Jake Paul and Canelo Alvarez Make Forbes' Highest-Paid Athletes List for 2026
Famed business magazine Forbes released their list of the highest-paid athletes on May 22, and the only combat sports athletes to make it into the list were boxer Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and boxer/influencer Jake Paul.
The top-50 list included athletes from 18 different countries across eight different sports, and accounts for earnings within their sport, combined with extraneous earnings from businesses and sponsorships.
Both fighters were able to earn a significant amount of money despite suffering significant losses last year. Paul got his jaw broken by Anthony Joshua, and "Canelo" was soundly defeated by the now-retired Terence ‘Bud' Crawford. Neither of the successful opponents who beat them made the list.
Jake Paul
"The Problem Child" has made an estimated $70 million this past year, with $60 million coming from his two bouts in 2025, including his fight against Anthony Joshua.
In addition to fighting, Paul is also the founder of Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), a fight promotion company that he runs alongside adviser Nakisa Bidarian.
The promotion has been making moves in women's boxing, signing talents like Amanda Serrano and Alycia Baumgardner, and was behind the massive record-shattering trilogy fight between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano.
MVP has also ventured into MMA this year, as Paul and Bidarian were behind the Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano MMA card on Netflix.
Paul was also included in last year's Forbes list of top-earning creators,
Saul ‘Canelo' Alvarez
At no. 2 in the list is Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, one of the most legendary boxers out of Mexico to ever lace up the gloves. Forbes estimates Alvarez earned $170 million in the past year.
His most recent fight against Terence Crawford was promoted by UFC President Dana White and generated the third-largest gate in boxing history at $47 million worth of tickets sold. The fight streamed on Netflix and drew approximately 41 million global viewers.
Outside of this massive fight, which earned him an estimated $160 million, "Canelo" is also the owner of a gas station chain in Mexico called Canelo Energy, along with an associated chain of convenience stores called Upper. His portfolio also includes a fitness app called I CAN and athlete merchandising.
Like Paul, Alvarez is also involved in fight promotion and recently launched Canelo Promotions.
No Other Fighters Included
To no one's surprise, no MMA fighter was able to crack the list. Most fight purses in the UFC are not revealed and are up to the discretion of state athletic commissions. In addition, sponsorship opportunities are not as abundant in the UFC due to the league's strict apparel rules.
The most recent inclusion of MMA fighters in these Forbes lists was when Conor McGregor was at the very top of the list back in 2021. Even then, the brunt of his earnings was not from the Octagon, but from his former liquor company, Proper No. Twelve, which he is no longer involved in.
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This story was originally published May 25, 2026 at 8:05 PM.