Introduction

Jon Jones is an American professional MMA fighter with an estimated net worth of $3 Million.

Jones is a former UFC Light-Heavyweight and Heavyweight Champion, with many considering him the greatest mixed martial arts fighter of all time. While his career has been highly controversial, suffering setbacks from legal issues and suspensions for banned substance use, his only loss in the cage was due to a disqualification from an illegal elbow strike.

Jon was the most dominant UFC light heavyweight champion of all time, winning fourteen title fights over a ten-year period. Despite this, he has never been inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame due to his numerous legal issues and controversies.

Quick Facts

• Earned at least $15 million during his UFC career
• Net worth has been negatively affected by numerous arrests/legal issues.
• Allegedly turned down a $30 million offer to fight Tom Aspinall
• Will receive a settlement from the UFC of between $6 million and $7 million
• Highest-recorded purse of $3.64 million against Daniel Cormier (rematch)
• Sold his 4,406-square-foot home in Ithaca, New York, for $713,000

Before Wealth & Fame

Growing up in New York, Jon Jones came from an athletically gifted family. His two brothers, Arthur and Chandler, were both professional NFL players. Jon was the smallest of the Jones brothers, and whilst he played football in high school, wrestling was where he shone the most. He was an NJCAA national champion in college, but later dropped out to pursue a career in mixed martial arts. 

While pursuing his MMA career, Jones worked as a bouncer at Doo-Z’s nightclub in Ithaca, New York, and briefly as a high school janitor.

UFC Career

In 2008, at the age of 21, Jon Jones was signed to the UFC. He won his first two fights against Andre Gusmao and Stephan Bonnar by unanimous decision. After submitting Jake O’Brien in his third UFC fight, Jones then fought Matt Hamill, where he suffered his only career loss due to disqualification for an illegal elbow. 

From 2010 onwards, Jones never lost a fight and officially won the UFC light-heavyweight championship in 2011 against Mauricio Shogun Rua. He defended the light-heavyweight belt numerous times against legends such as Rampage Jackson, Lyoto Machida, Rashad Evans, Vitor Belfort, and Chael Sonnen.

Stripped of the Belt

In 2015, after winning his first fight against Daniel Cormier, Jones was involved in a hit-and-run incident in Albuquerque, New Mexico, injuring a pregnant woman and fleeing the scene. The UFC stripped him of the light-heavyweight title and suspended him indefinitely. 

He won his first fight back in the UFC in April 2016 against Ovince Saint Preux for the interim light-heavyweight belt. However, he was stripped of the belt once again after testing positive for clomiphene and letrozole ahead of his scheduled rematch with Daniel Cormier. A year later, Jones won the second fight against Cormier, but the decision was later overturned due to testing positive for Turinabol. This would be the third time the UFC stripped Jones of his belt.

In 2018, Jones reclaimed the belt after beating Alexander Gustafsson for a second time. He successfully defended the belt three times against Anthony Smith, Thiago Santos, and Dominick Reyes before vacating the belt in 2020 due to pay disputes with UFC President Dana White.

Heavyweight Division

In 2023, Jones returned to the sport, moving up a weight class to submit Ciryl Gane in the first round at UFC 285 and win the UFC heavyweight championship. He recently defended the belt in November 2024 against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309. 

Fight Earnings

Jon Jones has been actively competing in the UFC for almost twenty years, during which time the fighter’s pay structure has undergone numerous changes. The UFC is also known for not disclosing individual fighter pay unless the state where the event occurred requires public disclosure. However, in recent years, a class action lawsuit has been filed against the company, leading to the public disclosure of the salaries of several top fighters. This includes that of Ronda Rousey, Conor McGregor, and Jon Jones.

According to the documents, in 2012, Jones earned $2.28 million for defeating Rashad Evans and $1.57 million for submitting Vitor Belfort. The following year, he reportedly earned $2.75 million from his bout with Chael Sonnen and $1.17 million for defeating Alexander Gustafsson. In 2014, he earned $1.24 million for beating Glover Teixeira. A year later, for his first fight with DC, he was paid approximately $3.64 million, the highest salary of his career to date. Finally, he received $2.68 million in 2016 for defeating Ovince St. Preux.

This amounts to approximately $15.3 million in total, but it does leave a lot to the imagination. Since the St. Preux fight, Jones has fought seven more times for the UFC, likely earning significantly higher sums.

Tom Aspinal Fight Offer

The word on the street is that Jon Jones was offered as much as $30 million to fight the then-interim UFC Heavyweight Champion, Tom Aspinal; however, nothing ever materialized. This was the fight that fans wanted to see, but Jones retired (temporarily) before a matchup could take place. 

UFC Anti-Trust Settlement

At the end of 2025, more than 1,200 current/former professional UFC fighters are set to receive a settlement as part of the antitrust lawsuit filed against the organization over a decade ago. The suit alleged that the UFC violated antitrust laws in the United States by monopolizing the MMA market and intentionally suppressing the pay of its talent. 

Last year, the UFC, without admitting any wrongdoing, agreed to settle the lawsuit for $335 million. This will be split among the 1,200 athletes who competed for the promotion between December 16, 2010, and June 30, 2017. According to reports, Jon Jones is set to receive the second-highest payout (roughly between $6 million and $7 million), behind Anderson Silva‘s $10.3 million settlement.

Individual settlements will vary depending on how active the fighter was during this period and their relative popularity. In other words, champions headlining high-selling PPV events will receive higher compensation per event.

Legal Issues & Lawsuits

Jones has faced numerous legal issues and lawsuits during his MMA career. In May 2012, he was arrested for a DWI after crashing his Bentley Continental GT into a utility pole in Binghamton, New York. Jones pleaded guilty, received a six-month license suspension, was fined $1,000, and was ordered to pay $6,563.62 to the New York State Electric and Gas Corporation for damages to the pole.

Hit-and-Run Arrest

Three years later, in April 2015, Jones was involved in a hit-and-run in Albuquerque, New Mexico. According to police reports, Jones ran a red light and hit a car driven by Vanessa Sonnenberg, whose vehicle then crashed into another car. Sonnenberg was pregnant at the time of the incident and suffered a broken arm and other minor injuries.​ After the crash, Jones left the scene, but the next day he turned himself in to the police.​ On September 29, 2015, Jones pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 months of supervised probation. The UFC stripped Jones of his light heavyweight title, suspended him, and removed him from the main event at UFC 187. The suspension lasted seven months, after which Jones returned to fight Ovince Saint Preux at UFC 197 on April 23, 2016.

Battery Arrests

Several years after the hit-and-run accident, in July 2019, Jones was accused of battery. A cocktail waitress at TD’s Eubank Showclub in Albuquerque, New Mexico, alleged that Jones slapped and kissed her and attempted to wrestle her at the bar.​ Jones pleaded no contest to the disorderly conduct charge, meaning he didn’t admit guilt but accepted the conviction and received a 90-day deferred sentence under unsupervised probation.

In another incident in September 2021, just hours after his induction into the UFC Hall of Fame, Jones was arrested in Las Vegas. He was staying at Caesars Palace with his fiancée, Jessie Moses, when one of their children asked a security guard to call the police. When the police arrived, Moses was found crying with blood on her face, and so the police arrested Jones for domestic battery. However, Jones then became angry during the arrest, headbutted a police car, and was then charged with tampering with a vehicle. Though the domestic violence charge was dropped, Jones was ordered to pay $750 for damage to the car and agreed to complete anger management counseling.

Alleged Assault

Three years later, on March 30, 2024, Jones was visited at his Albuquerque home for a surprise drug test. When the anti-doping officials arrived, Jones became upset as he struggled to give a urine sample. According to agent Crystal Martinez, Jones took her phone and threatened her aggressively. Martinez filed charges against Jones, and he was summoned to appear in court, where he pleaded not guilty.

The court agreed to a deal where Jones would attend anger management courses, and if he avoided arrest or legal trouble for the next 90 days, the case would be dismissed. Despite his numerous arrests and legal issues, Jones consistently returned to professional fighting, with his net worth remaining largely unaffected by the allegations against him.

Real Estate

In March 2012, Jones paid $644,500 for a 4,406-square-foot, four-bedroom home in Ithaca, New York. The property featured an oversized three-car garage, which Jones used as a home gym. In November 2016, he listed the house for sale at $750,000, which sold in May of the following year for $713,000.

Introduction

Daniel Cormier is an American former professional MMA fighter with an estimated net worth of $6 Million.

Cormier won both the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship and Heavyweight Championship. He was also a collegiate champion in his folkstyle wrestling career and won titles with three other professional promotions.

Net Worth History

During the middle of his career, Daniel Cormier was still receiving government assistance as he couldn’t pay all of his bills. Things would then change as he entered the title scene, becoming a millionaire and one of the wealthiest fighters in the UFC.

Here’s a breakdown of Daniel Cormier’s annual net worth:

• 2013 – $650,000
• 2014 – $1 Million
• 2015 – $3 Million
• 2016 – $3.5 Million
• 2017 – $5.5 Million
• 2018 – $7 Million
• 2019 – $7.5 Million
• 2020 – $8 Million
• 2021 – $8 Million
• 2022 – $8 Million

Before Wealth & Fame

Daniel Cormier trained in amateur wrestling, won three state championships, and was named to the all-state team for football. He continued his wrestling career in college, starting at Colby Community College before transferring to Oklahoma State University, where he became one of the best in the NCAA.

Cormier began a senior career in freestyle wrestling and won six consecutive gold medals at the US National Championship, and was a US Olympic wrestler in 2004 and 2008 before heading into mixed martial arts.

MMA Career 

Daniel Cormier started his professional MMA career with a technical knockout win over Gary Frazier at Strikeforce Challengers. He would continue to add to his win streak, making it to 11-0 after defeating Dion Staring in another Strikeforce pay-per-view.

On April 20, 2013, Cormier entered the UFC to fight for Dana White and won his first match against Frank Mir via unanimous decision. It wasn’t until 2015 that Cormier would lose his first match, coming in a UFC Light Heavyweight Championship bout against Jon Jones.

Cormier won the same title in his very next match against Anthony Johnson, and added the UFC Heavyweight Championship to his resume by defeating Stipe Miocic in 2018.

UFC Earnings

If you’ve read any of our other MMA fighter profiles before, then you know the drill. Very few of a fighter’s purses are disclosed, and those that are don’t typically include additional earnings from PPV bonuses. In Daniel Cormier’s situation, salaries were disclosed for seven of his fights, beginning in 2014.

When DC fought Patrick Cummins at UFC 170, he earned a total of $160,000, comprising $80,000 to show and $80,000 for the win. Later that year, at UFC 173, Cormier earned a similar sum ($170,000) for submitting Dan Henderson with a rear-naked choke.

In his first title fight against Jon Jones in 2015, he received $90,000 despite the loss, which highlighted that his base purse was gradually increasing. However, Cormier mentioned that after the fight, Dana White was impressed with the performance and sent him a cheque for $1 million. 

Later that year, he earned $180,000 for beating Anthony Johnson, again earning a $90,000 base purse, as well as a $90,000 win bonus. That said, Cormier has also mentioned that the UFC’s owner at the time, Lorenzo Fertitta, wanted his champions to make at least $1 million per fight. Fertitta would make up the difference to ensure that champions would receive $1 million per fight. In which case, Cormier likely earned $1 million from the Johnson fight, and for his next fight against Alexander Gustafsson.

Peak Career Earnings

Only three other fights of Daniel Cormier’s career have disclosed earnings. These are a $1 million paycheck for his rematch with Jon Jones at UFC 214, and two $500,000 purses for his fights with Stipe Miocic. By this point, DC’s pay-per-view bonuses likely exceeded $1 million, and thus, Fertitta didn’t need to make up the difference.

Just based on the figures we’ve mentioned above, Cormier’s disclosed earnings amount to $5.32 million during his tenure with the UFC. That said, this doesn’t include every single one of his fights and doesn’t factor in PPV income. 

Personal Life

Daniel Cormier and his three siblings were raised by his parents, Audrey Cormier and Joseph Cormier, in Louisiana. Cormier was married to a woman named Robin, and following their divorce, he had a child in another relationship, but his girlfriend and child tragically passed away in a car accident.

Since the late 2000s, Cormier has been in a relationship with Salina Deleon. The couple got married in 2017 and has had two children together.

Summary 

Daniel Cormier had perhaps one of the more traditional routes into the UFC thanks to his background in wrestling. However, not many have found the type of success that Cormier has while in the UFC, as he won championships in multiple weight classes. He has used his talents and marketability to launch a successful MMA career that has made him one of the richest combat athletes.

Introduction

Randy Couture is an American professional actor and former MMA fighter with an estimated net worth of $7 Million.

Early Career 

In his teenage years, Randy Couture joined the U.S. Army, where he was part of the wrestling team. Upon discharge, he attended Oklahoma State University, where he won gold at the Pan American Games. He served in the military from 1982 to 1988, finished college in 1992, and then became an Olympic alternate afterward.

MMA Career 

On May 30, 1997, Randy Couture made his UFC debut with two matches, defeating both Tony Halme and Steven Graham in the UFC 13 Heavyweight Division Tournament.

Just a few months later, Couture won against Vitor Belfort to set up a UFC Heavyweight Championship match against Maurice Smith, winning via majority decision. Couture lost his title due to a contract dispute with UFC and fought in Japan before returning in 2000 to defeat Kevin Randleman and reclaim his title.

Throughout his career, Couture would have five title reigns across the heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions and fought the likes of Chuck Liddell, Brock Lesnar, and Tito Ortiz. During the back half of his career, Couture began an acting career and starred alongside Sylvester Stallone and Jason Statham in the Expendables series.

UFC Earnings

Similar to most professional MMA fighters, not all of Randy Couture’s fight purses are public knowledge. There’s also a substantial difference between disclosed purses and the fighter’s total purse, which includes PPV revenue. The table above highlights seven fights where Couture’s salary was disclosed. However, several reports suggest he was also earning a hefty sum from pay-per-view shares. We’ll get to that in just a second.

Randy’s earliest recorded purse was $120,000 for his loss to Vitor Belfort at UFC 46. During the peak of his career, Couture typically earned a base salary of $250,000 per fight. This was the case for the majority of his fights, including against James Toney, Brock Lesnar, and Tim Sylvia. Each of these bouts earned him $250,000. 

When Randy fought Gabriel Gonzaga in 2007, he earned $250,000 plus an additional $35,000 for Fight of the Night. For his third fight with Chuck Liddell at UFC 57, Couture received a base pay of $225,000. Finally, when he fought Antonio Nogueira at UFC 102 in 2009, Couture earned $250,000 for the fight and a $60,000 bonus for Fight of the Night, totaling $310,000.

This brings his total disclosed pay to $1.7 million from these seven fights. However, this doesn’t even account for a quarter of his 30 professional fights or the PPV earnings.

Pay-Per-View Earnings

A fighter’s income from PPV revenue is not often disclosed to the public and varies significantly depending on the fighter and the number of buys an event receives. In Couture’s case, this is where things get interesting. In 2007, Randy claimed that the UFC wasn’t being honest about fighter pay, and that he was “being taken advantage of” by the promotion. Couture said he felt that his compensation wasn’t adequate, given his history as a primary face for the UFC. 

In response, the company’s CFO, John Mulkey, put out a statement, claiming that Couture had earned a total of $2.9 million for 2007 alone. He went on to say that for the year, Randy earned $1.2 million from UFC 68, $1.1 million from UFC 74, a $500,000 signing bonus, and $160,000 for his commentary work. Documentation for cashed checks from these two events highlights $924,000 and $787,000 in earnings for UFC 68 and 74, respectively.

UFC president Dana White later claimed that Couture was earning $3.25 million per fight, although this figure has never been backed up with documentation. The relationship between White and Couture soured during the 2007 pay dispute and lawsuit.

Xtreme Couture

​​In 2006, Couture opened his first Xtreme Couture Mixed Martial Arts Gym in Las Vegas. Although Couture was semi-retired at the time, he continued to train and opened the gym because he was frustrated that other gyms were not always available when he needed them. He also wanted to be close to UFC headquarters in Las Vegas, as most major UFC events were held there at the time, making it the ideal location for an MMA gym. Xtreme Couture began as a small venue but quickly expanded, offering a good space for students and professionals to train.

In 2007, demand for the gym was so great that Couture expanded it into a franchise, providing licenses for other Xtreme Couture MMA affiliates across North America. The brand generated $8.3 million in revenue during its first year as a franchise operation. Two years later, in 2009, the 7th and largest Xtreme Couture gym opened in Toronto, Canada. At over 33,000 square feet and with more than $600,000 in equipment, it was one of Canada’s biggest fitness and MMA training centers.

Xtreme Couture Clothing Line

Around the same time that Couture started his gym franchise, he also launched the Xtreme Couture clothing line in partnership with Affliction Clothing. The range was designed to reflect the warrior spirit of MMA and included T-shirts, hoodies, shorts, fight gear, and accessories, all covered with designs inspired by tattoo art, biker culture, and combat sports motifs.​ While sales figures for the clothing line are not publicly available, the line remains active. It continues to be promoted alongside Couture’s gym and Foundation, maintaining its place in the MMA and athletic-wear markets.

Meanwhile, Couture returned from retirement in early 2007 and became less involved with the Xtreme Couture gym in Las Vegas, focusing more on his fight career. As a result, the gym was left without proper management, and some of the original coaches began to leave. However, Couture quickly recognized the issue and brought in new coaches, including Eric Nicksick, now regarded as one of the best MMA coaches in North America. Under Nicksick’s guidance, Xtreme Couture rebuilt its reputation and once again began producing elite fighters.

Xtreme Couture GI Foundation

Two years later, in 2009, Couture launched the Xtreme Couture GI Foundation. As a former U.S. Army Sergeant, Couture wanted to help combat veterans as they transitioned back to civilian life. Through the Foundation, Couture regularly visited military bases and hospitals across America to boost troop morale, offering encouragement and building relationships with veterans.

At the end of 2023, the Foundation reported a total revenue of $276,000. The money was raised through individual donations and fundraising events and was allocated directly to provide grants, emergency assistance for military families, and veteran outreach programs. Couture has built a legacy both in and out of MMA, and Xtreme Couture has helped him amass an impressive net worth while continuing to support others.

Real Estate

In March 2007, Randy Couture paid $828,000 for a 3,743-square-foot, four-bedroom, four-bathroom home in Las Vegas, Nevada. Based on the public records, he still owns the house, which now has an estimated value of $1 million, and costs him approximately $4,600 in annual property taxes.

Summary 

When you think of the UFC, Randy Couture might be the first UFC fighter that you think of because of his impact. Couture was there with the early days of the company and helped to make it popular in the mainstream while making himself a star. Now a retired mixed martial artist, Couture continues his career as an actor and coach, building on his legacy in the sport.