than maidana…all fame and no money!!
tops E says
Sonnen retires hahahaha….
saldathief says
Dana must be doing coke and drinking heavily, wait till Zuffa fires his ass.
assassin says
Mayweather amount also does not include his gambling wagers. If you believe what he posts, he makes mult-imillions gambling every year.
Boxers are individuals in a sport; MMA fighters are employees within a league. Huge difference for the guys at the top of the food chain. I wish the MMA fighters could earn what the top boxers make, but I do not see that happening for quite a while, if ever.
Sam says
Look! Look! I’m a pink piggy!!! 🙂
http://i61.tinypic.com/10hprm1.png
Sam says
I am an idiot. Don’t listen to what I am saying.
Sampson The One and Only says
She gave up and stopped defending the $500+ million in debt Zuffa farce.
No resorting to pure nonsense. Hilarious!
I won 🙂
Sampson The One and Only says
I am a vagina.
tops E says
Yeah ufc shills should argue theyre case regarding the debt instead of copying names nd saying lame statements…moody report came before anderson and gsp retirement and the so far disastrous 2014…and even then they were apprehensive on the business model….hahaha…sinking shipw
tops E says
I like Mayweather, he is MY FAVORITE!!
Sampson The One and Only says
Yep… Over $500 million due in a year and PPVs will be dead in 2014. How they gonna get anymore investors with GSP & Silva flexing their drawing power?
UFC has no top end without those 2 guys.
Sampson The One and Only says
I like Mayweather too!! He is also my favorite!!!!
D says
I love MMA so much I spend as much time as possible fighting the bad guys. I’m a hero and my daddy is a pink pig called Dana. I don’t know how daddy will pay off his huge debt to keep the UFC running but I just want him to know I love him and I’m doing my best to fight the bad guys!
Bellator is poopoo!!!
tops E says
Lol….shills are not allowed to discuss the debt anymore because zuffa is trying to keep it out of the news….hahaha…. what about flash entertainment investor…im.sure theyre pressuring dw regarding theyre investment hahaha….
tops E says
Ive been saying this for years The ufc is a capital intensive marketing business…so the success it has is largely due to over the top spending for marketing and creating the brand…
Normally companies releasing a new product would spend alot during the first year of launch then gradually decrease the marketing spending in the suceeding years to see if the product can stand on its own…but the ufc up to now still needs the huge marketing spending and even with that the product is still on the decline….
Sam says
It is a dying fad. Once the current era of fans and media grow tired of it (as ratings, attendance, and PPV buys point to) the ship will finally sink! 🙂
Oink oink oink!
tops E says
I have tried that gay thing like a thousand times, it’s just not for me.
Sam says
Sampson, you may think that Mayweather is your favorite, but he is much more my favorite!!!
tops E says
See still no argument from the shills..hahaha…i hope mmapayout would make a detailed article regarding the debt( and its status as of now)..
tops E says
Sam, how can that be, because Floyd Mayweather is my favorite!!!!
The Greatest says
Mayweather making that $$$.
Eat that dick, D.
D, no MMA fighters were on “Broke” because you have to actually make money first and then lose it to go broke.