Floyd Mayweather is one of boxing's biggest names and is the only athlete besides Tiger Woods to earn more than $100 million in a single year.
While he has made a lot of smart moves with his money, he has had his fair share of mistakes too -- and there are three mistakes in particular you certainly don't want make yourself.
Image source: Getty Images.
The background
This year, Mayweather topped the Forbes annual list of the world's highest paid athletes, making $105 million in just 72 minutes worth of boxing matches.
But even with all of that money -- an estimated net worth of $280 million at last count -- here's what Mr. Mayweather could have done better:
1. Liquid gold
In a 2013 story for ESPN the Magazine, writer Tim Keown describes a trip to a Foot Locker for Mayweather to buy "shoes, shirts, shorts, socks" and all.
While in Foot Locker, Keown describes the following scene:
[Floyd] looks around to make sure nobody is watching before holding out a slip of paper cupped in his right hand. It is a bank slip, and Floyd is watching me watch it as my eyes attempt to focus on the balance...
I look up to see Floyd smiling. He begins to laugh. I say something unintelligible about too many numbers...I look down one more time to make sure I got it right. And yes, it's right there, 11 numbers long.
There is more than $123 million in Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s bank account.
He nods, folds the slip and says, "One account, baby."
Yes -- you read that right -- at the time, Mayweather had an astonishing $123 million in a single bank account because he is "a big proponent of maximum liquidity," meaning he loves cash.
Image source: Getty Images.
And while cash isn't a bad thing, for everyday Americans, hoarding cash into bank accounts for the purposes of saving for the future can have disastrous consequences. Should you have an emergency fund? Absolutely.
But should you only save for retirement via hoarding cash and avoid the stock market altogether? Absolutely not.
A recent study revealed 25% of Americans think saving is best done in cash. But if you're saving for the long-term, the historical 9.5% return offered by the stock market far outpaces the minimal 0.12% average rate paid on savings accounts.
In that example, by saving $1,000 a year for 20 years, a person investing in the stock market would have $40,000 more than someone who didn't.
Cash may be king if you have a bank statement that's 11 numbers long, but that isn't so for the rest of us.
2. Enough is enough
Floyd Mayweather is notorious for posting pictures of himself and his wealth on Instagram, with one of the most ridiculous being his watch collection:
A photo posted by Floyd Mayweather (@floydmayweather) on July 7, 2013 at 6:53pm PDT
A 2010 study by Princeton professors found while money may "buy happiness," it's only effective to a certain point.
As The Wall Street Journal reported:
As people earn more money, their day-to-day happiness rises. That is, until you hit the magic number: $75,000 a year. After that, it's just more stuff, with no gain in happiness
In other words, like Mayweather, many think only money and possessions are the key to happiness, but the reality is, they aren't.
Image source: Getty Images.
3. Turning down Pacquiao
In 2011, it was widely reported Mayweather turned down a $65 million paycheck he would have received if he fought Manny Pacquiao.
And in recent days, newswires have been abuzz because the tables have finally turned and Mayweather declared:
"We are ready. Let's make it happen.
May 2. Mayweather versus Manny Pacquiao.
Let's do it."
So what does this have to do with us?
Well it turns out, Warren Buffett has a bit of wisdom we would do well to listen to.
And in fact, when you consider that Mayweather actually hung out with Buffett earlier this year -- as shown to the right -- he should listen as well.
When discussing the stock market in his 2012 letter to shareholders Buffett said:
Since the basic game is so favorable, Charlie and I believe it's a terrible mistake to try to dance in and out of it based upon the turn of tarot cards, the predictions of "experts," or the ebb and flow of business activity. The risks of being out of the game are huge compared to the risks of being in it.
Put simply, patience is key in investing and in life, but when a guaranteed outcome is already on the table -- like a $65 million payday for Mayweather -- you're best suited to take the money while it's there.
Does this mean you should cash in your stocks the moment you're in the green? Absolutely not. But it does mean that you should remember the example of how investing in great businesses over the long-term is the key to financial security.
In short, for everyday individuals like you and I, the stock market is where financial futures are secured, so don't hesitate to get into the ring.
