Mike Tyson’s upcoming bout against Jake Paul promises to be a lucrative endeavor, with estimations indicating a staggering increase in earnings compared to his professional debut.
Mike Tyson stands as a legendary figure in boxing. His prime years witnessed unparalleled domination in the heavyweight division, marked by winning the undisputed world championship title. He also headlined major events, competing against the likes of Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis.
Tyson made over $430 million in his prime from the sport, but he lost most of his wealth.
Tyson’s professional debut in 1985 against Hector Mercedes was far from a lucrative venture. The event ended up earning him only $100, a fraction of his modest $450 purse.
In his book Undisputed Truth, Tyson wrote:Â “I hardly made any money from those early fights. My first fight lost money for the promoter, but Jimmy [Jacobs] gave me $500. Then he took $50 from that to give to Kevin and he put $350 in the bank for me, so I walked away with $100.”
Undeterred by financial setbacks, Tyson’s meteoric rise commenced with successive victories. This established him as a force to be reckoned with in the ring. His dominant performance against Trevor Berbick in 1986 ended up securing the title of youngest heavyweight champion at age 20. This catapulted him into boxing superstardom.
As Tyson’s fame grew, so did his earnings. Notable matches against the likes of Frank Bruno, Evander Holyfield, and Lennox Lewis saw him command multi-million dollar purses. It cemented his status as a top-tier athlete and box office draw.
Sadly, Tyson went on to declare bankruptcy in 2003. Nevertheless, he has subsequently amassed new money via investments in businesses.
The 57-year-old will now get $20 million for his upcoming matchup with Paul. Despite their 31-year age difference, Paul and Tyson are scheduled to square off in front of 80,000 spectators in a match that will be shown on Netflix.
Given that he would enter the ring at the age of 58, legitimate health concerns have been voiced by critics.