Not sure if you heard anything about this, but there was a little boxing match over the weekend. On Saturday, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao finally met in what was easily the most hyped fight of all time and BY FAR the most lucrative fight of all time. When the fight was first announced, revenues for the match were projected to be $300 million. Early indicators are now showing that the final number may have actually topped $400 million. We won't know the exact number for at least a few days or weeks as the PPV buys are tallied and vendor proceeds are collected. But even before those final dollars are counted, we can already make a very simple assumption: Floyd and Manny's respective net worths just absolutely exploded.
Fight Earnings
Prior to the fight, Floyd Mayweather's net worth was $280 million. His career earnings prior to Saturday topped $400 million. His highest single-night paycheck before Pacquiao was the $75 million he earned by fighting Saul Alvarez in September 2013. Mayweather was entitled to 60% of the profits earned from Saturday's fight. As of this writing, most indicators are showing that his 60% cut will eventually result in a check for between $150 and $200 million.
Prior to the fight, Manny Pacquiao's net worth was $120 million. His career earnings prior to Saturday topped $263 million. His highest single-night paycheck before Mayweather was the $35 million he earned by fighting Migeul Cotto in November 2009. Pacquiao was entitled to 40% of the profits earned from Saturday's fight. As of this writing, most indicators are showing that his 40% cut will eventually result in a check for between $100 and $130 million.
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Net Worths
Mayweather is a Nevada resident, so he won't pay any state income taxes. He will likely lose around 40% of his proceeds to the IRS. That will leave him with a net income of between $90 and $120 million. Splitting the difference, it's fairly safe to assume that Floyd's net worth has jumped from $280 million to $380 million. That's a 35% increase overnight.
Pacquiao is a resident of California. As such, he will pay 13.3% state income taxes plus around 40% to the IRS. That will leave him with a net income of between $48 million and $62 million. Splitting the difference, it's fairly safe to assume that Manny's net worth has just jumped from $120 million to $175 million. That's a 45% increase overnight.
If Floyd does end up grossing $200 million, he essentially just earned more in one night than he had in the first 15 years of his professional career, combined. That amount would bring his career earnings to $610 million.
Similar to Mayweather, if Manny does end up earning $130 million, he also essentially just earned more in one night than he had in the first 15 years of his professional career. That amount would bring his career earnings up to $363 million.
FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images
FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images
Will There Be A Rematch?
Honestly, that is impossible to know right now. After the fight, Floyd swore his upcoming fight in September will be his last. On the other hand, so much money would be generated that it's seems like a total no-brainer. Even if half as many people buy the Pay-Per-View because they felt this last match was boring (or rigged), the fight could still generate $200 million. Floyd would probably want a larger share of the profits, since he is in the power position. So assuming a 70-30 profit split, a $200 million gross rematch would put $113 million in Floyd's bank and $49 million in Manny's. That $113 million would be after taxes were already taken out. It would also be after Floyd earns another $30-40 million from his upcoming September fight.
If you add it all up, assuming a rematch happened at some point in the future, Floyd would likely walk away with a net worth north of $500 million. It's too good to pass up!
Keep in mind that the final figures are still being tallied. We will obviously keep you posted on any new information that comes in related to the confirmed fighter payouts. We will also be adjusting their net worths accordingly in real time.
