What is Justin Gaethje's Net Worth?
Justin Gaethje is an American professional mixed martial artist who has a net worth of $5 million. Justin Gaethje competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship's lightweight division. In the summer of 2023, he became the second fighter in UFC history to win the BMF championship, a symbolic title for the "baddest motherfucker." Before joining the UFC, Gaethje was the inaugural lightweight champion in the World Series of Fighting.
Early Life and High School
Justin Gaethje was born on November 14, 1988 in Tucson, Arizona and was raised in Safford. He is of Mexican descent through his mother Carolina, who was a postmaster, and of German descent through his father John, who was a copper miner. Gaethje has a twin brother, plus two sisters. As a teenager, he attended Safford High School, where he was a four-time finalist and two-time Arizona state champion in wrestling. Gaethje also played high school baseball and football.
Collegiate Career
Having graduated high school with a 191-9 wrestling record, Gaethje accepted an offer from the NCAA Division I wrestling program at the University of Northern Colorado. As a freshman there, he compiled an 18-9 record. In his sophomore year, Gaethje qualified for the 2009 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, where he posted a 0-2 record. Returning to the Championships in 2010, he went 5-2 to claim seventh place and All-American status. After posting a 1-2 record in the 2011 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, Gaethje finished his senior season 17-8.
MMA Beginnings
Gaethje started his amateur MMA career while still in college. He made his amateur debut during the preseason of his sophomore year in 2008, scoring a slam knockout on his opponent. Gaethje racked up a 7-0 amateur record before turning professional in the summer of 2011. In his first professional match, he beat Kevin Croom via knockout. Gaethje went on to compile a 7-0 professional record as he fought on the regional circuit in Colorado and Arizona.
World Series of Fighting
In late 2012, Gaethje signed with the World Series of Fighting. He made his debut for the promotion in March of 2013 at WSOF 2, where he defeated Gesias Cavalcante. Gaethje went on to beat Brian Cobb and Dan Lauzon. In early 2014, he claimed the inaugural WSOF lightweight championship by defeating Richard Patishnock via TKO in the first round. Gaethje would successfully defend his title against Nick Newell, Luis Palomino (twice), Brian Foster, and Luiz Firmino.
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Ultimate Fighting Championship
In the spring of 2017, Gaethje vacated his WSOF lightweight championship title to sign with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He made his UFC debut that summer, defeating veteran Micheal Johnson via TKO at "The Ultimate Fighter: Redemption Finale." The win earned Gaethje both Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night honors. Not long after that, Gaethje served as a coach, opposite Eddie Alvarez, on the reality television show "The Ultimate Fighter 26." The pair faced off against each other at the conclusion of the season; Gaethje lost, giving him his first career MMA loss. He recorded another loss at UFC on Fox 29 in the spring of 2018, this time to Dustin Poirier. Gaethje rebounded that summer by defeating James Vick via knockout in the first round at UFC Fight Night 135. In 2019, he defeated Edson Barboza and Donald Cerrone, both in the first round by knockout and TKO, respectively.
In the spring of 2020, Gaethje won the interim UFC lightweight championship by defeating Tony Ferguson via TKO at UFC 249. Moreover, he continued his incredible bonus awards streak by claiming Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night honors. Later in 2020, Gaethje faced Khabib Nurmagomedov in a unification bout for the UFC lightweight championship, but lost via technical submission. In 2021, he defeated Michael Chandler at UFC 268 and earned yet another Fight of the Night award. The following year, Gaethje faced Charles Oliveira at UFC 274 for the vacant UFC lightweight championship, but lost in the first round. He performed better at UFC 286 in March of 2023, beating Rafael Fiziev via unanimous decision. In the summer, Gaethje fought a rematch against Dustin Poirier for the symbolic BMF title at UFC 291, and won. He earned his fifth career Performance of the Night award for the victory.
Eyesight Issues
Previously legally blind, Gaethje underwent a photorefractive keratectomy in 2016 to correct his eyesight. According to fellow MMA fighter Dan Hardy, Gaethje's eyesight used to be so bad that he had to physically touch his opponent to know where he was and what he was hitting.
Personal Life
Gaethje is in a relationship with model and social media influencer Sophia Romano, whom he met through a dating app.
Ahead of the US presidential election in 2020, Gaethje attended a rally for Donald Trump alongside UFC president Dana White, manager Ali Abdelaziz, and fighters Colby Covington and Henry Cejudo. Gaethje praised Trump's role in helping to develop the UFC.
