Mike Tyson has made a fortune out of knocking people out.
‘Iron Mike’ was the youngest ever heavyweight champion at 20 years old and retired from boxing in 2005 with a 50-6 record, including 44 knockouts.
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Young Tyson was terrifyingCredit: Getty
As you’d expect, the 57-year-old KO artist has been rewarded handsomely throughout his career.
According to Sportico’s recent list of the 50 highest-paid athletes of all-time, Tyson is the eighteenth wealthiest sportsman who ever lived, with $905m inflation-adjusted earnings.
The outlet revealed how they arrived at that figure: “Our earnings estimates are based on conversations with industry insiders, Sportico research and historical estimates in media outlets, such as Forbes and Sports Illustrated.
“Earnings include salaries, bonuses, prize money, purses, endorsements, licensing, royalties, memorabilia, book deals, media, and appearance fees.”
Tyson commanded substantial paydays throughout his Hall of Fame career.
He was given a hefty $1.5 million for his 1986 bout against Trevor Berbick that earned him the heavyweight belt before hitting double-figures in the 1990s.
The American reportedly pocketed $30 million for each of his fights with Evander Holyfield in 1996 and 1997 and $35 million for his 1996 bout with Frank Bruno.
However, his most significant windfall came from the Lennox Lewis contest in 2002, which reportedly saw him rake in $103 million.
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Tyson was disqualified for biting Holyfield in their second boutCredit: Getty Images – Getty
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Lewis KO’d Tyson in 2002Credit: AFP
Endorsement deals also substantially beefed up Tyson’s earnings, especially in the early days.
In 1986, when Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion in history, he was the face of brands like Pepsi, Nintendo, Eastman Kodak, and EA Sports.
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But by 1992 the former undisputed world heavyweight champion had lost many of those deals following his prison sentence, which he served three of six years for rape.
In 2003, he declared bankruptcy with $23 million in debts but in recent times has bounced back with lucrative endorsement deals.
Tyson has appeared in various TV shows and movies and partnered with brands like CopperGel, Black Energy Drink, and Smart Cups.
He also has his own popular podcast, ‘Hotboxin’ with Mike Tyson’, and teamed up with old foe Holyfield for a range of ear-shaped cannabis gummies, ‘Mike’s Bites’.
Mike also owns Tyson Ranch which reportedly earns around £500,000-per-month by offering premium marijuana strains, edibles and extracts.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Mike earned at least $430 million from fights and endorsements – around $700 million in today’s dollars.
And now, he has a mega fight with YouTuber Jake Paul set for 20 July which is set to substantially increase his earnings.
With that said, Tyson is not the wealthiest boxer on Sportico’s all-time list.
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Mayweather is the highest earning boxer on the list with $1.48 billion inflation-adjusted earningsCredit: Getty
According to their findings, Floyd Mayweather occupies the tenth spot overall with $1.48 billion inflation-adjusted earnings.
All in all, seven boxers feature on the 50 highest-paid athletes of all-time list, including Tyson and Mayweather.
In 22nd place is Manny Pacquiao, valued at $750 million, followed by George Foreman in 26th at $705 million.
Oscar De La Hoya is 29th on the list with $685 million while Canelo Alvarez is 37th with $640 million.
Holyfield is the last boxer featured on the top 50 list – he’s in at No.40 with $630 million.
In total, those seven boxers account for a staggering $5.8 billion in career earnings.
Still, they have a way to go to catch the top earners.
