Jake Paul, a former child star and social media influencer who took up boxing professionally in 2020, will battle former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson on Friday in a matchup that will be streamed live worldwide on Netflix.
Here it is what we know about how much Paul and Tyson are paid, along with other financial aspects of an event that many consider more of a spectacle than a sport.
How much does Mike Tyson get paid for the fight?
Mike Tyson, 58, is considered one of the greatest boxers of all time and has an estimated net worth of $10 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. That’s a modest amount compared to the hundreds of millions of dollars that “Iron Mike,” as he is known, has amassed in career earnings, including $400 million in fight purses, according to Forbes. Over the past ten years, Tyson has also fought his way back file for bankruptcy in 2013 at the age of 37.
Although promoters have not revealed exactly how much Tyson will make from Friday’s fight, reports from online sources including DraftKings Network estimate he will earn around $20 million.
That’s about the same amount Tyson earned in his 1988 match against Michael Spinks, a record amount at the time (worth about $53 million today, adjusted for inflation). That fight lasted less than two minutes, with Tyson knocking out the previously undefeated Spinks in 91 seconds.
In 1992, Tyson was sent to prison for six years after being convicted of raping a teenage beauty pageant. He was released on parole after three and a half years and returned to boxing in 1995 in a match against Peter McNeely, who was knocked out by technical knockout in less than 90 seconds.
Tyson would earn $30 million for each of his next four bouts, including an infamous 1997 fight against Evander Holyfield in which Tyson bit off a chunk of his opponent’s right ear. Tyson was disqualified from the fight, had his boxing license revoked and was fined $3 million, but was allowed to keep the purse.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Paul wore a diamond-tipped earmuff, an apparent reference to the incident. But when it comes to making light of ear biting, Tyson has already beaten Paul by launching ear-shaped marijuana edibles (with Holyfield’s permission) through his company, Tyson 2.0, a premium cannabis brand he launched in 2021. According to Forbes Australia, the brand will generate an estimated $150 million in revenue by 2023.
Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
How much does Jake Paul get paid for the fight?
Jake Paul, 27, will earn $40 million — double what Tyson is expected to receive for the fight — according to an estimate from DraftKings Network and other sources. A simple explanation for this could be that Paul, a major social influencer with 27 million followers on Instagram alone, is also the co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions, the company that promotes the show in partnership with Netflix. His net worth is estimated at $80 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
With a 10-1 fight record, mostly against mixed martial artists and other pro-boxing newcomers under his belt, Paul, a former child star and YouTube prankster who started his boxing career in 2018, has no shortage of confidence – or showmanship. His cocky attitude earned him his latest nickname “El Gallo de Dorado” or the Golden Rooster, coined by fans in Puerto Rico. Before that he was called ‘The Problem Child’, a fairly obvious name based on the online persona he has built for himself over the years.
Paul, who went full Gallo this week during an open workout with Tyson at the Toyota Music Factory in Irving, Texas, wearing a rooster hat and red-feathered skirt over his boxing trunks, embodies the social media fusion of Barnumesque entertainment and sports.
In a TikTok video posted Tuesday, a shirtless Paul, slumped on a couch wearing a prosthetic stomach to make himself look out of shape, places stacks of money on his protruding stomach as he offers “Mikey, Mikey” an extra $5 million as the former champion, he can last more than four rounds with him in the ring. If he doesn’t, Paul says in the video, the aging boxer will have to get a tattoo that says “I love Jake Paul.”
“This is why modern boxing is a joke,” one Reddit user commented in response to the video. “People get more excited about freak show fights than actual boxing matches.”
As USA Today reported, “Tyson and his camp have not publicly responded to the offer.”
How much is the purse for the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight?
The secret wallet is estimated by some to be worth as much as $80 million.
How much do tickets cost for the Tyson vs. Paul fight?
Last-minute tickets are still available for the Tyson vs. Paul fight, which takes place on Friday at 8 p.m. AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Prices range from $69 for upper mezzanine seats on StubHub to a whopping $32,392 for floor seats on Vividseats.
Who do bettors think will win the fight?
Tyson enters the ring on Friday, nearly 20 years since his last professional fight, as a +160 underdog, according to the latest DraftKings betting odds. That means a $100 bet on Iron Mike after retirement will yield a profit of $160 if he wins. At -200, Paul is the favorite to win. Bettors will have to place a $200 bet to make a $100 profit should the social influencer prevail over Tyson.
“This fight has been highly anticipated and we are pleased with the betting volume,” Johnny Avello, director of sports operations at DraftKings, told CBS MoneyWatch. “We expect there will be more action in the hours leading up to the fight.”
While it remains to be seen how much will be wagered in total, the event is attracting whale-sized bets of $500,000, according to ESPN.
According to DraftKings, bettors are backing Tyson, with 69% of all bets currently on the former undisputed world champion to emerge victorious. “Even though Tyson is now 58 years old, people see one of the best boxers of all time at a great price and jump at the opportunity,” Avello said.
“While it won’t match an event like the Super Bowl, it could certainly be our most-betting boxing match of the year,” he added.
Not everyone will be able to place a bet on the epic battle. Although the fight is sanctioned by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, rule changes including shorter rounds and larger gloves will prevent betting on the fight in at least seven US states.
How to watch the fight between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson
For most fans, the best seats will be at home, as Tyson vs. Paul is streaming worldwide on Netflix. A basic Netflix subscription costs $6. The platform’s broadcast begins at 8:00 PM Eastern Time.
CBS Sports reports thisthe fight marks Netflix’s biggest bet yet on live sports. Netflix, which has 282 million subscribers in more than 190 countries, recently did just that tested the waters by broadcasting exhibition events in golf and tennis.
