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Check out the list of the richest MMA fighters in the world right now.
In recent years, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has risen to become one of the most popular combat sports in the world.
The multi-billion dollar industry has produced some of the richest athletes in the world today with these superstar fighters selling out stadiums and arenas each pay-per-view.
If you’ve ever wondered how much your favourite fighters make or who is the richest amongst them, look no further as Pulse Sports will reveal the list of the Top 10 richest MMA fighters in the world as per figures from Celebrity Net Worth.
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Who is the Richest MMA Fighter in the World?
As of September 2023, Conor McGregor is undisputedly the no.1 richest MMA fighter in the world.
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McGregor is also the most popular MMA fighter in the world with an estimated net worth of $200 million, making him one of the richest athletes in the world, and the richest MMA fighter of all time.
But who else joins ‘Notorious’ on the MMA Rich-list in 2023?
Brace yourself for some shockers below!
Top 10 Richest MMA Fighters in the World REVEALED!
10. Andrew Tate (Net Worth) - $12 million
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Category: Richest Athletes - MMA
Full Name: Emory Andrew Tate III
Date of Birth: December 1, 1986
Place of Birth: Washington, D.C, United States.
Age: 36 years old (as of September 2023)
Nationality: American, British
Gender: Male
Social Media: Twitter, @Cobratate
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Andrew Tate is an American-British media personality, businessman, and former professional kickboxer.
As of 2023, Andrew Tate is one of the richest MMA fighters in the world.
Andrew Tate has been practising kickboxing since 2005 and gained his first championship in 2009.
He attracted wider attention in 2016 when he appeared on the British reality show Big Brother.
He was removed from the show after a video emerged of Tate repeatedly striking a woman with a belt.
However, both parties later stated that the act was consensual.
Eventually in his career, Tate began offering paid courses and memberships through his website and rose to fame as an internet celebrity, promoting an "ultra-masculine, ultra-luxurious lifestyle".
Tate has also been often criticised for his misogynistic commentary on podcasts, and TV Shows, which has resulted in his suspension from various social media platforms.
In December 2022, Tate and his brother Tristan were arrested in Romania along with two women; all four are suspected of human trafficking and forming an organised crime group.
Romanian police alleged that the group coerced victims into creating paid pornography.
In March 2023, all four were moved to house arrest while the investigation continued, after being held in custody since their arrest.
In June, they were charged with rape, human trafficking, and forming an organised crime group to sexually exploit women. Tate and his brother deny all charges.
On 4 August, their house arrest was reportedly replaced with judicial control until 2 October, allowing the four accused to leave their house, but not Ilfov County.
How did Andrew Tate make his money?
According to multiple reports, Tate operated Hustler's University, a platform where members paid a $49.99 monthly membership fee to receive instruction on ways to make money outside traditional employment, such as cryptocurrency, copywriting, and e-commerce, which was facilitated by pre-recorded videos and a Discord server.
The website employed an affiliate marketing program, where members received a commission for recruiting others to the platform.
Tate became highly prominent in 2022 by encouraging members of Hustler's University to post large numbers of videos of him to social media platforms in an effort to maximise engagement.
As of August 2022, its website had amassed over 100,000 subscribers.
That same month, the Irish-American financial services company Stripe pulled out of processing subscriptions for the platform, and Hustler's University shut down its affiliate marketing program.
After Hustler's University was shut down, Tate launched a rebranded version of the program called "The Real World" in October 2022.
Tate also operates a private network called "The War Room" which is advertised as a "global network in which exemplars of individualism work to free the modern man from socially induced incarceration."
Tate is also notorious for flaunting his exotic lifestyle on his social media pages.
From his social media posts, Andrew Tate's car collection is apparently quite large and valuable.
It is believed that his collection includes over 20 vehicles including a Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport, which costs a whopping $5.2 million, Two Ferrari 812 competiziones estimated to be worth around $600,000 per piece, Two Lamborghinis, a Rolls Royce Wraith, and McLaren 720s estimated to cost over $320,000.
As of September 2023, he boasts over 7 million followers on his official Twitter page, having been banned from Instagram over his clips and viral cuts.
As of 2023, Andrew Tate has a net worth of $12 million, making him one of the richest MMA fighters in the world.
9. Ronda Rousey (Net Worth) -$14 million
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Category: Richest Athletes - MMA
Full Name: Ronda Jean Rousey
Date of Birth: February 1, 1987
Place of Birth: Riverside, California, United States
Age: 36 (as of September 2023)
Nationality: American
Gender: Female
Social Media: Instagram, @rondarousey | Twitter, @RondaRousey
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Ronda Rousey is an American professional wrestler, actress, former judoka, and mixed martial artist best known for her time in WWE and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
As of 2023, Ronda Rousey is the richest female MMA fighter in the world and the most-followed UFC female fighter in the world.
She was the first American woman to win an Olympic medal in judo by winning bronze at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Rousey began her mixed martial arts (MMA) career with King of the Cage in 2011.
She soon joined Strikeforce, becoming their last Women's Bantamweight Champion until its acquisition by UFC.
Rousey was part of the company's first-ever female fight at UFC 157, and was their inaugural Women's Bantamweight Champion, and held the record for most UFC title defenses (6) by a female, until being surpassed by Valentina Shevchenko in 2022.
Rousey retired from MMA in 2016 and was the first female fighter inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2018.
She began a career in professional wrestling in 2018, signing with WWE, and debuted at WrestleMania 34.
She won the Raw Women's Championship at that year's SummerSlam, and headlined WWE's only all-women's pay-per-view Evolution, in which she successfully defended the title.
Rousey later lost the title in the first-ever women's WrestleMania main event at WrestleMania 35, before returning at the 2022 Royal Rumble, winning the women's Royal Rumble match.
That year, she won the SmackDown Women's Championship twice, making her an overall three-time women's world champion in WWE.
She became the eighth Women's Triple Crown Champion when she won the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship with Shayna Baszler.
As of 2023, Rousey is the only woman to be the champion in both the UFC and WWE as well as the only woman to headline a pay-per-view event in both companies.
She was voted the best female athlete of all time in a 2015 ESPN fan poll, and Fox Sports described her as "one of the defining athletes of the 21st century."
Rousey has also appeared in films, including The Expendables 3 (2014), Furious 7 (2015), Mile 22 (2018), and autobiography My Fight / Your Fight in 2015.
Ronda Rousey Endorsements and Earnings
On February 28, 2015, Ronda Rousey defeated Cat Zingano with an armlock in 14 seconds.
For that win, Ronda reportedly earned $65,000 in appearance fees, $65,000 for the win plus an estimated $1 million Pay Per View bonus.
Between June 2014 and June 2015, Ronda reportedly earned approximately $6.5 million in prizes and endorsements.
She endorses Monster headphones, Carl's Jr, Reebok, Metro PCS, and more.
In 2015 alone, Ronda earned $14 million in prizes, PPV money, endorsements and media appearances.
And for her fight against UFC great Amanda Nunes on December 30, 201, Ronda was paid $3 million just to show up.
Since 2018, Ronda Rousey has also appeared in the EA Sports UFC, WWE SuperCard, WWE 2K, WWE Champions and WWE Mayhem mobile games as a playable character.
As of 2023, Ronda Rousey is one of the richest MMA fighters in the world with an estimated net worth of $14 million.
8. Wanderlei Silva (Net Worth) - $18 million
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Category: Richest Athletes - MMA
Full Name: Wanderlei César da Silva
Date of Birth: July 3, 1976
Place of Birth: Curitiba, Brazil
Age: 47 years old (as of September 2023)
Nationality: Brazilian
Gender: Male
Social Media: Instagram,@wandfc | Twitter, @wandfc
Wanderlei Silva is a Brazilian former mixed martial artist who competed in Japan's Pride Fighting Championships and the American-based Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
As of 2023, Wanderlei Silva is one of the world’s richest MMA fighters.
He holds the record for the most wins, knockouts, title defenses and longest winning streak in PRIDE history.
He is the former PRIDE Middleweight Champion and the 2003 PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix Tournament Champion.
He most recently competed for Bellator MMA in the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions.
Silva is the owner of Wand Fight Team, a mixed martial arts training organization founded in 2009 in Las Vegas, with a former franchise in Pensacola, Florida.
As of 2023, Wanderlei Silva’s net worth is estimated to be $18 million, making him the 8th richest MMA fighter in the world.
7. Fedor Emelianenko (Net Worth) - $18 million
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Category: Richest Athletes - MMA
Full Name: Fedor Vladimirovich Emelianenko
Date of Birth: September 28, 1976
Place of Birth: Rubizhne, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union
Age: 47 years (as of September 2023)
Nationality: Russian
Gender: Male
Social Media: Instagram, @fedoremelianenkoofficial| Twitter, @fedoroskul
Fedor Emelianenko is a Russian politician, former professional mixed martial artist (MMA), sambist, and judoka.
As of 2023, Fedor Emelianenko is one of the richest MMA fighters in the world.
Emelianenko was the PRIDE Heavyweight Champion from 2003 to the organisation's closure in 2007, a four-time combat sambo world champion, and two-time Russian national judo bronze medalist, among other championships and accolades.
He also competed in RINGS, Strikeforce, M-1 Global, Rizin, and Bellator, and is regarded as the most prominent fighter never to compete in the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship).
Emelianenko is widely considered to be one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time, consistently ranked as the top heavyweight fighter from 2003 until 2010, and the best fighter of the 2000s. Emelianenko's career helped popularize the sport of MMA in his home country of Russia after gaining attention in Japan, South Korea, the United States, and worldwide.
He originally retired in June 2012 before making his return in December 2015. Emelianenko retired for the second and final time on February 4, 2023, with a record of 41 wins, 7 losses, and 1 no contest.
Emelianenko began his political career in 2010, being elected as a deputy of the Belgorod Regional Duma.
He subsequently became president of the Russian MMA Union (later honorary president and chairman of the supervisory board), and a staff member of Russia's Council of Physical Fitness & Sports.
As of 2023, Fedor Emelianenko’s net worth is estimated to be $18 million, making him one of the world’s richest MMA fighters.
6. Tito Ortiz (Net Worth) - $20 million
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Category: Richest Athletes - MMA
Full Name: Jacob Christopher Ortiz
Date of Birth: January 23, 1975
Place of Birth: Huntington Beach, California, United States
Age: 48 years old (as of September 2023)
Nationality: American
Gender: Male
Social Media: Instagram, @titoortizig | Twitter, @titoortiz
Tito Ortiz is a retired American mixed martial artist and a former politician.
As of 2023, Tito Ortiz is one of the richest MMA fighters in the world.
Ortiz is best known for his stints with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a former Light Heavyweight Champion, having held the title from April 14, 2000, to September 26, 2003.
Along with fighters like Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell, he was one of the sport's early stars. Ortiz ultimately became the biggest pay-per-view draw of 2006 for his fights with Liddell, Forrest Griffin, and Ken Shamrock.
Ortiz is the CEO of Punishment Athletics MMA equipment and clothing line, which is located in his hometown of Huntington Beach, California.
On July 7, 2012, Ortiz became the ninth inductee into the UFC Hall of Fame.
On November 5, 2020, Ortiz was announced as one of the winners of the Huntington Beach City Council election, becoming Mayor pro tempore.
After being sworn into office on December 7, 2020, he resigned from the city council less than six months later on June 1, 2021.
Ortiz made his professional boxing debut on September 11, 2021, in a round one loss to fellow former UFC champion Anderson Silva.
Ortiz’s acting career kicked off in 2018 when made a cameo in the comedy Zombie Strippers as the bouncer of the Rhino.
He later cameoed in Jet Li's Cradle 2 the Grave, as well as co-starring in The Crow: Wicked Prayer.
As of September 2023, Tito Ortiz is estimated to have a net worth of $20 million, making him one of the richest MMA fighters in the world.
5. Brock Lesnar (Net Worth) - $25 million
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Category: Richest Athletes - MMA
Full Name: Brock Edward Lesnar
Date of Birth: July 12, 1977
Place of Birth: Webster, South Dakota, United States
Age: 46 years old (as of September 2023)
Nationality: American
Gender: Male
Social Media: Twitter, @BrockLesnar
Brock Lesnar is an American professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist, amateur wrestler, and professional American football player.
As of 2023, Brock Lesnar is one of the world’s richest MMA fighters.
He is currently signed to WWE where he is designated a "free agent", allowing him to appear on both the Raw and SmackDown brands.
Often regarded as one of the most prolific athletes in the world, Lesnar is the only person to have won all of the primary heavyweight championships in WWE, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
Lesnar began his MMA career in 2007, and signed with the UFC in 2008.
He quickly won the UFC Heavyweight Championship, but was sidelined with diverticulitis in 2009. On his return in 2010, Lesnar defeated Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Shane Carwin to unify the heavyweight championships and become the undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champion.
After a couple of losses and further struggles with diverticulitis, Lesnar retired from MMA in 2011.
He returned at UFC 200 in 2016 to defeat Mark Hunt, but his victory was overturned to a no-contest after he tested positive for a banned substance on UFC's anti-doping policy.
Lesnar later retired from MMA for the second time in 2017.
Brock Lesnar is widely best known for his time in the WWE, where he became the overall world champion eight times.
Lesnar began as an amateur wrestler before joining the WWE (formerly the WWF) in 2000.
Lesnar has been hailed one of the most accomplished and complete wrestlers in history, and many fans have praised him for his ability to entertain while in the ring.
Lesnar has headlined several PPVs in UFC and WWE, and has feuded with some of the biggest stars in the WWE such as John Cena, Roman Reigns, and even The Undertaker.
Lesnar’s career has seen him rack up millions of dollars in appearance fees and bonuses.
As of 2023, Brock Lesnar is estimated to have a net worth of $25 million, making him one of the richest MMA fighters in the world.
4. Georges St-Pierre (Net Worth) - $30 million
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Category: Richest Athletes - MMA
Full Name: Georges St-Pierre
Date of Birth: May 19, 1981
Place of Birth: Saint-Isidore, Montérégie, Quebec, Canada
Age: 42 years old (as of September 2023)
Nationality: Canadian
Gender: Male
Social Media: Instagram, @georgesstpierre |Twitter, @GeorgesStPierre
Georges St-Pierre also known by his initials GSP, is a Canadian actor and former professional mixed martial artist.
He is widely regarded as the greatest fighter in mixed martial arts (MMA) history.
St-Pierre is one of the richest MMA fighters in the world in 2023.
He was a two-division champion in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), having won titles in the welterweight and middleweight divisions.
St-Pierre is a three-time former UFC Welterweight Champion, having won the title twice and the interim title once between November 2006 and April 2008.
St-Pierre was ranked as the #1 welterweight in the world for several years by Sherdog and numerous other publications.
In 2008, 2009 and 2010, he was named the Canadian Athlete of the Year by Sportsnet, while Fight Matrix lists him as the top MMA welterweight of all time and most accomplished fighter in MMA history.
St-Pierre retired as the reigning Welterweight Champion in December 2013, having held the record for most wins in title bouts and the second longest combined title streak in UFC history (2,204 days) while defending his title nine consecutive times.
He returned to the Octagon in November 2017 at UFC 217, when he defeated Michael Bisping by submission to win the Middleweight title, thus becoming the fourth fighter in the history of the UFC to be a multi-division champion.
He relinquished the title a few weeks later citing health reasons and officially retired from MMA.
How much did Georges St-Pierre earn per fight?
When Georges St-Pierre was fighting in the UFC, he made millions of dollars per year, and he often earned six-figure sums per fight when all income sources were taken into account.
GSP reportedly earned at least $200,000 in guaranteed for every of his fight in the UFC.
He earned an additional bonus payment of $200,000 if he won each fight, bringing his total potential base pay per fight to $400,000.
As a fully-fledged UFC fighter, Georges was entitled to a significant stake in his fight's PPV earnings.
It is pertinent to note that each fighter can earn different sums depending on their contract, and the exact percentage that St-Pierre took home was never fully revealed.
However, GSP also saw his income massively boost through endorsement and sponsorship deals.
St-Pierre partnered with various brands, including Under Armour, NOS energy drink (owned by Coca-Cola), Hayaboosa, 888poker, Affliction, Electronic Arts, Bacardi, amongst others.
All of these endorsements combined would have resulted in additional earnings of $1 to $2 million per fight.
With all sources of income taken into account, GSP is estimated to have been earning $12 to $15 million per year at the height of his UFC career.
As of 2023, Georges St-Pierre’s net worth is estimated to be around $30 million, making him the fourth richest MMA fighter in the world.
3. Khabib Nurmagomedov (Net Worth) - $40 million
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Category: Richest Athletes - MMA
Full Name: Khabib Abdulmanapovich Nurmagomedov
Date of Birth: September 20, 1988
Place of Birth: Sildi, Soviet Union
Age: 35 years old (as of September 2023)
Nationality: Russian
Gender: Male
Social Media: Instagram, @khabib_nurmagomedov| Twitter, @TeamKhabib
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Khabib Nurmagomedov is a Russian former professional mixed martial artist who competed in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Khabib is widely regarded as the greatest UFC fighter of all time and is one of the richest MMA fighters in the world.
During his prime, he was the longest-reigning UFC Lightweight Champion ever, having held the title from April 2018 to March 2021.
With 29 wins and no losses, he retired with an undefeated record.
Nurmagomedov is widely considered to be among the greatest mixed martial artists of all time, and was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame on June 30, 2022.
A two-time Combat Sambo World Champion, Nurmagomedov has a background in the disciplines of sambo, judo and wrestling.
Nurmagomedov was ranked #1 in the UFC men's pound-for-pound rankings at the time of his retirement, until being removed following his title vacation in March 2021.
Fight Matrix also ranks him as the #1 lightweight of all time.
Hailing from the Republic of Dagestan in Russia, Nurmagomedov is the first Muslim to win a UFC title.
As of September 2023, he is the most-followed Russian on Instagram, with more than 35.1 million followers.
In October 2020, The Guardian stated that Nurmagomedov is the second-most-popular Muslim athlete in the world, behind only the Egyptian footballer Mohamed Salah.
Nurmagomedov is also a mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter, known for promoting the Eagle Fighting Championship (EFC).
After retirement, Khabib transitioned to being a coach and cornerman before retiring from the sport completely in January 2023.
Khabib is an avid football fan and supporter of the clubs Anzhi Makhachkala, Galatasaray, Real Madrid and Liverpool, as well as the Russia national team.
In August 2021, amid speculations that Nurmagomedov had signed a professional football contract with third tier Russian side Legion Dynamo after he was seen shaking hands with the players and manager, Nurmagomedov eventually denied he had signed a professional contract instead saying he is very close to the club and just a fan.
How much did Khabib Nurmagomedov earn per fight in the UFC?
Khabib has earned an incredible amount of money throughout his MMA career. In total, his earnings reportedly amount to nearly $15 million dollars, having earned heavily from appearance fees, fight bonuses, and PPVs.
After defeating Connor McGregor later in 2018, Khabib reportedly earned a total of $1,540,000.
This included $2,000,000 to show up, plus a $40,000 incentive.
However, Nurmagomedov was fined $500,000 for a post-fight incident.
After beating Dustin Poirier in 2019, Khabib reportedly walked away with $6,090,000.
This included a $6 million guaranteed payout, plus bonuses of $90,000.
In 2020, Nurmagomedov is said to have earned that exact same sum of $6.09 million after beating Justin Gaethje, although some sources claimed that he earned far more than his previous fight before his retirement.
As of 2023, Khabib Nurmagomedov is estimated to have a net worth of $40 million, making him the third richest MMA fighter in the world.
2. Rorion Gracie (Net Worth) - $50 million
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Category: Richest Athletes - MMA
Full Name: Rorion Gracie
Date of Birth: January 10, 1952
Place of Birth: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Age: 71 years old (as of September 2023)
Nationality: Brazilian
Gender: Male
Social Media: Instagram, @roriongracie| Twitter, @roriongracie
Rorion Gracie is a Brazilian-born Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Grand Master, a prominent member of the Gracie family, writer, publisher, producer, lecturer, lawyer and the co-founder of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
He is the oldest son of Hélio Gracie and one of the few people in the world to hold a 9th degree red belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Gracie is widely recognized as one of the men responsible for introducing Gracie/Brazilian Jiu-jitsu to the United States and the world following the arrival in the US of first cousin, Carley Gracie in 1972.
As of 2023, Rorion Gracie is one of the richest MMA fighters in the world with his net worth estimated to be around $50 million.
Rorion has authored books including Gracie Diet in 2011.
He was named Instructor of the Year by Black Belt Magazine in 2006.
He has 10 children and lives in Southern California.
1. Conor McGregor (Net Worth) - $200 million
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Category: Richest Athletes - MMA
Full Name: Conor Anthony McGregor
Date of Birth: July 14, 1988
Place of Birth: Dublin, Ireland
Age: 35 years old (as of September 2023)
Nationality: Irish
Gender: Male
Social Media: Instagram, @thenotoriousmma | Twitter, @TheNotoriousMMA
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Conor McGregor is an Irish professional mixed martial artist.
He is a former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Featherweight and Lightweight Champion, becoming the first UFC fighter to hold UFC championships in two weight classes simultaneously.
He is also a former Cage Warriors Featherweight and Lightweight champion.
As mentioned earlier, Conor McGegor is the richest MMA fighter in the world without a doubt.
He is the biggest pay-per-view (PPV) draw in MMA history, having headlined the five highest-selling UFC pay-per-view events.
His bout with Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 drew 2.4 million PPV buys, the most ever for an MMA event.
His boxing match with boxing great Floyd Mayweather. Jr drew 4.3 million PPV buys in North America, the second most in combat sports history.
McGregor was ranked as the world's highest-paid athlete by Forbes in 2021, earning a reported $180 million.
He also featured in the list in 2018, when he was ranked fourth, with a reported income of $99 million.
McGregor is a football fan and a supporter of both Celtic and Manchester United.
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As of September 2023, Conor McGregor is estimated to have a net worth of $200 million, making him the highest-paid MMA fighter of all time and the world’s richest MMA fighter.
Interestingly, majority of McGregor’s net worth hasn’t come from his MMA fights.
It has actually come from his professional boxing debut against the one and only Floyd Mayweather - a fight he lost.
Conor McGregor's net worth includes the roughly $100 million payday earned from his August 2017 fight against Floyd Mayweather, the $50 million from his October 2018 fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov and $200 million pre-tax earnings from the April 2021 sale of his whiskey brand Proper No. Twelve.
As of August 2023, McGregor’s career earnings from fighting was estimated to be at $235 million.
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McGregor has endorsement deals with Beats by Dre, Monster Energy, Reebok and Bud Light.
As of 2017, his endorsement deals rounded up to $7 million.
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In early 2018, McGregor reportedly signed a deal with Burger King.
Later that year, McGregor launched the Proper No. Twelve Irish whiskey brand in Ireland and the United States.
McGregor confirmed the brand will extend distribution to the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, and Canada in 2019.
In 2021, it was reported that McGregor and his business partners sold their majority stake in the company to Proximo Spirits, who previously had a 49% stake, for a deal worth a reported $600 million.
McGregor's meteoric rise in the MMA industry sees him sit comfortably in the no.1 spot in the list of the world's richest MMA fighters in 2023.
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