MIAMI, FL – DECEMBER 19: Jake Paul reacts towards Anthony Joshua throughout the Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua heavyweight bout on December 19, 2025 at Caseya Heart in Miami, Florida. (Photograph by Carmen Mandato/Getty Photographs for Netflix) Getty Photographs for Netflix
Within the newest listing of highest-paid athletes for 2026, solely two boxers are within the prime 50, and as soon as once more, blended martial artists are excluded.
Soccer celebrity Cristiano Ronaldo tops the listing compiled by Forbes, having reportedly earned $300 million prior to now 12 months (together with estimated match funding and sponsorships). Ronaldo is alleged to have earned $275 million and was additionally primary in 2025.
Ronaldo has now topped the listing for the fourth 12 months in a row.
In terms of martial arts athletes, the newest listing has solely two fighters who’ve cracked the highest 50 prior to now 12 months.
In reality, Canelo Alvarez reportedly earned $170 million, ending in second place total. That features $160 million in match funding and an extra $10 million in sponsorship and endorsement charges. Canelo, after all, competed in one of many greatest boxing matches final 12 months, taking up Terrence Crawford in one of many most-watched fights of all time, watched by over 41 million individuals on Netflix.
Oddly, Crawford did not really make the listing, although he gained that struggle by a lopsided choice over Canelo.
The one different boxer to make the listing is No. 23 Jake Paul, who is alleged to have earned $70 million prior to now 12 months, together with $60 million in match funding and $10 million in sponsorship and endorsement charges.
Paul has fought twice, together with a victory over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in 2025, however suffered a brutal knockout loss to Anthony Joshua in December of this 12 months, struggling a severe harm by which he suffered a damaged jaw.
However Paul continues to make waves within the sport of boxing by means of his profession and his firm, Most Beneficial Promotions, and it is clear that he is getting paid effectively for these two fights.
As for MMA fighters, nobody made the listing in 2026.
For the second consecutive 12 months, no MMA fighter made it into the highest 50, however tennis star Jannik Sinner, who is alleged to have earned $54.6 million prior to now 12 months, ranks fiftieth.
For the previous few years, Conor McGregor has been the one UFC celebrity to look within the prime 50 highest-paid fighters listing, together with in 2021, when he was ranked primary for the 12 months. McGregor’s greatest earnings of the 12 months, clearly from preventing, got here from the sale of Correct No. 12 Whiskey, which reportedly introduced his share to $150 million.
McGregor additionally made the listing after his 2017 struggle towards Floyd Mayweather, however the bulk of his earnings got here from boxing, not MMA.
In fact, McGregor will lastly make his return to motion in a rematch with Max Holloway in the principle occasion of UFC 329 on July eleventh. It is unclear whether or not this struggle alone will put McGregor again on the highest 50 highest-paid fighter listing, however he might stay the one hope for somebody from the UFC to signify him in 2027.
