Brock Lesnar is one scary dude. He looks like the type of guy that will put you in a world of hurt if you even look at him the wrong way. Just how much, though, is the man worth? It’s clear he’s racking up one hefty paycheck after another from past outings with the WWE, a much publicized transition to MMA (with mixed results), and subsequent return to professional wrestling.
Brock Lesnar’s Net Worth as of 2019: $16 Million
So how did Lesnar go from a farm boy in rural South Dakota to being one of sport entertainment’s most sought after stars? His imposing figure, NCAA accolades, musculature, and a really cool tat on his back certainly helped improve his marketability. Let’s take a look at where it all began. If you’re a pro wrestling fan, this will be a trip down memory lane.
2002 – 2004
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It all began in 2002 when Lesnar made his WWE debut as a protégé of Paul Heyman. He abruptly comes from the crowd and absolutely lays waste to the likes of Al Snow, Maven, and Spike Dudley. It didn’t take long to build his reputation from there. Feuds with already-established superstars like Kurt Angle, The Rock, Bill Goldberg, and John Cena (then a heel and wannabe rapper) would quickly propel Lesnar’s name beyond the ring.
2005 – 2007
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Lesnar somewhat faded into obscurity during this time, though he was still active wrestling in Japan under New Japan Pro Wrestling. There’s not much to discuss here. His salary? Who Knows; but it certainly could not have held a light to what he was making under the WWE brand.
2008 – 2011
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Lesnar made his UFC debut in 2008. Keep in mind that Lesnar at this point only had one professional MMA fight, which he handily won. He was immediately thrown into the wolves and pitted against former heavyweight champion Frank Mir. Despite an early successful takedown, Lesnar eventually succumbed to a kneebar and tapped in the first round. Despite losing and this being his debut, Lesnar collected a lavish $250,000. Mir, on the other hand, despite winning and being a veteran of the sport, only collected $80,000. That just gives you an idea of how much Lesnar’s name is worth.
Lesnar’s MMA career would continue. This includes a decisive unanimous decision victory over journeyman Heath Herring.
Even with a 1-1 record in the Octagon, UFC President Dana White immediately granted Lesnar a title shot against highly revered veteran and then heavyweight champion Randy Couture. Lesnar would go on to win and become the new titleholder. Lesnar’s payout? $450,000. That includes a win bonus.
Lesnar would eventually avenge his loss to Mir and make his first successful title defense at UFC 100 with a TKO victory. Payout: $400,000
Note: aside from fighter salary, fighters also receive a portion of revenue generated from pay-per-view buys. Fighters get $1 for every 75K buys.
Lesnar, unfortunately, would end up taking a one-year hiatus from the sport due to a severe bout of diverticulitis, which would require going under the knife. He would eventually return nearly a year later and successfully defend his title for the second time against heavy hitter Shane Carwin. Payout: $400,000.
The title reign would come to an end in his defense against fellow wrestling standout Cain Velasquez, who would go on to crush Lesnar with devastating strikes. Even with the loss, Lesnar gained tremendously on the financial scale. Payout: $400,000
Lesnar’s final MMA match was against veteran K-1 kickboxer Alistair Overeem in a classic “striker vs. wrestler” matchup. Lesnar’s wrestling did him no good as Overeem used his knees and a roundhouse kick to the body to put the former All-American away for good. Even with the defeat, Lesnar pocketed $400,000.
2012 – 2015
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Lesnar made his WWE return in 2012 to the roaring delight of the crowd. The return was made especially memorable with an emphatic F5 on John Cena. He would go on to shock the world at Wrestlemania 30 in 2014, emerging victorious against the Undertaker, who went into the match with a 21-0 Wrestlemania win streak.
2016 – 2017
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As for Lesnar’s WWE salary. He is reportedly earning $2 million a year under his current contract. This makes him the fourth highest paid superstar, behind Undertaker, John Cena, and the Rock.
Lesnar defeated Mark Hunt at UFC 200 via unanimous decision, but his victory would end up surrounded by controversy, as he tested positive for a banned substance. He was suspended for a year, fined $250,000, and his win over Hunt was changed to a no contest.
On February 14, 2017, Lesnar announced his retirement from MMA.
On a final note, Brock also receives huge payouts from endorsements, one of which is the sandwich chain, Jimmy Johns. The logo can be seen on Lesnar’s ring attire.
With size and athletic ability comes marketability. Lesnar is a lucky man: he’s a top 1% earner, and all he has to do to collect his paycheck is do what he does best: send his opponents to Suplex City!
2018
Former UFC champion and currently working under the WWE bandwagon, Brock Lesnar would be tempted to return to the octagon ring.
2019
The rumor is Brock Lesnar has returned to the Octagon sometime in early 2019 to participate in UFC 226.
