How Did Conor McGregor Accumulate $180 Million to Top the Forbes’ List For Highest Earning Athletes

Who would have thought that one day Conor McGregor, a mixed martial artist, would top the list of the highest paying athletes in the world? by a margin that speaks volumes about his huge popularity and his market value. Conor McGregor accumulated well over $180 million in the past 12 months to become the highest-earning athlete in the world.

Needless to say, the names that McGregor went past to seal the first spot are nothing less than spectacular. The mixed martial artist accumulated more than the likes of LeBron James, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Stephen Curry, Tom Brady, Kevin Durant among others to become the highest-earning athlete.

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Unfazed by the pandemic, McGregor grew his net-worth leaps and bounds to lead the list of highest-earning athletes of 2021. One begs to ask the question, how did McGregor go on to more than double his earning in the year 2021, after accumulating $48 million in 2020.

How did Conor McGregor make $180 million?

Conor McGregor made a whopping $158 million outside of the Octagon joining Roger Federer and Tiger Woods to become one of the three athletes to amass more than $70 million off the field while still actively competing.

Additionally, McGregor was also one of the four athletes this year to accumulate over $100 million in 2021. Most of McGregor’s earnings came from selling his majority share in whiskey brand Proper No. 12 to Proximo Spirits for a massive $150 million. McGregor also pocketed $22 million for his appearance against Dustin Poirier at UFC 257.

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UFC 257 sold approximately 1.6 million PPV buys. McGregor pocketed $3 million show money and takings home a good chunk of PPV revenue. In a report by Bloody Elbow, the Abu Dhabi government gave huge money to the UFC for booking Conor McGregor in Abu Dhabi back at UFC 257. Needless to say, McGregor must have pocketed huge amounts there as well, taking his total earnings to a whopping $180 million.

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Conor McGregor remained active outside of the Octagon despite a lackluster year in his mixed martial arts career. McGregor suffered the first knockout loss of his MMA career against Dustin Poirier at UFC 257 after he knocked out the former champion in the second round to become the second fighter after Khabib Nurmagomedov to hand a loss to Conor McGregor.

Conor McGregor earned a reported $5 million for his sponsorship deal with Reebok, and also pocketed more money as a brand ambassador for mobile game Dystopia. McGregor continues to remain the face of the Irish whiskey Proper No. 12.