Mike Tyson, regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time, is set to make a return to the boxing ring this summer to face Jake Paul in a highly anticipated bout. This match, streaming live on Netflix, will be Tyson's first professional fight since 2005 and is expected to be a major event, likely becoming one of the most-watched fights in boxing history. Though promotors did not reveal exactly how much Tyson earned for Friday's fight, reports from online sources, including DraftKings Network, estimate he'll make around $20 million.
Here's what we know about how much Paul and Tyson were being paid, along with other financial aspects of an event that many consider more spectacle than sport.
Mike Tyson's Net Worth and Career Earnings
Mike Tyson has an estimated net worth of $10 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. That is a modest sum compared with the hundreds of millions of dollars "Iron Mike," as he is known, accumulated in career earnings, including $400 million in fight purses, according to Forbes. Over the last decade, Tyson has also fought his way back after filing for bankruptcy in 2003.
Notable Fights and Purses
Throughout his career, Tyson has had numerous significant bouts with impressive earnings. Here's a look at some of his biggest purses:
- 1988 vs. Michael Spinks: Tyson knocked out the undefeated Spinks in 91 seconds, securing a $22 million payout. That's about the same dollar amount Tyson earned in his match against Michael Spinks in 1988, a record purse at the time (worth roughly $53 million today adjusting for inflation).
- 1995 vs. Peter McNeely: After returning from prison, Tyson faced Peter McNeely and won within 90 seconds, earning $25 million.
- 1996 vs. Frank Bruno: Tyson fought Frank Bruno for the second time, knocking him out and earning $30 million.
- 1996 vs. Bruce Seldon: Tyson quickly defeated Bruce Seldon in a title unification bout, earning another $30 million.
- 1996 vs. Evander Holyfield: Tyson's first fight against Evander Holyfield ended in an 11th-round loss but earned him $30 million.
- 1997 vs. Evander Holyfield (Rematch): The infamous rematch, where Tyson bit Holyfield's ear, resulted in a disqualification but still earned Tyson $30 million. Tyson was disqualified from the fight, had his boxing license revoked and fined $3 million, but was allowed to keep the purse.
- 1999 vs. Francois Botha: Tyson made a comeback after a suspension and knocked out Francois Botha, earning another $10 million.
- 2000 vs. Andrew Golota: Tyson faced Andrew Golota, dominating and forcing Golota to quit after three rounds, which earned Tyson $10 million despite a failed drug test.
- 2020 vs. Roy Jones Jr.: In an exhibition match during the COVID-19 pandemic, Tyson fought Roy Jones Jr., ending in a draw and earning him $10 million.
Best Knockouts Of Mike Tyson, Boxing HD
The Jake Paul Fight: Financial Aspects
Jake Paul, 27, is set to earn $40 million, according to an estimate from DraftKings Network and other sources - double what Tyson is expected to receive for the fight. The undisclosed purse is estimated by some to be as high as $80 million. A simple explanation for that may be that Paul, a top social influencer with 27 million followers on Instagram alone, is also co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), the company promoting the extravaganza in partnership with Netflix.
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At a news conference on Wednesday, Paul wore a diamond-spiked ear cover, a pointed reference to the incident. But when it comes to making light of the ear biting, Tyson has beat Paul to the punch, having launched ear-shaped marijuana edibles (with Holyfield's consent) through his company, Tyson 2.0, a premium cannabis brand he launched in 2021.
Betting Odds and Fan Expectations
Tyson enters the ring on Friday, nearly 20 years since his last professional fight, as a +160 underdog, according to the latest betting odds from DraftKings. That means a $100 wager on post-retirement Iron Mike will bring in a $160 profit if he wins. At -200, Paul is the favorite to win. Bettors will have to place a $200 wager to make a $100 profit, should the social influencer prevail over Tyson.
Gamblers are backing Tyson, according to DraftKings, with 69% of all bets currently on the former undisputed world champion to emerge victorious. For most fans, the best seats will be at home, with Tyson vs. Paul streaming worldwide on Netflix. A standard Netflix subscription plan with ads is $6.99 a month.
Fight Details
The boxing match airs exclusively on Netflix Friday, Nov. ET.
Full Fight Card:
- Heavyweight: Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul
- Super Lightweight: Katie Taylor (c) vs. Amanda Serrano for IBF, WBA, WBC, and WBO women's titles
- Welterweight: Mario Barrios (c) vs. Abel Ramos for WBC title
- Super Middleweight: Neeraj Goyat vs. Whindersson Nunes
- Super Middleweight: Shadasia Green vs. Melinda Watpool for vacant women’s WBO title
- Super Lightweight: Lucas Bahdi vs. Armando Casamonica
- Featherweight: Bruce Carrington vs. Dana Coolwell
Mike Tyson's Retirement and Legacy
Iron Mike retired in June 2005 after losing to Danny Williams, but he always stayed close to the boxing world and has been present in multiple world championship events.
Read also: Tyson's Money Troubles
It is estimated that during his entire active boxing career, Tyson earned $300 million. However, he ended up squandering due to bad financial decisions and excesses.
Read also: Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson: Money Matters