Introduction 

Dan Brown is an American professional author with an estimated net worth of $160 Million. 

In a career spanning almost three decades, Dan Brown has written and published eight novels, selling over 200 million copies worldwide. The majority of Brown’s wealth and fame were earned through the Da Vinci Code trilogy, which was later adapted into the film trilogy starring Tom Hanks. The success of the franchise significantly boosted this author’s earnings through increased sales of his back catalog and licensing fees.

This profile examines our research into Dan Brown’s income sources, earnings history, net worth, and other relevant events, including lawsuits that may have impacted his overall wealth. 

Quick Facts

• Sold over 200 million book copies worldwide
• Earned an estimated $285.5 million between 2013 and 2019
• Peak annual income of $88 million in 2006
• Sued three times for plagiarism; however, none of these lawsuits were successful.

Earnings History

According to our research, Forbes has listed Dan Brown’s annual income estimates a total of nine times this century. This was through a combination of the original Forbes Celebrity 100, which is no longer published, and their Highest-Paid Authors list, which spanned from 2013 to 2019. During the nine years listed in the table above, Brown earned a combined $285.5 million.

It’s clear that 2005 and 2006 were the best years of Brown’s career as an author, and there’s a straightforward reason as to why. Brown published his book The Da Vinci Code in 2003. By 2005, it had sold over 40 million copies worldwide. Dan earned an incredible income, not just from these sales, but also from a sudden surge in interest in his previous works. That year, he earned an estimated $76.5 million from all his income streams. Brown also received a percentage of the profits from the 2006 film adaptation, resulting in a career-high income of $88 million in 2006.

In 2007, his earnings dropped back down to $10 million, and he then disappeared from Forbes’ radar for roughly six years. This brings us to 2013, when Dan Brown released his mystery thriller, Inferno, which helped land him back on the list with an estimated income of $22 million. This novel was also adapted into a film, which helped Brown earn approximately $28 million in 2014. While remaining on the list for 2015 and 2016, his income had gradually dropped to $9.5 million.

Finally, in 2017, Brown received an eight-figure advance for his novel, Origin, which was released towards the end of the year. He earned an estimated $20 million in 2017 and $18.5 million in 2018. Brown dropped off the list in 2019.

Legal Issues & Lawsuits

Brown has faced several legal challenges throughout his career, in particular copyright issues related to his books.

In 2004, author Lewis Perdue threatened to file a lawsuit against Brown and his publisher, Random House. He alleged that Brown’s The Da Vinci Code had copied from his two books, The Da Vinci Legacy and Daughter of God. He stated that there were similarities between the plots, characters, and themes, and asked for $150 million in damages. Instead of waiting for Perdue’s case to come to court, Brown and his publisher filed their lawsuit in September of that year, asking the Southern District Court of New York to declare that The Da Vinci Code did not infringe Perdue’s copyright.

When Perdue finally filed his lawsuit in early 2005, the Judge ended up agreeing with Brown and his publisher. He stated that while the books shared certain concepts, the similarities were ideas and themes that cannot be owned under copyright law. Therefore, the court issued an official ruling that The Da Vinci Code hadn’t violated Perdue’s copyright, and all of his claims were dismissed.

Second Plagiarism Lawsuit

In a second plagiarism lawsuit in early 2006, Richard Leigh and Michael Baigent, co-authors of the 1982 book The Holy Blood and the Grail, filed a lawsuit in the UK, seeking at least £80,000 ($108,000) in damages against Random House. Although Brown was not a named defendant, his research practices were at the heart of the case. Leigh and Baigent argued that The Da Vinci Code had borrowed their ideas and copied the sequence of connections their book had developed.

During an 11-day trial in early 2006, Brown testified that while The Holy Blood and The Holy Grail was one of several sources he used during his research, he had not plagiarized it and had never even finished reading it. The court examined the texts of both books and their themes to determine whether copying had occurred.

On April 7, 2006, the judge rejected Leigh and Baigent’s claims, stating that copyright does not encompass ideas or themes. As a result, Leigh and Baigent were ordered to pay 85% of Random House’s legal costs, which totalled approximately £1.3 million ($1.7 million).

Jack Dunn Plagiarism Lawsuit

In 2006, Brown was again accused of plagiarism, this time by Jack Dunn, author of the 1997 novel The Vatican Boys. Dunn filed a lawsuit for $400 million in the United States, alleging that Brown had copied the plot, characters, and theme of his book. However, the Judge dismissed the case, ruling that similarities in themes and structure did not amount to copyright infringement under US law. Therefore, Dunn was denied both a jury trial and the right to appeal, which ended his case in the US.

However, several years later, in 2017, Dunn attempted his claim again, this time in the United Kingdom. He once again argued that hundreds of similarities existed between The Vatican Boys and Brown’s work. As with the other cases, Dunn’s efforts did not end in his favor, and only confirmed that it is legal for authors to write about themes that have been used in other texts.

However, the lawsuits and accusations of plagiarism haven’t done any harm to Brown’s career, as he has so far made over $250 million in sales of The Da Vinci Code alone.

Introduction

T.J. Dillashaw is an American former professional MMA fighter with an estimated net worth of $4 Million.

The former UFC Bantamweight Champion, T.J. Dillashaw, often earned six-figure sums per fight, earning several million dollars throughout his career. He officially retired in 2022 after his loss to Aljamain Sterling, finishing his career with a record of 18 wins and five losses.

This profile provides an overview of Dillashaw’s career, net worth, earnings from the UFC, and additional ventures/assets that have impacted his wealth.

Quick Facts

• Disclosed earnings of $2.6 million during his UFC tenure
• Sold his 3,227-square-foot property in Yorba Linda for $2.15 million (2023)
• Reportedly earned $350,000 upfront for his rematch with Cody Garbrandt
• Launched his own supplement company, Wild Society Nutrition
• Signed endorsement deals with brands such as American Cannabis Partners, Clean Juice, JAXXON, Melin Brand, and MyBookie. 

Before Wealth & Fame

Growing up, T.J. Dillashaw attended Bret Harte High School, where he was an All-State wrestler, and then went on to California State University, Fullerton, to continue his wrestling career. Dillashaw earned his degree and joined Team Alpha Male, where he won both of his professional matches before turning pro. In 2010, he made his professional debut with a win over Czar Sklavos and participated in The Ultimate Fighter after starting 4-0.

MMA Career 

Though T.J. Dillashaw would lose in the finals, he still landed a career with the Ultimate Fighting Championship and won his next four bouts. In 2014, Dillashaw won the UFC Bantamweight Championship by defeating Renan Barao and held the title for two years. After dropping the title, Dillashaw won it back by defeating Cody Garbrandt before losing his title to Henry Cejudo in 2019.

Dillashaw retired in 2022 after his loss to Aljamain Sterling, finishing his career with a record of 17 wins and five losses. During that time, Dillashaw was given the Performance of the Night bonus five times, including both of his matches against Renan Barao.

Fight Earnings & Net Worth

T.J. Dillashaw fought in just two matches between the very beginning of 2019 and his retirement in December 2022. Those fights turned out to be very profitable for Dillashaw, though, as he earned a combined $526,000.

Throughout his UFC career, Dillashaw would ultimately win a total of $2.6 million from his shows, bonuses, and endorsements. Dillashaw lost out on a chunk of money due to his suspension, but was still able to build a solid net worth estimated to be around $4 Million. This put Dillashaw in the same bracket as the likes of Francis Ngannou and Jorge Masvidal in terms of MMA net worth. Dillashaw has said that the suspension was a blessing in disguise as he learned how to make money in ways other than fighting professionally.

Real Estate

In July 2018, Dillashaw paid $1.42 million for a 3,227-square-foot, four-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom home in Yorba Linda, California. The house features an outdoor pool and sauna, and costs the fighter approximately $16,000 in annual property taxes. In July 2023, he relisted the home on the market with an asking price of $2.25 million, and it sold for $2.15 million in September.

Summary 

T.J. Dillashaw was having one of the finest careers in the UFC at the time of his suspension in 2017. It was a harsh lesson to learn, but Dillashaw said he was still making money outside the octagon, which led to his retirement. Now, Dillashaw can focus on relaxing at his Colorado home while continuing to earn money in the health food industry.

Introduction

Khabib Nurmagomedov is a Russian former professional UFC fighter and current MMA coach with an estimated net worth of $40 Million.

Nurmagomedov retired on his own terms after losing his father, a man who was always in his corner for every one of his fights. Khabib’s professional MMA record remains 29-0-0, going undefeated throughout his career. After earning approximately $15 million during his career, Khabib leveraged his fight income to invest in numerous companies, including the Eagle Fighting Championship, Fitroo by Khabib, Eagle Mobile, and Khabib Gym.

This article highlights Khabib Nurmagomedov’s earnings throughout his career, as well as the various business ventures that have contributed to his continued growth in net worth in recent years.

Quick Facts

• Earned an estimated $15 million in UFC fight earnings
• Received $6.09 million for his final UFC fight
• Fined $500,000 for jumping the cage after the McGregor fight

MMA Career

Khabib Nurmagomedov made his professional MMA debut in September 2008 and, within a month, secured four wins—three in a single day. In October 2008, he won the inaugural Atrium Cup tournament championship in Moscow, and over the next three years, he remained undefeated, winning 12 matches.

Khabib marked his M-1 Global debut in 2009 with a thumping victory and signed a six-fight deal with the UFC. He made his UFC debut on January 20, 2012, defeating Kamal Shalorus via submission. On July 7, he defeated Gleison Tibau via unanimous decision.

Khabib trained at the American Kickboxing Academy for the first time during his fight against Tibau and, in January 2013, defeated Thiago Tavares via KO. He set a UFC record for most takedowns in a single fight with 21 takedowns against Abel Trujillo on May 25, 2013.

Sustaining Multiple Injuries

On September 21, 2013, Khabib defeated Pat Healy via unanimous decision and then faced Rafael dos Anjos on April 19, 2014, winning via unanimous decision. Khabib was scheduled to fight Tony Ferguson multiple times, but the bouts were canceled due to injuries and health issues. Between 2014 and 2015, Khabib canceled several matches due to knee and other injuries, but made a comeback in April 2016, beating Darrell Horcher.

On December 30, 2017, Khabib defeated Edson Barboza at UFC 219, earning him his first-ever Performance of the Night bonus. He won the UFC Lightweight Championship on April 7, 2018, by defeating Al Iaquinta at UFC 223, proving that he was in top form.

Khabib then made his first title defense on October 6, 2018, against Conor McGregor at UFC 229, defeating McGregor via submission in the fourth round. Following the McGregor fight, Khabib was involved in a post-fight brawl, resulting in suspensions and fines due to his loss of control.

Successfully Defending His Title

Khabib defended his title against Dustin Poirier on September 7, 2019, at UFC 242, winning the fight via submission in the third round. On October 24, 2020, Khabib defended his title against Justin Gaethje at UFC 254, beating him with a triangle choke in the second round. After the Gaethje fight, Khabib announced his retirement from MMA with an impressive undefeated record of 29 wins and no losses.

Due to his record and technical ability, Khabib is widely considered one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time. Khabib was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame on June 30, 2022, joining previous champions like Frankie Edgar, Jose Aldo, and Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone. His impressive UFC record is ascribed to his background in wrestling, judo, and sambo, as he’s a two-time world champion in combat sambo.

At the time of his retirement, he was ranked #1 in the UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings, producing results that were the envy of fellow competitors. Using the money he earned in the UFC, Khabib founded Eagles MMA and promoted the Eagle Fighting Championship after retirement.

UFC Earnings

The UFC has typically also followed a pay structure of pay-to-show and pay-to-win for the up-and-coming fighters. As a fighter’s ranking and star power improve, they begin earning significantly higher paychecks per fight, often receiving a small percentage of the pay-per-view (PPV) sales.

One of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s earliest recorded salaries was $64,000 for defeating Rafael dos Anjos in 2014. He earned 50% ($32,000) to show up, and the other 50% for his win bonus. Given that Khabib never lost during his professional MMA career, we know that he always secured the win bonus when it was available.

In 2016, he earned $135,000 for defeating Darrell Horcher, which included a $65,000 to show, a $65,000 to win, and a $5,000 promotional bonus. That same year, his next victory against Michael Johnson earned him $80,000 to show, $80,000 to win, and a $10,000 bonus, totalling $170,000.

By 2017, Khabib’s base show/win rate had increased to $85,000, earning him $170,000 for defeating Edson Barbosa. However, this time he received $60,000 in bonuses, totaling $230,000.

Title Fight Earnings

Khabib’s final four fights in the UFC were all title fights, which meant he was no longer on the pay-to-show and pay-to-win structure. He was now guaranteed a certain purse per fight, which led to him earning significantly higher sums. When he won the lightweight championship belt against Al Iaquinta in 2018, he received a total of $530,000. 

When he defeated Conor McGregor by rear-naked choke in October 2018, Khabib earned a guaranteed $2 million, plus an additional $40,000 bonus. However, after making McGregor tap out in the fourth round, Khabib immediately jumped out of the cage and lunged into the crowd, aiming for Dillon Danis. One of his teammates jumped into the octagon and started throwing punches at McGregor. His antics led to the UFC suspending him and fining him $500,000, reducing his earnings from the fight to $1.54 million.

For his final two fights against Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje, Khabib earned $6.09 million per fight. This brings his total known earnings to roughly $14.85 million. However, this doesn’t include his first five fights in the organization. Assuming a scalable pay-to-show, pay-to-win structure, he likely earned between $20,000 and $48,000 per fight. This potentially brings his career earnings to just over $15 million.

Eagle Fighting Championship

Following Nurmagomedov’s retirement from the UFC in 2020, he steadily built his investment portfolio into what it is today. ​In November of that year, Nurmagomedov purchased the Russian MMA promotion company Gorilla Fighting Championship (GFC) for $1 million. He later rebranded it as the Eagle Fighting Championship (EFC) and created an international platform for up-and-coming fighters, providing them with a pathway into the UFC.

EFC’s first event was held in December 2020 in Moscow. It then hosted events across Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan and made its U.S. debut in Miami, Florida, on January 28, 2022. The brand evolved into a respected MMA league featuring former UFC stars such as Kevin Lee and Junior dos Santos. Although EFC remains active today, it is financially smaller than it was during its U.S. expansion in 2022.

The promotion initially generated approximately $7 million in annual revenue from sponsorships, ticket sales, and broadcast rights. However, that figure reportedly declined to around $3-$5 million by 2024 after Nurmagomedov stepped back to focus on his family.

Food Brand Investments

Later in mid-2021, Nurmagomedov launched two new food brands across the UAE. Fitroo by Khabib, focused on nutrition and fitness, and pH Top Water by Khabib. Fitroo sold protein bars, sportswear, and training supplements, while pH Top Water offered a mineral-rich, pH-balanced hydration product. Outside of the UAE, the products were also sold across Russia and parts of Europe. The emphasis was on clean, natural ingredients inspired by Nurmagomedov’s healthy upbringing in the mountainous region of Dagestan, Russia.

Eagle Mobile

After focusing on nutrition, Nurmagomedov expanded into the telecommunications industry in early 2022 with the launch of Eagle Mobile. The mobile network provides nationwide services across Russia and supplements traditional phone plans with exclusive loyalty programs, including discounts on Fitroo products, autographed memorabilia, and fan meet-and-greets.

Khabib Gym

By mid-2023, Nurmagomedov had established the Khabib Gym, a 1,500-square-meter luxury fitness facility in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The gym offers MMA training programs, boxing studios, and functional fitness zones. It was designed as a regional hub for world-class coaching and youth athletic development, continuing Nurmagomedov’s mission to grow martial arts education throughout the Middle East. ​The gym also integrates modern sports science with traditional Dagestani training philosophies.

Two years later, on May 21, 2025, Nurmagomedov opened another gym in his hometown of Sildi, Dagestan. The gym cost approximately $5 million to build, which Nurmagomedov said was funded by the money he earned from his 2018 UFC 229 victory over Conor McGregor, and will be used to develop Dagestan’s next generation of fighters. Since retirement, Nurmagomedov has successfully transitioned from UFC champion to global entrepreneur, building multiple income streams that have significantly increased his net worth.