Conor McGregor: The Fighter, The Brand, The Legend

How Much Is Conor McGregor Really Worth?

Let’s talk about the man who's become more than just a fighter—he’s a global phenomenon. Conor McGregor, hailing from Dublin, Ireland, has built a staggering net worth of $200 million. This isn’t just about his fighting prowess; it’s about his business acumen, too. Remember the August 2017 fight against Floyd Mayweather? That one bout alone netted him around $100 million. And then there’s the $50 million he earned from his October 2018 showdown with Khabib Nurmagomedov. Oh, and let’s not forget the $200 million pre-tax earnings he made from selling his whiskey brand, Proper No. Twelve, in April 2021. All these milestones have contributed to his estimated career earnings of $235 million from fighting alone. But hold up—between 2015 and 2016, according to documents from an antitrust lawsuit against the UFC in November 2023, Conor earned a total of $25 million from his UFC fights. And from June 2018 to June 2019, he raked in $47 million from salary, purses, and endorsements. So yeah, this guy knows how to make money work for him.

Conor McGregor didn’t just stumble into the world of MMA. Back in 2007, at just 18 years old, he made his amateur debut and won by TKO (technical knockout) in the first round. His professional debut came shortly after in March 2008 in the lightweight division against Gary Morris, where he won with another TKO in the second round. McGregor quickly became known for his aggressive style and strategic thinking, which propelled him into the featherweight division. However, after suffering his first loss, he briefly considered stepping away from MMA altogether. Thankfully, his coach convinced him to stay, and the rest, as they say, is history.

In 2013, Dana White made a trip to Dublin and couldn’t ignore the buzz surrounding a local fighter named Conor McGregor. After meeting him and consulting with then-UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta, White signed McGregor to the UFC within days. His UFC debut happened on April 6, 2013, against Marcus Brimage. Despite facing an aggressive opponent, McGregor used his strategic thinking to deliver a snap kick to Brimage’s chest and chin, winning via knockout just over a minute into the first round. This victory earned him his first "Knockout of the Night" award. Later that year, he faced Max Holloway and won by unanimous decision, although he tore his ACL in the process, sidelining him for ten months. When he returned in 2014, he was a rising star, eventually becoming one of the biggest names in UFC history. And guess what? In March 2024, he even starred alongside Jake Gyllenhaal in the reboot of the 1980s film "Roadhouse," which premiered on Prime.

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His Journey Begins: Early Life

Conor Anthony McGregor was born on July 14, 1988, in Crumlin, Ireland. From a young age, he showed a natural talent for sports, excelling particularly in soccer. But at 12, he discovered boxing, a sport that would later pave the way for his MMA career. In 2006, at the age of 17, Conor began a plumbing apprenticeship, where he met fighter Tom Egan, who introduced him to the world of UFC. This meeting changed his life forever. Egan and McGregor soon began training together, laying the foundation for what was to come.

McGregor’s training wasn’t limited to boxing. He trained under John Kavanagh, the first Irish person to achieve a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and his team at SBG Ireland. To round out his skills, he also trained in Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Capoeira, and Kickboxing before diving into professional MMA. It was this diverse training that helped him develop into the fighter we know today.

Making Waves in the UFC

By the time McGregor was 18, he was already making waves in the MMA world. He made his amateur debut in 2007 and won by TKO in the first round. Interestingly, just weeks before this debut, he was so broke that he was living on welfare in Ireland, collecting $235 per week in government assistance checks. But that didn’t stop him from chasing his dreams.

In February 2013, the UFC announced that they had signed McGregor to a multi-fight contract. He was the second fighter from the Republic of Ireland to join the company, following welterweight Tom Egan. McGregor’s UFC debut was against Marcus Brimage on April 6, 2013, and he didn’t disappoint. He won via TKO just over a minute into the first round, earning his first "Knockout of the Night" award. McGregor’s fighting style is characterized by his wide stance and striking prowess, with many considering his fast straight-arm left jab as his most effective move. His rise to the top 10 was nothing short of remarkable for a foreign-born UFC fighter.

Despite rumors of retirement in 2020, McGregor was booked for a rematch with Dustin Poirier, a fight that originally took place in 2014. Unfortunately, this bout in January 2021 ended in his first knockout defeat, resulting in a six-month medical suspension. He faced Poirier again in July 2021 at UFC 264, losing via technical knockout in the first round after breaking his tibia. During his recovery, it was announced that McGregor would coach on The Ultimate Fighter 31, this time going head-to-head with Michael Chandler.

McGregor's Top UFC Paydays

On July 11, 2015, McGregor earned $3.285 million when he defeated Chad Mendes at UFC 189. Then, on December 11, 2015, he earned $4.5 million by defeating Jose Aldo in just 13 seconds. On March 5, 2016, he reportedly earned $5.6 million when he fought Nate Diaz at UFC 196. He reportedly earned the same amount when he fought Diaz again at UFC 202. In November 2016, he earned around $7 million fighting Eddie Alvarez.

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McGregor reportedly earned an estimated $50 million in his October 2018 fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov.

On January 18, 2020, McGregor defeated Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone in his much-anticipated return to the UFC. For this fight, he was guaranteed $5 million, a record for the UFC at that time. He hinted in interviews that if Pay Per View sales were strong, his earnings from the Cerrone fight could top $80 million. Cerrone, on the other hand, was guaranteed $2 million.

On January 23, 2021, McGregor lost to Dustin Poirier. Once again, he was guaranteed $5 million for the fight. This loss effectively cost him a huge future payday by eliminating another potential match against Khabib Nurmagomedov.

The Mayweather Fight: A Cash Cow

On August 26, 2017, McGregor stepped out of the MMA cage and into the boxing ring to face undefeated champion Floyd Mayweather. This fight was one of the most lucrative PPV events of all time, generating a staggering 4.3 million buys.

McGregor was guaranteed $30 million for the fight. With PPV bonuses, merch sales, and other earnings, his total gross take from the fight topped $100 million. Thanks to the hype surrounding this fight, McGregor also earned around $14 million in 2017 through endorsements with companies like Burger King, Beats by Dre, Anheuser-Busch, and more.

Assuming he lost around 50% of his earnings to taxes, that $100 million gross left him with a net worth of $85 million after the Floyd fight.

Had McGregor, against all odds, beaten Mayweather, it would have set up a rematch where he could have earned another absolutely massive payday. It wouldn’t be unreasonable to assume that he would have been able to demand at least 50% of revenue from a future fight. That could have resulted in a $200-$300 million payday.

On September 20, 2018, McGregor announced that he had signed an 8-fight deal with the UFC. While the exact terms of the deal were not revealed, it’s likely worth at least $200 million on the low end.

Selling His Whiskey Empire

In September 2018, McGregor launched the Proper No. Twelve Irish whiskey brand in Ireland and the United States. Before the official launch, the partners brought on liquor company Proximo Spirits as a 20% equity partner. Proximo, known for owning Jose Cuervo tequila, increased its ownership stake to 49% in mid-2020 by paying $250 million.

In April 2021, McGregor and his business partners sold their remaining combined 51% stake in Proper No. Twelve to Proximo Spirits. The total value of the deal could ultimately be $600 million, including the $250 million the founders earned from the previous deal with Proximo. If all milestones are met over the long term, McGregor will have made $200 million in total from Proper No. Twelve.

Acting Debut: Road House Salary

Conor McGregor was paid over $5.5 million to star opposite Jake Gyllenhaal in the reboot of "Road House," which premiered on Prime. The reason he specifically said "over $5.5 million" is because he wanted to claim the title of the largest salary paid to an athlete for a first-time acting role. That $5.5 million figure is what Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson earned in 2001 for "The Mummy Returns."

A Glimpse into McGregor's Personal Life

Conor McGregor has been in a long-term relationship with his fiancée, Dee Devlin, since 2008. The couple has three children together. He’s Catholic and has two sisters, Erin and Aoife. Outside the ring, McGregor is a family man who balances his intense career with a strong personal life.