Not even in the wildest imagination someone would have thought of Mike Tyson making a professional comeback, 19 years after he announced his retirement from boxing. But then Tyson is not your average boxer. He refuses to be boxed in. At 58, Tyson will be taking on Jake Paul, an opponent who is 31 years younger than him. Many have pointed out the absurdity of Tyson fighting at an age when he's afflicted with ulcer and sciatica. However, he seems to be pretty confident about his chance, and was cheered by a legion of fans when he participated in an open workout session.
"When I agreed to this fight and I started training, I said, 'What the (expletive) am I thinking of?'" Tyson said after his workout. "And I finished the process and now the fight's the party. All the hard work is done," he added. Tyson is set to get $20 million from what is likely the last fight of his life.
What Was Mike Tyson's Net Worth in the 90s?
During the 90s when Tyson was at the peak of his power, his net worth exceeded over $300 million. He was not only the most feared man in the ring, but also the richest boxer in the world. He was getting paid handsomely for his fights and endorsements.
In 1987, Tyson's fortunes changed dramatically when he inked a record-breaking $27 million eight-fight deal with HBO. His impressive victory over Alex Steward in a mere two minutes and 27 seconds paved the way for a lucrative long-term contract with Showtime worth an astounding $120 million. Sportico, a leading sports publication, ranked Tyson at number 18 on its list of the 50 Highest-Paid Athletes of All-Time. The pinnacle of Tyson's career came in a legendary showdown with boxing icon Lennox Lewis, where he pocketed a jaw-dropping $103 million purse, including a jaw-dropping $75 million pay-per-view bonus. As weird as it sounds, Tyson ended up losing everything by 2003 and had to declare bankruptcy.
How Mike Tyson Went Bankrupt?
It takes some special skill to see your bank balance dropping from $300 million to nil. It all started with a fight against Evander Holyfield, whose ear was chomped off by Tyson in a match. Tyson's license was revoked for 16 months, which affected his earnings massively. Tyson saw his fortune vanish, thanks to his profligate lifestyle and some terrible investments. Tyson used to own two Bengal tigers worth $70,000. For his ex-wife and actress Robin Givens, he bought a gold bathtub worth $2 million. He would splurge lavishly on gold, jewellery, cars, and real estate. It was his friendship with Don King, the fight promoter, that put him into debt. Tyson accused King of robbing him of $50 million. By the end of 2003, Tyson was in a $23 million debt.
What's Mike Tyson's Net Worth in 2024?
Mike Tyson currently has a net worth of $10 million. He will be taking double of his net worth amount for a fight with Jake Paul. Tyson's main source of income is his cannabis business, which clocked a nine-figure revenue in 2023.
