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Mayweather Wins McGregor Match and $100 Million Payday, Plus Endorsements

Douglas A. McIntyre

Published: August 27, 2017 7:57 am

Last Updated: January 12, 2020 8:44 am

Boxer Floyd Mayweather beat UFC fighter Conor McGregor in 10 rounds and earned at least $100 million in the process. Not bad for an hour or so of work. The fight “delivered” as they say. Many experts thought McGregor would not make it out of the first round. He did, and based on information from The Nevada State Athletic Commission, McGregor made at least $30 million.

The victory is not the end of Mayweather’s earnings from the event. He will make money on endorsements, which could pay him for the balance of the year. Among other things, he can leverage his presence on social media. He is active and widely followed on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

According to Forbes, Mayweather had a net worth of $340 million as of the end of 2016. That made him the 16th highest paid athlete last year, and the 54th highest paid celebrity. According to Yahoo! Sports, the companies paying endorsement money include those that made some of his clothing and gear for the fight:

The moment Floyd Mayweather Jr. walks into the spotlight for his fight with Conor McGregor, he could bank $20 million. Why? Endorsements, baby.

Every item that Mayweather will be wearing at Saturday night’s fight was up for sale, and the prices are high indeed: $3.5 million for his side seams and front top waist, $1 million for his robe, even a $1 million for his anticipated “victory hat.” A 4-by-2-inch patch on his front thigh goes for $1.5 million.

However, this may be Mayweather’s largest endorsement payday. Marketing firm Lincoln Martin’s management recently wrote:

Experts say that Mayweather is undoubtedly popular and that people are excited to watch him, but his reputation and history discourages sponsors from being associated with him. Mayweather has pleaded guiltily to domestic violence charges in at least three separate occasions, and he has served two months in jail for attacking the mothers of his 9- and 10-year old sons in front of them. He was also found guilty of the same charge in 2001, 2002 and 2003.

The $20 million may be the most in endorsements Mayweather will ever have.