What is Forrest Griffin’s net worth?
| Net Worth: | $7 Million |
|---|---|
| Age: | 43 |
| Born: | July 1, 1979 |
| Gender: | Male |
| Height: | 1.91 m |
| Country of Origin: | United States of America |
| Source of Wealth: | Professional MMA Fighter |
| Last Updated: | November 29, 2022 |
Introduction
Forrest Griffin is a retired mixed martial artist who was the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and won the first season of The Ultimate Fighter.
Griffin stayed with the UFC following his retirement and currently works with the UFC Performance Institute.
As of March 2023, Forrest Griffin’s net worth is estimated to be $7 Million.
Forrest Griffin Facts
- Faber was born in Columbus, Ohio, but grew up in Georgia where he became a police officer.
- In 2001, Griffin made his professional MMA debut with a loss to former professional wrestler Dan Severn.
- Four years later, Griffin participated in and won the first season of The Ultimate Fighter on Spike TV by defeating Stephan Bonnar.
- Griffin won the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship in 2008 at UFC 86.
- His final match came in 2012 at UFC 148, retiring due to chronic injuries.
Early Life
Forrest Griffin was born July 1, 1979 in Columbus, Ohio, and attended Evans High School in Georgia, eventually graduating from the University of Georgia.
Griffin received a degree in political science, but became a police officer after college, working for the university from which he graduated.
While he was still working, Griffin began training in mixed martial arts and felt like he was ready to go professional.
In 2001, Griffin squared off against mixed martial arts and professional wrestling legend Dan Severn in his first professional fight and lost, but didn’t let that deter him.
Career
Forrest Griffin would end up finding his footing and won his next eight professional matches, defeating the likes of Jeff Monson and Chael Sonnen before losing to Jeremy Horn in 2003.
With an impressive 9-2 pro record, Griffin entered the first season of The Ultimate Fighter under the tutelage of Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell on the Dana White television creation.
Griffin defeated Stephan Bonnar in the final, and earned himself matches against some big names including Tito Ortiz, Quinton Jackson, and Elvis Sinosic.
In his match against Jackson, Griffin became the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion before dropping his belt in the next match to an undefeated Rashad Evans at UFC 92.
Griffin fought five more matches after that against the likes of Anderson Silva, Richard Franklin, and Mauricio Rua before ending his career with a 2012 match against Tito Ortiz at UFC 148.
Forrest Griffin’s Career Earnings & Net Worth
Forrest Griffin became one of the richest MMA fighters in the world during his career thanks to his Ultimate Fighter victory spurring interest in the sport.
Interestingly enough, Griffin was only paid $16,000 for his final win on the show, but would see his payouts increase over the subsequent years.
Griffin earned his first six-figure payout in 2008 when he took on Quinton Jackson, earning $310,000 which included a Fight of the Night bonus.
The largest payout of Griffin’s career came in his final match against Tito Ortiz as he was paid $125,000 to show, then received $150,000 for winning and another $75,000 for his Fight of the Night bonus.
All in all, Grifffin made just under $2 million from his official payouts, but with endorsements and his current position as the vice president of the UFC Performance Institute, Griffin’s net worth is estimated to be $6 million.
Personal Life
Forrest Griffin has been in a relationship with Jaime Logiudice for much of his career, with the two getting married in September 2009.
Along the way, the couple has had a daughter, with Griffin’s wife beginning labor during his match against Mauricio Rua in August 2011.
In addition to his fighting career, Griffin has also been involved in acting, with film roles in movies that include I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell, 13, Unrivaled, and Lockdown.
Griffin is active on social media with an official Twitter account and official Instagram account that are updated regularly.
Awards & Achievements
Forrest Griffin didn’t walk into the UFC with a very long resume and had no titles to his name, nor any athletic awards at a college or professional level.
Once he joined the UFC, though, Griffin would start to earn himself a lot of recognition and began filling his trophy case.
Here are Forrest Griffin’s best career awards and achievements:
- First ever winner of the reality TV series The Ultimate Fighter.
- One-time UFC Light Heavyweight Champion with a victory over Quinton Jackson.
- Given the Fight of the Night bonus five times, including twice for matches against Tito Ortiz.
- Awarded Fight of the Year by Wrestling Observer Newsletter twice for his 2005 match against Stephan Bonnar and 2008 match against Quinton Jackson.
- Elected to the UFC Hall of Fame’s modern era and fight wings for his contributions during his MMA career.
Griffin has been retired since his final match in 2012, but remains one of the most prominent figures in mixed martial arts.
He joined the UFC’s front office the year after retiring to help the company with athlete development at the UFC Performance Institute.
How Does Forrest Griffin Spend His Money?
Forrest Griffin may have made a lot of money during his UFC career, but certainly isn’t a big spender by any means compared to pro fighters like Conor McGregor, Floyd Mayweather and more.
Instead of driving around the most expensive cars in the world, Griffin instead opts for something more practical and has a Scion XB.
Like many professional fighters, Griffin finds himself living in Las Vegas, Nevada in a house that’s estimated to be around $500,000.
He joins the likes of Celine Dion, Criss Angel, and Mike Tyson that found fame in Sin City and decided to buy a house there.
Highlights
Forrest Griffin was on a career path that was much different than where it ended up, and he’s glad that he made the switch.
Ever since he went from being a police officer to a mixed martial artist, Griffin’s life has been one highlight after another.
Here are some of the best highlights of Forrest Griffin’s career:
- Fought the legendary Dan Severn in his first professional MMA match.
- Won the MMA reality television series The Ultimate Fighter in 2005 when he defeated Stephan Bonnar.
- Defeated Chael Sonnen in his light heavyweight debut in 2003.
- In his 20th professional match, he defeated Quinton Jackson for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
- Finished his career with a 19-7 record and a victory over Tito Ortiz at UFC 148.
Earning a spot in the UFC Hall of Fame was also a huge accomplishment for Griffin, and he was able to do it twice.
Griffin is part of the Fight Wing and Modern Era Wing of the Hall of Fame, and he now works in athlete development for the UFC.
Favorite Forrest Griffin Quotes
Forrest Griffin is often seen as a guy that has been playing with house money and keeps on winning.
Griffin has given some great soundbites to Joe Rogan and the rest of the UFC media team over the years talking about his experience in the octagon and life in general.
Here are our favorite quotes from Forrest Griffin:
- ” You don’t quit fighting, fighting quits you at some point.” – Forrest Griffin
- ” I’m not a super talented guy, I’m just a dude who will fight you tooth and nail.” – Forrest Griffin
- ” Taking care of your family is the manliest thing you can do.” – Forrest Griffin
- ” What’s wrong with wanting to be better at your job?” – Forrest Griffin
- ” The biggest thing I learned is that when Dana says retire, you should retire.” – Forrest Griffin
3 Amazing Lessons From Forrest Griffin
Reality television has made a lot of people famous for the sake of being famous, but Forrest Griffin had to continue proving himself after winning The Ultimate Fighter.
The retired mixed martial artist has gone toe-to-toe with some of the greatest fighters of all time, never backing down from the likes of Travis Fulton, Anderson Silva, or Keith Jardine.
Now that you know all about Forrest Griffin’s net worth, there’s plenty to learn from the first winner of The Ultimate Fighter.
Here are some of the best success lessons to learn from Forrest Griffin:
1. Know When To Walk Away
Forrest Griffin wanted to keep fighting for years after his 2012 match against Tito Ortiz, but his body wouldn’t let him go for much longer.
Griffin sustained chronic injuries, and listened to the advice of others when he was told that he should wrap up his career.
He showed that there’s no shame in walking away, and was given a spot in the UFC Hall of Fame shortly after announcing his retirement.
2. Don’t Fear Risks
Forrest Griffin could have lived a modest life as a police officer in Georgia or used his political science degree for office, but went another direction.
Griffin wanted to chase his dreams, and put his careers on hold so that he could become a mixed martial artist.
The gamble paid massive dividends for Griffin as he launched a Hall of Fame career before becoming an MMA instructor.
3. Teach The Next Generation
One of the best things that you can do with your life is set up the next generation for success, and that’s what Forrest Griffin does.
Griffin works with aspiring fighters at the UFC Performance Institute while also serving as an instructor at the Throwdown Training Center while teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
He’s a massive celebrity in Las Vegas and beloved by the community because of how much he gives back to his sport.
Summary
Forrest Griffin changed the landscape of mixed martial arts forever by taking the mainstream popularity of reality television and blending it with athletics.
The former UFC Light Heavyweight title holder gave a lot to the sport, and was able to retire with millions and a Hall of Fame track record.
Griffin now remains a part of the company that made him famous while also launching them into the stratosphere back in 2005.
As of March 2023, Forrest Griffin’s net worth is estimated to be $7 Million.
