Who are the richest MMA fighters in the world? Here’s a list of the wealthiest and highest-paid UFC fighters in 2024.
Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact combat sport that allows fighters to use a combination of striking and grappling techniques from various martial arts disciplines. The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is the largest and most well-known promotion company for MMA, featuring some of the world’s best fighters in the octagon.
The popularity of UFC and MMA has skyrocketed in recent years, with fans drawn to the high intensity and skill required to compete at the highest level. The sport has gained a massive following due to the unpredictability and excitement of each fight, with fans often comparing it to gladiator-style combat.
With the growing popularity of the sport, the financial rewards for top UFC/MMA fighters have also increased dramatically. The current richest and highest-paid UFC/MMA fighters have earned millions of dollars through their successful careers, with many becoming household names and global superstars.
In this article, TheDistin will take a closer look at the current richest and highest-paid UFC/MMA fighters, exploring their careers, earnings, and what makes them stand out in the world of combat sports.
Top 10 richest MMA/UFC fighters in 2024
The richest MMA fighters have made names for themselves in the sporting world with their numerous wins. These athletes started their careers at tender ages and have grown into the world’s best athletes.
So, here are the top 10 richest MMA fighters in the world and their reported net worth.
10. Bruce Buffer: $12 Million
Bruce Buffer started studying martial arts in his childhood and eventually earned a green belt in judo and a black belt in Tang Soo Do.
Chuck Norris introduced him to Tang Soo Do, and he also studied kickboxing.
Today, he is a professional mixed martial arts ring announcer and the official octagon announcer for UFC events.
Bruce Buffer’s net worth is $12 million, and he earns around $100,000 a year.
9. Ronda Rosey: $14 Million
Ronda Rousey’s net worth is $14 million as of 2024. She is a mixed martial arts competitor and judoka who is considered the most popular and successful female MMA fighter of all time. Besides, she is a successful actress.
8. Wanderlei Silva: $18 Million
Before returning to the UFC later in his prestigious career, Wanderlei Silva stormed to legendary status in the MMA world within the Pride Fighting Championship in Japan.
It’s in Pride that Silva holds the records for the most wins, knockouts, title defenses, and longest winning streak in the organization’s history.
After reigning as Pride middleweight king, the Brazilian star enjoyed relative success on his move back to the UFC and is considered a legend of the sport.
Wanderlei Silva has a net worth of $18 million.
7. Fedor Emelianenko: $18 Million
Fedor Vladimirovich Emelianenko is a Russian former professional mixed martial artist (MMA), sambist, judoka, and politician.
Known as “The Last Emperor”, Russian legend Fedor Emelianenko earned a long list of accolades throughout his historic career. Among these are reigning as Pride heavyweight champion for four years and being named Fighter of the Decade in the 2000s.
Born on September 28, 1976, Fedor is one of the most influential athletes Russia has ever had, with the country’s president, Putin, having been at some of his matches.
Despite having never competed in the UFC, the sport’s most high-profile organization in the world, Emelianenko has entered the top 10 highest-earning MMA fighters in the world.
The retired UFC fighter, Fedor Emelianenko, has a net worth of $18 million.
6. Tito Ortiz: $20 Million
Tito Ortiz is a politician, former UFC fighter, and mixed martial artist currently signed to the Combate Americas promotion.
He rose to fame while fighting in the UFC and established a reputation as one of the most skilled wrestlers ever.
Tito Ortiz’s net worth is $20 million.
5. Brock Lesnar: $25 Million
One of the most recognizable sports stars in the world, Brock Lesnar is a generational athlete with an intimidating and imposing physique.
Lesnar began his sporting career as a wrestler and American footballer, but it was within the WWE that he became a global superstar.
A sensational switch to the UFC saw his status rocket even further, as he ultimately was crowned heavyweight champion.
His worldwide profile cemented incredible Box Office success, and he has generated vast wealth throughout his entire career as a result.
What is Brock Lesnar’s net worth? Professional wrestler Brock Lesnar has accumulated an estimated current net worth of $25 million. He was previously worth $25 million, meaning there has been a decrease in his fortune.
4. Georges St. Pierre: $30 Million
Inside the top five richest MMA fighters in the world, and it’s another all-time great.
Georges St. Pierre enjoyed a remarkable career in the octagon, becoming a three-time welterweight king and also clinching the middleweight crown.
Being widely regarded as one of the best of all time, the Canadian star holds an abundance of UFC records and has accumulated a massive fortune in millions of dollars.
After being involved in many PPV showdowns within the UFC, St. Pierre was later involved in an acting career in fight-related movies and television programs.
What is Georges St-Pierre’s net worth? Retired Canadian mixed martial artist Georges St-Pierre has a net worth of $30 million.
3. Khabib Nurmagomedov: $40 Million
A modern-day superstar.
Khabib Nurmagomedov, an adored athlete in his home nation of Russia, has been one of the biggest names in the UFC during his dominant reign as lightweight ruler.
At the height of his overall supremacy, being the longest-reigning UFC lightweight champion in history, he retired with an unblemished record of 29-0.
Victories over Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje cemented his legacy, with his supreme career making him a household name.
Nurmagomedov is the most followed Russian on Instagram and the first Muslim ever to win a UFC championship, also seeing huge financial rewards as a result.
What is Khabib Nurmagomedov’s net worth? Khabib Nurmagomedov is a former Russian mixed martial artist who has a net worth of $40 million.
2. Rorion Gracie: $50 Million
A true MMA icon.
Rorion Gracie is one of the few practitioners in the world to hold a 9th-degree red belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and is a pioneer of martial arts, having introduced Brazilian jiu-jitsu to the world.
With a net worth of $50 million, Gracie has earned his fortune from a career and life as a jiu-jitsu grandmaster, writer, publisher, and lecturer.
He is also one of the co-founders of the UFC and has worked as a technical advisor and fight scene choreographer for several Hollywood movies.
What is Rorion Gracie’s net worth? Rorion Gracie is a Brazilian martial artist, writer, and publisher who has a net worth of $50 million.
1. Conor McGregor: $200 Million
Who is the richest UFC fighter? Conor McGregor is the current highest-paid and wealthiest MMA/UFC fighter in the world, with a fortune of $200 million. He is not a billionaire yet but rather a millionaire who makes a sizable salary annually.
There was only ever going to be one name at the top of the richest UFC fighter list.
Conor McGregor has become one of the biggest global superstars in a short space of time.
The Irishman arrived on the UFC scene in style, bringing a legion of supporters with him, and seeing his success in the cage and entertaining trash-talking made him a quick-fire phenomenon.
Beyond just his UFC victories and record-breaking paydays, “The Notorious” has used his name to move into the business world.
McGregor’s whiskey brand ‘Proper 12’ has helped him grow his wealth even further as he sits atop the list as the richest UFC fighter ever.
What is Conor McGregor’s net worth? Irish professional fighter Conor McGregor has a net worth of $200 million. That figure includes the roughly $100 million payday Conor earned from his August 2017 fight against Floyd Mayweather, the $50 million from his October 2018 fight against Khabib, and an estimated $200 million in pre-tax earnings from the April 2021 sale of his whiskey brand Proper No. Twelve.
Summary
Who are the richest MMA fighters in the world?
- Conor McGregor – $200 Million
- Rorion Gracie – $50 Million
- Khabib Nurmagomedov – $40 Million
- Georges St. Pierre – $30 Million
- Brock Lesnar – $28 Million
- Tito Ortiz – $20 Million
- Fedor Emelianenko – $18 Million
- Wanderlei Silva – $18 Million
- Ronda Rosey – $13 Million
- Bruce Buffer – $12 Million
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the richest UFC fighter?
Conor McGregor is the richest UFC fighter in 2024, with a net worth of $200 million.
Who is richer between Conor McGregor and Khabib?
Conor McGregor is richer than Khabib. McGregor is worth $200 million, while Khabib is worth $40 million.
How much do UFC fighters get paid?
The amount UFC fighters make depends on the terms and conditions of their contracts. They are classified into three tiers, i.e., low, medium, and high, with the latter earning the highest amounts.
What is Chael Sonnen’s net worth?
Chael Sonnen is worth $4 million as of 2024.
What is Michael Chandler’s net worth?
Michael Chandler is worth about $2.5 million as of 2023.
What is UFC’s net worth in 2024?
The UFC is estimated to be worth around $9–10 billion in 2022. In 2023, it was reported that the company was worth $4 billion. The company generated $1 billion in revenue in the first quarter of this year. UFC’s revenue streams include broadcast deals, pay-per-view sales, and sponsorships.
What is Carla Esparza’s net worth in 2023?
Carla Esparza’s net worth is estimated to be around $1.3 million. She has made most of her net worth from her MMA career.
Who is the best UFC fighter currently?
Jon Jones ranks as the best Men’s Pound-for-Pound UFC fighter.
What is the UFC stand for?
The full meaning of UFC is Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Do UFC fighters get a salary?
The fighters usually sign a contract for a certain number of fights for a fixed amount of money each time they step inside the Octagon. The three tiers are low, medium, and high, with the lowest earning between $10,000 and $30,000 and the highest ranking between $500,000 and $3,000,000 per fight.
Who is the current owner of the UFC?
The majority owner of the UFC today is Endeavor, with 50.1% of ownership. Endeavor is a Hollywood entertainment company investing in various businesses across the entertainment industry. However, since they bought the UFC, it’s by far their biggest income creator.
Is a UFC fighter a job?
UFC fighters spend as many hours in training every week as most people spend at their day jobs. Considering that fighters compete only a few times a year but must train for several hours a day in a variety of fighting styles to be competitive, the training is effectively a job duty for a UFC fighter.