Even before what should be the most lucrative fight of all time as he takes on Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao was already a wealthy man.
In his long fighting career, which began when he turned pro in 1995, "The Pacman" has won titles in multiple weight classes and holds a collection of championships almost too long to list. Outside of the ring, the boxer has also had a lucrative career by endorsing products, serving in the House of Representatives in the Philippines, and coaching -- and even playing -- in the Philippine Basketball Association.
Gettin' SWOLE for our fight against plain. RT to #GetInOurCorner w/ @MannyPacquiao pic.twitter.com/IM715cxfOQ
— Butterfinger (@Butterfinger) April 24, 2015
Pacquiao's endorsements include Nestle's Butterfinger candy bar. Source: Twitter
With all of these impressive accolades ahead of the big fight this weekend, we decided to investigate the zesty fighter's net worth.
These numbers might knock you out
Despite Pacquiao's various income streams, his professional boxing career is his primary wealth generator. Today, Pacquiao has earned roughly $300 million in the ring, according to TheRichest.com's calculations and media reports.
The fighter's impressive earnings streak dates back to 2008, when his PPV battle with de la Hoya put him on the map. That fight earned him $11 million, plus a $15 million bonus and launched his status as a money-making headliner. Since then, Pacquiao's earnings have tended to increase annually, with a few drops along the way, as reflected below:
- 2008: $29 million for his fights with Oscar de la Hoya and David Diaz
- 2009: $26 million from fights with Miguel Cotto and Ricky Hatton
- 2010: $25 million from a fight with Antonio Margarito
- 2011: $40 million from fights with Marquez (who he has faced four times) and "Sugar" Shane Mosley
- 2012: $50 million from fights with Juan Manuel Marquez and Timothy Bradley
- 2013: $30 million for fight with Brandon Rios
To top off those figures, Pacquiao had an incredibly lucrative 2014, raking in $41.8 million, which earned him 11th place on Forbes's Highest Paid Athlete List for the year. A whopping $41 million of those earnings came from his fights against Brandon Rios and Timothy Bradley. Pacquiao picked up another $800,000 for the year in endorsements, Forbes reported. (He's endorsed brands including Nike (NYSE: NKE), Monster Energy, Hennessy, Wonderful Pistachios, and San Miguel Beer.) Beyond those two incomes, the Pacman also received 240,000 pesos -- or roughly $15,600 -- last year for his role as a congressman, according to the Constitution of the Philippines.
The biggest fight of all time
Heading into the ring to face Mayweather this weekend, the Pacman stands to increase his riches by over $100 million -- and that's considered the short end of a 60/40 revenue split. Because Mayweather holds more perceived drawing power for viewers -- and because he's also undefeated heading into the fight -- Pacquiao will make less off of the main event, The New York Times reported.
The contract calls for Mayweather to receive 60% of the revenue. Pacquiao will get 40% When all the accounting is done, each man should make well over $100 million, about double the biggest previous boxing payout.
Those estimates could even be low for a fight that already has an estimated $74 million in ticket sales at the 15,000-seat MGM Grand in Las Vegas and could do as much as $300 million in PPV sales, WalletHub reported. The fight has also scored $35 million in foreign rights fees, over $13 million in sponsorship, and it will be shown on closed circuit in a number of venues as well, the site added.
At the end of it, though, both the IRS and the Philippines will take their cuts. (Boxers, of course, do not have to make their salaries public, but some of Pacman's payouts have received extended media attention because of taxation conflicts between his home country and the United States.) Nevertheless, Pacquiao should leave the ring with a fortune that's a staggering amount in this history of professional boxing.
