The pay-per-view numbers for Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s win over Manny Pacquiao have started to roll in, and the results are more incredible than anyone expected. In the end, both fighters are going to end up with a payday that is nearly impossible to wrap your brain around.
What type of dough are we talking? Mayweather could conceivably make over $250 million.
As LB noted previously, the pay-per-view buys could double the previous high and wind up somewhere near 5.625 million. John Branch of the New York Times explained last month that 30-40 percent of the PPV revenue goes to cable, satellite and telephone providers, 7.5 percent is split by HBO and Showtime and the remainder is split 60-40 between Mayweather and Pacquiao.
Based on an estimate of 5.625 PPV buys, Mayweather would make somewhere in the range of $167 million to $195 million on PPV sales alone, according to Business Insider’s Cork Gaines. Pacquiao would likely take home more than $115 million based on that scenario. Branch notes that other revenue streams were expected to pull in $140 million for the fighters to split. That could put Mayweather over $250 million, with Pacquiao — the “loser” — taking home a measly $170-190 million.
For some context, the previous PPV record was set by Mayweather and Oscar De La Hoya in 2007 with 2.48 million buys.
While many like to point out that Mayweather will likely make $250 million for an hour’s worth of work, let’s not forget the lifetime of training and preparation that is also involved. Still, our eyes popped out of our heads when Alex Rodriguez signed a 10-year contract worth $275 million with the Yankees. Mayweather could make that in a single fight.
Remind us again why Mayweather had this to say about a potential rematch earlier this week? It’s tough to turn down a paycheck like that.
