Mike Tyson's Jaw-Dropping Earnings: Inside His Biggest Paydays in Boxing History and current Net Worth

It is challenging to identify a boxer who surpassed Mike Tyson during his prime. He held the title of undisputed world heavyweight champion, achieving victory in his first 19 professional bouts, all by knockout. Additionally, he set the record as the youngest boxer to capture a heavyweight title, accomplishing this feat at the age of 20 years, four months, and 22 days. Over the course of his career, Tyson secured 50 wins out of 58 fights, with 44 of those victories coming by way of knockout. Tyson's extravagant lifestyle is well-documented, and his total earnings reflect the reasons behind his lavish spending.

Throughout his 20-year career, he amassed a remarkable $413 million, yet he filed for bankruptcy in 2003, reportedly facing approximately $23 million in debt.

Mike Tyson VS. Peter McNeeley

In 1991, Tyson was arrested on charges of rape and subsequently convicted the following year, leading to a three-year prison sentence before he returned to boxing.

His comeback fight, promoted as "He's Back," was against the relatively unknown Peter McNeeley, marking Tyson's first bout in over four years. This fight generated a then-record $63 million in pay-per-view sales but concluded in less than a minute and a half. Tyson knocked McNeeley down twice, prompting McNeeley's manager, Vinnie Vecchione, to enter the ring to protect his fighter from further harm. Consequently, McNeeley was disqualified, and Tyson emerged victorious in just 89 seconds.

Mike Tyson VS. Michael Spinks

Tyson's first pay-per-view fight was against Michael Spinks, with both fighters entering the ring undefeated and vying for the heavyweight championship. At that time, Tyson already held titles from the World Boxing Council, World Boxing Association, and International Boxing Federation. This match became the most lucrative in boxing history, generating approximately $70 million. Similar to his bout with McNeeley, Tyson quickly dispatched Spinks. Spinks's manager, Butch Lewis, noticed a bulge in Tyson's gloves and insisted on having them rewrapped. Frustrated by the delay, Tyson reportedly expressed to his trainer, "you know, I'm gonna hurt this guy" as he made his way to the ring.

Tyson swiftly launched himself at Spinks, unleashing a flurry of punches that sent Spinks crashing to the canvas. Although Spinks managed to get back on his feet, a left-right combination aimed at his head brought him down once more. This time, he was unable to rise, resulting in a knockout victory for Tyson after a mere 91 seconds.

Mike Tyson VS. Bruce Seldon, Evander Holyfield I and II

– $60 million ($30 million each in 1996 and 1997)

Within a period of less than ten months, Tyson participated in three bouts that collectively earned him nearly $100 million. The initial match, against Bruce Seldon, was for the WBA Heavyweight championship. Tyson defeated Seldon in a mere one minute and 49 seconds, securing victory by technical knockout (TKO). Notably, the event was marked by the presence of Tupac Shakur in the audience, who was tragically shot just hours after leaving the venue and succumbed to his injuries six days later. At this juncture in his career, Tyson's record stood at 45-1. However, it would take over three years for him to achieve another victory. His subsequent two matches were against Evander Holyfield, the first of which was an attempt to defend his WBA title. Holyfield, who had retired in 1994, was making a comeback but was largely underestimated by commentators and fans alike.

Contrary to expectations, Holyfield triumphed by TKO in the 11th round. The rematch took place on June 28, 1997, and was promoted as The Sound and the Fury. In a surprising turn, Holyfield earned more than Tyson for this fight, receiving $35 million compared to Tyson's $30 million. The event garnered 1.99 million pay-per-view buys, setting a record that would stand for over a decade. This encounter quickly became one of the most contentious sporting events in history. Tyson infamously bit Holyfield's ears twice, with the first bite being severe enough to remove a portion of cartilage from Holyfield's right ear. Tyson contended that the bites were a response to Holyfield's headbutting, which had gone unpunished.

Nonetheless, referee Mills Lane halted the match after the third round, disqualifying Tyson and awarding the victory to Holyfield. This marked the first disqualification in a heavyweight fight in over 50 years. Tyson was subsequently given a permanent suspension from boxing, and his license was revoked indefinitely, although this decision was overturned just over a year later.

Mike Tyson VS. Frank Bruno II

– $60 million ($30 million in 1996)

Seven years prior, Tyson had faced Frank Bruno with the undisputed world championship at stake. Tyson emerged victorious in that encounter, but Bruno was granted another opportunity to challenge him for the WBC title. Regrettably, this rematch ended even more swiftly for Bruno. In the first round, Tyson inflicted a cut above Bruno's eye, and by the early moments of the third round, Tyson unleashed a combination of 13 punches that concluded the fight with a technical knockout. This bout marked the final chapter of Bruno's boxing career. Although he expressed interest in a potential third match against Tyson, he was cautioned that continuing to fight could jeopardize his vision in one eye. Consequently, Bruno made the decision to retire from the sport altogether.

Mike Tyson VS. Lennox Lewis

– $175 million ($103 million in 2002)

The bout between Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson marked one of the concluding matches of Tyson's career, a contest that had been anticipated for several years. Initially, in 1996, Lewis declined a guaranteed sum of $13.5 million to face Tyson, subsequently accepting $4 million to allow Tyson to compete against Seldon instead. By the time their fight occurred in 2002, Lewis had already secured the WBC, IBF, IBO, and Lineal titles. From the outset, the atmosphere was charged with animosity between the two competitors. A notable incident occurred during their press conference, where a physical altercation broke out, with Tyson infamously biting Lewis's leg and hurling insults at various journalists. The match began with both fighters appearing evenly matched; however, as the rounds progressed, Tyson's condition deteriorated, leading to cuts above both eyes and significant swelling on his face. In the eighth round, Lewis delivered a powerful right cross, sending Tyson to the canvas for the second time in that round. Tyson remained on the mat as the referee counted him out, resulting in a knockout victory for Lewis. Following this fight, Tyson would only compete three more times, achieving victory in just one of those bouts.

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Mike Tyson's Net Worth

Despite experiencing a significant defeat against Youtuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul on November 15, Mike Tyson is still regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time during his prime. However, his financial status has seen considerable fluctuations throughout the years. According to the finance website The Street, Tyson's net worth exceeded $400 million at the peak of his career. Now at the age of 58, he led a lavish lifestyle and made several poor business decisions.

His career was also marred by controversial incidents, such as the notorious ear-biting of opponent Evander Holyfield in 1997 and his imprisonment for rape in 1995. AfroTech reports that these factors contributed to Tyson filing for bankruptcy in 2003, with debts amounting to approximately $23 million at the time, as noted by The New York Times. Through a mix of paid appearances, endorsements, and a thriving cannabis business, Tyson has successfully emerged from debt and improved his financial standing. He also hosts a YouTube podcast and established the Legends Only League, which offers a platform for retired athletes to compete.

Prior to his fight against the 27-year-old Paul, The Street estimated Tyson's net worth to be around $10 million. Fortune reported that Paul earned $40 million for his bout with Tyson, while the veteran boxer reportedly received a lesser amount of $20 million. If these figures are accurate, Tyson's net worth could rise to approximately $30 million, effectively tripling his wealth in a single night.

In contrast, Jake Paul is estimated to have a net worth of around $80 million, as per the Celebrity Net Worth website. ESPN highlighted that the match between Tyson and Paul was the most heavily wagered fight in recent years, with a spokesperson from BetMGM stating that more money was wagered on this matchup than any other boxing or MMA fight in the sportsbook's nearly seven-year history. Paul secured victory by unanimous decision in a contest that lasted the full eight rounds.