Mike Tyson: The Rise, Fall, And Comeback Of A Boxing Legend

How Much is Mike Tyson Worth These Days?

Let’s talk about Mike Tyson. The former heavyweight boxing champion, who once reigned supreme as one of the richest athletes in the world, now boasts a net worth of $30 million. That’s right, folks—$30 million. And guess what? That number includes a cool $20 million he earned from his exhibition fight against Jake Paul on Netflix in November 2024. Not too shabby for a guy who's been through so much in life.

But here's the thing: Tyson wasn't always just worth $30 million. At his peak, this boxing powerhouse had a net worth of $300 million. Yes, you heard that right—$300 million. So, what happened? Well, Mike earned hundreds of millions from his fights and endorsements, but he also spent like there was no tomorrow. He lived a lavish lifestyle, surrounded by expensive cars, luxury homes, and even Bengal tigers. Plus, let’s not forget the financial mismanagement by former managers and promoters who allegedly took advantage of him. In 2003, Tyson declared bankruptcy, reportedly owing $23 million. Even as recently as 2010, Mike admitted he was broke, but he kept his chin up, saying, "I had a lot of fun. It just happened. I'm very grateful." And guess what? Tyson bounced back, thanks to lucrative appearances, movie roles, exhibition fights, and even investments in the cannabis industry. This guy knows how to make a comeback.

Mike Tyson wasn’t just any boxer—he was the youngest heavyweight champion in history at age 20. ESPN crowned him the "Hardest Hitter in Heavyweight History," while Sky Sports called him "the most ferocious fighter to step into a professional ring." But Tyson’s legacy extends far beyond the ring. He’s appeared in dozens of movies and TV shows, including unforgettable roles in "The Hangover" and "The Hangover II." And let’s not forget those exhibition fights that keep fans on the edge of their seats. Tyson remains a pop culture icon, whether he’s in the ring or not.

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Tyson's Extravagant Spending Spree

When the money was rolling in, Mike Tyson didn’t hold back. His lifestyle was nothing short of extravagant. He wasted millions on mansions, cars, jewelry, and even a collection of Bengal tigers. Yes, Bengal tigers. These majestic creatures cost him $70,000 each and lived in a custom-built habitat in his backyard. To top it off, he hired an animal trainer for $125,000 a year just to take care of them. But that’s not all. Tyson also spent big on his entourage, including one guy whose sole job was to wear army fatigues and shout "guerrilla warfare" at press conferences—for $300,000 a year! Incredible, right?

After serving time in prison from 1991 to 1995, Tyson returned to boxing and went on a spending spree. Here’s a breakdown of some of his wild expenditures in the years following his release:

• $4.5 million on cars and motorbikes, including 19 vehicles he bought for friends
• $400,000 on pigeons and big cats like Siberian tigers
• $300,000 on lawn care and garden maintenance alone
• $240,000 per month on walking-around money
• $230,000 on cell phones, pagers, and phone bills
• $100,000 per month on jewelry and clothes

And then there were the homes. Tyson owned several luxurious properties, including a 21-room mansion in Connecticut that later became 50 Cent’s home. This mansion featured a nightclub and casino. In Ohio, he had another mansion with gold-plated furnishings, pools, and a basketball court. And let’s not forget his $4 million Las Vegas property, which he remodeled from scratch. But the spending didn’t stop there. Tyson owned well over 100 cars during his lifetime, including a $500,000 Bentley that was one of only 73 ever made. He even told a repair shop to "keep it" after totaling a Range Rover in 1995. He bought 20 cars at one Las Vegas dealership alone, including five Bentley Azures for $1.5 million in just a few minutes.

One of Tyson’s most outrageous purchases was a $2 million golden bathtub he bought for his first wife, actress Robin Givens. And according to legend, he would occasionally buy strangers lavish gifts like $100,000 watches. Now that’s what I call living large!

How Much Did Tyson Earn in His Boxing Career?

During his career, Mike Tyson earned a staggering $430 million from fights and endorsements. That’s equivalent to around $700 million in today’s dollars. But where did all that money go? Well, a large chunk of his earnings, especially his pay-per-view money, was allegedly taken by promoter Don King. A court case revealed that Tyson’s contract with King entitled the promoter to 30% of his earnings, which was technically illegal in Nevada. Some allege that after mysterious additional fees, Don King took 50% off the top before cutting a check to Mike. For example, Don King’s wife was paid $100,000 per fight as a consultant fee, and his sons were paid $50,000 per fight as consultants. At his peak, Tyson was even paying the President of the Mike Tyson Fan Club $1,000 per week. Guess who that was? Don King’s daughter.

At other times, Tyson’s earnings were garnished by creditors like the IRS. For instance, Tyson was paid $8 million to fight Danny Williams in 2004, but $6 million of that was directly garnished by the IRS, leaving Mike with just $2 million. Below is a detailed breakdown of Tyson’s paydays from November 1986 to his final professional fight in 2005. His largest payday by far was the $103 million he earned fighting Lennox Lewis in 2002, with roughly $75 million coming from pay-per-view bonuses. If you want more details, check out "Mike Tyson’s Biggest Career Paydays In The Ring."

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