Money. That’s basically what it all came down to. When Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor stepped into the T-Mobile Arena back in August 2017, the purists were complaining about the "integrity of the sport," but the accountants were already popping champagne. It was a circus, sure, but it was the most profitable circus in the history of combat sports.
People still talk about the payout for Mayweather vs McGregor like it's some kind of mythical treasure chest. Honestly? It kind of was. We’re talking about a night where a guy making his professional boxing debut (McGregor) walked away with more money than most Hall of Fame boxers make in their entire careers combined.
The Disclosed vs. The Real Money
If you look at the official papers filed with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, the numbers look big, but they don't tell the whole story. Floyd Mayweather was "officially" guaranteed a disclosed purse of $100 million. Conor McGregor’s disclosed guarantee was $30 million.
But nobody actually believes that's all they took home. Those are just the base numbers. The "show up and breathe" money.
The real magic happens in the backend. When you start adding up the pay-per-view (PPV) cuts, the gate, the international TV rights, and those massive sponsorship deals, the numbers get stupid. Floyd famously bragged that he’d make over $300 million for the night. And you know what? He probably wasn't lying. Most experts, including those from ESPN and Forbes, estimate Floyd’s final haul was somewhere in the $275 million to $280 million range.
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Conor didn’t do too bad for himself either. Despite being the "B-side" and a massive underdog, he reportedly cleared roughly $130 million. To put that in perspective, that’s about ten times more than his previous biggest UFC payday against Eddie Alvarez.
Why the PPV Numbers Changed Everything
The engine behind the payout for Mayweather vs McGregor was the pay-per-view. It cost $99.95 for high-definition in the US. That’s a lot of "buckaroos," as one Reddit user put it.
Showtime eventually confirmed the fight sold 4.3 million PPV buys in North America alone. It didn't quite beat the 4.6 million record set by Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in 2015, but it came incredibly close. When you do the math—4.3 million buys at a hundred bucks a pop—you’re looking at over $400 million just from domestic TV sales.
The Revenue Breakdown
- Total Revenue: The event grossed north of $600 million globally.
- The Gate: They brought in roughly $55.4 million in ticket sales. It didn't break the record (May-Pac did $72 million), but the arena was still packed with celebrities and high-rollers.
- Sponsorships: This part is wild. Floyd’s shorts alone were a walking billboard. He reportedly made $25 million just from the brands plastered on his body. We’re talking $1 million for his robe, another million for his cap, and millions more for the waistbands.
- Closed Circuit & Bars: Over 5,000 bars and restaurants in the US paid to show the fight, adding another $15 million or so to the pot.
The "UFC Tax" on McGregor’s Payday
One thing people often overlook is that Conor wasn't a free agent. He was under a strict UFC contract. For this fight to even happen, Dana White and the UFC had to get their cut.
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While the exact split is a closely guarded secret, industry insiders suggest the UFC took a significant chunk of McGregor's earnings—some say up to 50% of his total payout. Even after that "tax," Conor still walked away with enough to buy a fleet of Lamborghinis and start his own whiskey empire. Without that 2017 payday, "Proper No. Twelve" might never have happened.
The Undercard: Life in the Shadows
It’s almost depressing to look at what the other fighters made that night. While Floyd was earning roughly $35,000 per second, some of the fighters on the preliminary card were making less than the cost of a used Honda Civic.
For example, Savannah Marshall and Sydney LeBlanc fought on the un-aired prelims for $5,000 and $3,500 respectively. Even on the main card, the gaps were huge. Gervonta Davis, who is a superstar now, took home a guaranteed $600,000. That’s a great living, but it’s pennies compared to the $100 million at the top of the bill.
Why This Fight Still Matters in 2026
You see the "Mayweather-McGregor effect" everywhere today. Every time a YouTuber like Jake Paul fights a retired MMA legend, they are chasing the ghost of this 2017 payout. It proved that "spectacle" sells better than "sport" in the modern era.
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It also changed how fighters view their value. Before this, MMA fighters were mostly content with their six or seven-figure contracts. After seeing McGregor clear $100 million in one night, the "pay me" movement in the UFC went into overdrive.
What You Should Take Away
If you’re looking at the payout for Mayweather vs McGregor as a blueprint for the future of combat sports, here is the reality:
- The A-Side Always Wins: Floyd controlled the promotion, the terms, and the lions share of the money. Being the "draw" is worth more than being the "champion."
- Ownership is Everything: Mayweather Promotions co-produced the event. By being the promoter and the fighter, Floyd kept the money that usually goes to the "suits."
- Cross-Pollination Works: By merging the boxing and MMA fanbases, they created a "must-watch" moment that neither sport could have achieved alone at that time.
If you want to track how fighter pay has evolved since this historic night, you should look into the recent SEC filings and antitrust lawsuits involving the UFC, which shed even more light on how these massive purses are actually structured.
Go look up the official Nevada State Athletic Commission payout sheets if you want to see the raw, unedited numbers for the undercard—it's a fascinating look at the wealth gap in professional sports.