Not every sportsman can make a global impact, but some transform their sport’s perception worldwide. One such transformative figure is Conor McGregor, the former two-weight UFC world champion. Today, McGregor is not just the most renowned figure in the Mixed Martial Arts circuit, but also the wealthiest. Despite a leg injury in 2021 that paused his fight career, he continues to amass wealth through his wise investments in an array of businesses.
A substantial portion of his financial success can be attributed to his stellar record in generating pay-per-view sales. Astonishingly, McGregor has four of the fives highest-grossing PPVs in UFC history. However, his journey to fame and wealth has not been a straightforward one. The path to the top was filled with obstacles.
Before making a name for himself in the MMA world, McGregor, a Dublin native, was a plumber and heavily depended on local support. In fact, he had to contend with his father to persuade him that a future in combat sports was a viable one. Standing his ground, McGregor started gaining popularity in the Irish MMA scene with his aggressive fighting style and tenacious spirit.
His brawny persona caught the attention of UFC president Dana White, which played a crucial part in changing the trajectory of his career. Under White’s supervision, McGregor fought prominent names in the sport, setting him on a path to undeniable stardom in the MMA universe.
Having secured significant accomplishments in MMA, from being a dual division champion to headlining major fights, McGregor then made a surprising move into boxing. Here, he participated in the biggest crossover fight in history. The unprecedented transition made every facet of the match extraordinary, from the fiery press conferences to the celebrated bout itself.
Financially, the fight led to an incredible financial windfall for both athletes involved. Mayweather and McGregor reportedly earned more than $100 million from the fight, with Mayweather having a guaranteed purse of $100 million and McGregor set to make $30 million. The staggering proceeds from the 4.3 million PPV buys bumped their respective hauls substantially.
Despite McGregor losing the boxing match, he ended up taking home an impressive $100 million, while Mayweather’s earnings reached the staggering figure of $300 million. However, while the Mayweather fight made headlines, McGregor’s most significant MMA showdown was yet to come.
His bout with Khabib Nurmagomedov transcended massive; it was monumental for the MMA world. The intense rivalry, still prevalent today, played an instrumental role in formulating UFC’s powerful standing in the combat sports world today.
UFC 229, the staging ground for the McGregor-Nurmagomedov battle, became one of the most eventful nights in UFC’s history, pulling in a whopping 2.4 million pay-per-view buys for the marquee face-off. Despite not emerging as the victor, the fight remains one of the most talked-about in McGregor’s career.
Before these high-profile clashes with Mayweather and Nurmagomedov, McGregor’s breakout fight was against Jose Aldo. It was this bout that truly brought McGregor into the global spotlight, displaying his fighting skills and magnetic charisma to an international audience.
In the Aldo fight, few gave McGregor a chance. Yet, he stunned the world as he ended Aldo’s decade-long unbeaten streak with a single punch in the opening moments of the match. Captured footage from his dressing room before the fight even revealed him practicing the iconic left hook that secured him the UFC featherweight title.
His victory against Aldo was swift and shocking: a 13-second knockout that earned him the featherweight title and over $16 million. McGregor’s earnings roughly worked out to be nearly $1.3 million per second of the fight. His fame climbed to higher peaks following battles against other MMA legends such as Nate Diaz and Dustin Poirier.
Where McGregor’s journey began from a simple beginning, his rise to the top of MMA and subsequent wealth accumulation is nothing short of an extraordinary tale. His amassed fortune not only guarantees a luxurious lifestyle for himself for years to come, but it also secures the same affluence for future generations. Such monumental success can only be attributed to his dedication and the unforgettable fights that have marked his career.