Highlights

• Georges St-Pierre's net worth is impressive at $45 million, thanks to his UFC earnings and endorsement deals with major companies like Coca-Cola and Under Armour.
• St-Pierre's career earnings started from $6,000 and eventually reached $10 million in one fight, with some of his biggest payouts coming from fights against Jake Shields, Carlos Condit, Nick Diaz, and Johny Hendricks.
• St-Pierre believes that modern UFC fighters are underpaid, and he points to the ESPN deal as a potential factor that has contributed to the decline in fighter earnings.

Georges St-Pierre, widely regarded as the greatest fighter in MMA history, earned his fame and fortune through a remarkable career in the UFC. While he ultimately amassed millions, the substantial paychecks didn't come instantly. St-Pierre, a three-time former UFC Welterweight Champion, secured the title twice after avenging a shock defeat to Matt Serra and the interim title once when he avenged a loss to UFC legend Matt Hughes.

Retiring as the reigning Welterweight Champion in December 2013, he holds the record for the most wins in title bouts and the second-longest combined title streak in UFC history. St-Pierre has openly shared his journey from working as a bouncer and trash collector to achieving a net worth in the millions, underscoring his impressive success trajectory. He is also among the few fighters to speak candidly about his earnings in the UFC.

George St Pierre’s Impressive Net Worth Is From His UFC Earnings And Endorsement Deals

The UFC Legend’s Clean Image Attracted Sponsorship Deals

Georges St-Pierre boasts an estimated net worth of $45 million, and his wealth isn’t just based on his earnings in the UFC. As a former UFC star, he commanded multi-million dollar paydays, thanks to his status as a main attraction and a champion in his prime. St-Pierre further augmented his income through lucrative endorsement deals with notable companies like Coca-Cola, Google, Under Armour, and Bacardi.

In 2013, Forbes reported that a significant portion of his earnings, amounting to $3 million, came from endorsements, memorabilia, and licensing of his image. In total, the financial publication estimated his earnings for that year to be an impressive $12 million.

• St-Pierre served as the face of Under Armour’s Underwear.
• The UFC Hall of Fame legend owns a RushFit home workout and training program.

George St Pierre’s Career Earnings Went From $6,000 to $10 million

St Pierre Worked As A Garbage Man To Make Ends Meet Early In His UFC Career

St-Pierre opened up about his UFC earnings in a feature on Wealthsimple Magazine. In this candid piece, St-Pierre sheds light on his financial journey while competing for the world's premier MMA promotion.

In his debut at UFC 46 in January 2004 against Karo Parisyan, St-Pierre disclosed that he fought under a contract that offered $3,000 for showing up and an additional $3,000 for a victory. When he faced Matt Hughes later that year in his first UFC title fight, St-Pierre revealed that he earned $9,000 for his showing, but the loss prevented him from securing his $9,000 win money.

It wasn't until 2008, after becoming the undisputed UFC champion by defeating Matt Serra via second-round TKO, that St-Pierre began earning what could be considered substantial money in the realm of mixed martial arts. Approaching the end of his UFC contract with just two more fights, St-Pierre became a free agent after winning the UFC title in 2008. Despite an official payout of $400,000 for his first fight after re-signing against Jon Fitch, he made millions through this gamble.

Following a four-year hiatus from the sport after retiring post a controversial win over Johny Hendricks at UFC 167, St-Pierre made a triumphant return in November 2017 against Michael Bisping, winning the UFC middleweight title.

Unsealed UFC lawsuit documents revealed by Bloody Elbow, further revealed financial insights into St-Pierre's career payouts, indicating earnings of $4,314,289 against Jake Shields, $3,197,908 against Carlos Condit, $4,116,690 against Nick Diaz, and $3,555,344 against Johny Hendricks.

• St Pierre disclosed that he earned approximately $10 million for the Michael Bisping fight.

George St. Pierre Claimed Modern UFC Fighters Are Underpaid

The ESPN-UFC Deal Changed Everything

Georges St-Pierre recently disclosed the underlying reason behind the diminished earnings of UFC fighters during an appearance on the PBD podcast. Pointing to notable figures like Conor McGregor, Ronda Rousey, and Brock Lesnar, who raked in substantial amounts, GSP identified the ESPN deal as a potential factor contributing to the decline in fighter earnings.

During his active fighting days, St-Pierre revealed that he had a percentage of the Pay Per View (PPV) as part of his contract. However, he noted a shift in the current landscape, attributing the decline in fighters' bargaining power to the UFC ceding certain rights to ESPN. St-Pierre expressed his concern, stating, "Now the problem is, they have power. But they don’t have as much power as we used to have when we could touch the piece of the pie, you know what I mean? Some fighters do, but I don’t think they have as much leverage in the negotiation; it’s kinda sad."

In 2018, the UFC entered into a five-year deal with ESPN to broadcast 15 full UFC fight cards on ESPN+, the network's digital streaming service. The reported value of the deal is $150 million per year for the UFC. However, fighters do not have the opportunity to negotiate a percentage of the revenue, marking a notable shift in the financial dynamics between fighters and the promotion.

• The UFC ESPN deal expires in 2025.