Nigerian-born British boxer Anthony Joshua rakes in $83 million over past year

Omokolade Ajayi -

Key Points:

  • Anthony Joshua’s 4-fight win streak, including a knockout of Ngannou, landed him at #16 on the Forbes highest-paid athletes list with an $83-million haul.
  • $75 million of his earnings came from fight purses, with his Ngannou win reportedly bringing in a massive $50 million.
  • Deals with Under Armour and others added $8 million, solidifying his status as a major marketing draw.

Nigerian-born British boxer Anthony Joshua has cemented his dominance in the heavyweight division with a four-fight winning streak, including an impressive knockout of Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia this past March. This has propelled him into the ranks of the world’s highest-paid athletes, according to the 2024 Forbes list.

The 34-year-old, renowned for his marketability, raked in an estimated $83 million over the past year, placing him at number 16 on the list. Fight purses accounted for a significant portion of his earnings, with $75 million coming from his last four victories. Joshua’s thrilling performances solidified his position as a heavyweight force.

Joshua roars back: Dominates ring & earns millions

Endorsement deals with brands like Under Armour, Beats By Dre, and Lucozade contributed an additional $8 million to his income. This figure also encompasses earnings from appearances, memorabilia, and licensing.

Joshua’s recent TKO victory cemented his return to heavyweight dominance. This win over Francis Ngannou, the former UFC heavyweight champion, marked his fourth consecutive victory since his rematch loss to the unified champion, Oleksandr Usyk (22-0). Reports suggest the fight purse for this dominant display was a hefty $50 million.

A storied career

Prior to his 2019 upset loss to Andy Ruiz Jr., Joshua boasted an unblemished record of 22 consecutive professional wins and held the heavyweight title from 2016 to 2019.

With Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk’s heavyweight title rematch scheduled for October, Joshua is seen by many as the frontrunner to challenge Usyk next. This would require him to resume training in August following a short break.

Beyond the ring

Joshua harbors ambitions to surpass Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s reported career earnings of $700 million. In a recent GQ interview, he stated, “Being a millionaire is good, but you have to set your sights higher. The new school of thought is that I need to be a billionaire.”

His financial prowess extends beyond the ring. In 2023, Joshua joined the investment group of Formula One’s Alpine racing team.