What is Bas Rutten's Net Worth?
Bas Rutten is a retired Dutch mixed martial artist, Karate and Taekwondo blackbelt and kickboxer who has a net worth of $1 million. Bas Rutten built his net worth as a UFC Heavyweight Champion and as an actor.
Early Life
Born Sebastiaan "Bas" Rutten on February 24, 1965, in Tilburg, Netherlands, he developed eczema and severe asthma as a young child. Unable to exercise, Bas was a skinny kid and bullied on a daily basis. So he started training in boxing in the elementary school's yard with a friend. At the age of 12, he became interested in martial arts after going on vacation with his family to France where the Bruce Lee movie "Enter The Dragon" was playing at a local theater. His parents were against the idea of letting him partake in martial arts, but two years later, they allowed him to practice taekwondo. While working as a bouncer and model at the age of 20, Bas started competing in kickboxing. He fought a total of 16 times winning the first 14 by knockout—13 in the first round—before losing his final two.
Fighting Career
In his seven-year-long career as a fighter, Bas Rutten popularized the liver shot (both punch and kick) which was one of his favorite tactics. He also became known for his celebratory victory split called the "Rutten Jump." He has fought and defeated sound MMA names like Minoru Suzuki, Maurice Smith, Frank Shamrock, Guy Mezger, Masakatsu Funaki, Tsuyoshi Kohsaka, and Randleman. On the whole, he was once named UFC Heavyweight Champion, three times a King of Pancrase World Champ, and circled his fighting tenure on a 22-fight unbeaten streak. In 1999, he suffered several serious injuries including a knee blowout, biceps tear, and neck injury forcing him to retire by doctor's orders. But in 2006, Bas announced his return to MMA competition after being cleared by doctors. He was slated to face Kimo Leopoldo, but two days before the event, Kimo tested positive for an illegal steroid. Ruben "Warpath" Villareal took his place on the card, and Bas won by technical knockout in the first round after two low kicks left his opponent unable to stand. Afterward, Bas tested positive for morphine, hydrocodone, and diphenhydramine. In all, his mixed martial arts record concluded at 28 wins, 11 of which came via knockout, with only four losses and one draw. In 2015, UFC President Dana White announced that Bas was being inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.
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Acting Career
After his retirement from the sport of fighting in 1999, Bas Rutten established himself as a charismatic TV persona making appearances in numerous television shows, movies, and video games. What's more, he has served as a color commentator in several MMA organizations, including Pride. He starred in Fuel TV's street-fighting survival series "Punk Payback" and co-hosted HDNet's "Inside MMA." As far as TV shows, Bas Rutten has had small parts in "18 Wheels of Justice," "Martial Law," "The King of Queens," and the Canadian series "Freedom." His low-budget movie roles included spots in "The Eliminator," "Shadow Fury," and comedy short "The Kingdom of Ultimate Power" which won first prize at the New York short film festival for best comedy.
Personal Life
Bas Rutten now lives in Westlake Village, California, as a United States citizen with his wife, Karin. Together, they have two daughters—Sabine and Bianca. Bas also has a daughter from his first wife named Rachele who lives in Belgium. Bas is a practicing Catholic once again after his parents stopped attending the church when he was 12 years old. He credits Kevin James and other friends for helping him return to the faith.
