Boxing is a rough sport, but it’s also highly profitable. With lucrative pay-per-view payoffs and sizable salaries, boxing is one of the highest-paid sports.
But, who is the richest boxer in the world?
We look at the top 10 richest boxers in the history of the sport and how they reached the net worths that they have.
Top 10 richest boxers of all time
Floyd Mayweather
- Age: 44
- Nationality: USA
- Status: Retired (2017)
- Record: 50 wins – 0 losses
- Net worth: $450 million
Floyd Mayweather is not only the richest boxer in the world, but he’s also among the highest-paid athletes in the history of sports, alongside names like Michael Schumacher, Tiger Woods, and Michael Jordan.
He is arguably the finest boxer of his generation, who retired from boxing in 2017 with a record of 50-0. Mayweather also has a lot of titles under his belt. He was the world champion in 5 consecutive categories and holds the world record for most titles won simultaneously. Floyd’s most profitable boxing match was against McGregor, one of the highest-paid UFC fighters. In this fight, he made more than $80 million.
George Foreman
- Age: 73
- Nationality: USA
- Status: Retired (1997)
- Record: 76 wins – 5 loses
- Net worth: $300 million
A Gold medal Olympian and a two-time world champion in heavyweight, George Foreman’s success in the ring is just as impressive as his salesmanship. He ranks as the 9th best puncher of the century and won one of his heavyweight world titles 10 years after he retired from the sport.
Although Foreman was a legendary boxer and he is one of the richest boxers out there, his boxing career only brought him about $30 million. The greater part of his earnings came from the George Foreman Grill– he received a whopping $138 million in 1999 for the use of his name for it.
Manny Pacquiao
- Age: 43
- Nationality: Philippine
- Status: Retired (2021)
- Record: 62 wins – 8 loses – 2 draws
- Net worth: $220 million
One of the top richest boxers of all time, the Philippine boxing talent is the only one who has won 12 world titles in 8 different weight categories. He also made history by winning all 4 of “the glamour division.”
In 2007, he announced a political career and campaigned for a seat in the House of Representatives in his home country. The retired boxer eventually became a Senator in his home country in 2015.
Oscar De La Hoya
- Age:48
- Nationality: US
- Status: Retired (2009)
- Record: 39 wins – 6 loses
- Net worth: $200million
The American boxing promoter, former professional boxer, and one of the richest boxers of all time holds 11 world championship titles in 6 different weight categories.
He earned his “Golden Boy of Boxing” nickname after winning almost every bout in the amateur boxing arena, before debuting in the professional world in 1992.
Coming from a boxing family, with a very promising junior and amateur boxing talent, Oscar took part in many high-profile bouts (including one against Mayweather) to become the 3rd wealthiest boxer of all time.
Ray Leonard
- Age: 65
- Nationality: USA
- Status: Retired (1997)
- Record: 36 wins – 3 loses – 1 draw
- Net worth: $120 million
During his 20-year career, the former USA national boxer and one of the top richest boxers took part in 5 different weight categories and earned world titles in every one of them. He’s also famous for becoming the first boxer to earn above $100 million in purses.
But, Leonard’s contribution to the sport has less to do with his titles and more to do with his skills and performance. He was one of “The Fabulous Four,” alongside Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran, and Marvelous Marvin Hagler, who kept boxing popular in the 1980s.
Since his retirement, Leonard has been a TV analyst and an actor.
Wladimir Klitschko
- Age: 45
- Nationality: Ukrainian
- Status: Retired (2017)
- Record: 64 wins – 5 loses
- Net worth: $90 million
Following in his older brother’s steps, Wladimir started kickboxing at an early age.
He won a gold medal in the 1996 Olympic games (which he sold for $1 million in 2012) and made his professional debut in the boxing community the very same year, but it took him a couple of years to start standing out from the crowd. Wladimir won his first world heavyweight title in 2000 and dominated the boxing scene alongside his brother from 2004 to 2015.
Not only is Wladimir one of the richest boxers of all time, but he also currently holds the record for most fighters faced in title defence (23) and the longest cumulative heavyweight title reign at 4,382 days.
Vitali Klitschko
- Age: 50
- Nationality: Ukrainian
- Status: Retired (2005)
- Record: 45 wins – 2 loses
- Net worth: $80 million
The current mayor of the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv, and one of the top richest boxers in boxing, dominated the world of heavyweight boxing for nearly a decade and is the first of the famous Klitschko brothers to make history in the world of boxing.
He and his 5-year younger brother Wladimir hold the Guinness World Record as brothers with the most world heavyweight titles and fights won.
Vitali himself is the first professional boxer with a Ph.D. and one of the two only boxers in history (alongside George Foreman) who defended their heavyweight title after turning 40.
Anthony Joshua
- Age: 32
- Nationality: British
- Status: Active
- Record: 24 wins – 2 loses
- Net worth: $80 million
Anthony Joshua is not the richest boxer in the world (at least not yet), but he is the youngest boxing millionaire on our list.
Not only is he an incredibly talented boxer who has won two unified world heavyweight championships, but he is also one of the most marketable athletes in the current boxing scene – he has signed with a long list of sponsors in his young career, including Hugo Boss, Jaguar Land Rover, and Under Armour.
His highest-paid battle was against his rival Wladimir Klitschko, which brought him £18 million.
Muhammad Ali
- Nationality: USA
- Status: Deceased (2016)
- Record: 56 wins – 5 loses
- Net worth: $50 million
Muhammad Ali is the most famous boxer of all time and one of the most famous athletes in the history of sports.
“The Greatest” was much more than an athlete and was well-known for his big personality and activism. He stirred controversy when he refused to be drafted into the Army and was stripped of his heavyweight championship title as a result.
Ali later returned to boxing and was involved in one of the biggest events in the sport’s history, including “Thrilla in Manila” and the “Rumble in the Jungle.” He eventually retired and was later diagnosed with Parkinson’s before he died in 2016.
Marvin Hagler
- Nationality: USA
- Status: Deceased (2021)
- Record: 62 wins – 3 loses – 2 draws
- Net worth: $50 million
One of the members of the “Fabulous Four” and undisputed middleweight champion, ‘Marvelous’ Marvin was best known for his knockouts –52 out of his total 62 victories were knockouts-to-wins. In turn, he was knocked out only once in his entire boxing career.
The Marvelous was the absolute king of the middleweight throne from 1980 to 1987, and he managed to defend his title a total of 12 times before he lost the bout against Sugar Ray Leonard.
Bottom Line
The richest boxers are some of the most popular boxing figures in the history of the sport and boxing is considered one of the oldest sports on the planet. Although not all of them made their fortune solely through boxing, they have all displayed immense talent, skill, and determination that helped them win some of the most sought-after titles (and numbers) in boxing.