Jake Paul’s Boxing Payday Surpasses Dwayne Johnson’s Top Film Fee

Jake Paul’s latest foray into the boxing world ended in defeat against Anthony Joshua on 19 December, yet the financial outcome was anything but a loss. Reports indicate Paul pocketed an extraordinary $92 million for his efforts, all within a brisk 989 seconds—just over sixteen minutes—inside the ring. The purse for the event totalled $184 million, split evenly between the two fighters, meaning Joshua also walked away with a matching sum.

Paul, never one to shy away from a bit of showmanship, hinted on social media that the actual figure might have been even higher, posting:

Stop asking me. $267 Million.

Regardless of the precise amount, the numbers are eye-watering, especially when compared to the earnings of some of Hollywood’s most bankable stars.

Hollywood’s Biggest Cheques Pale in Comparison

Dwayne Johnson, often cited as the industry’s highest-paid action star, received $50 million for his role in Red One (2023)—his most lucrative film to date. This sum more than doubled his previous best for Black Adam (2022), which brought in $22.5 million. Other notable paydays for Johnson include $23.5 million for both Red Notice and Jumanji: The Next Level, $22 million for Jungle Cruise, and $20 million each for Hobbs & Shaw and Skyscraper. Even his earlier work, such as Walking Tall, netted him a tidy $15 million.

Yet, Paul’s single-night earnings have outstripped not only Johnson’s but also those of other A-list actors. Tom Cruise reportedly earned $75 million for Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, Robert Downey Jr. matched that for Avengers: Infinity War, and Sandra Bullock took home $70 million for Gravity. Johnny Depp and Harrison Ford also saw substantial sums for Alice in Wonderland and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, respectively, but none reached the heights of Paul’s recent windfall.

Paul’s Previous Fight Purses

This isn’t the first time Paul has commanded such impressive figures. His bout with Mike Tyson reportedly carried an $80 million purse, with Paul’s share coming to $40 million. Earlier matches saw him earn $1.2 million against Nate Robinson, $2 million facing Tyron Woodley, and $1.5 million in the ring with Anderson Silva. The fight with Tommy Fury brought in $3.2 million, not including a significant share of the pay-per-view profits.

Paul’s ability to draw massive audiences and generate substantial revenue has quickly made him one of the most lucrative names in the sport, despite his relatively short professional career.

After the Defeat: Paul’s Response

The match itself drew criticism from fans, largely due to the clear disparity in size and experience between the two fighters. The difference became apparent as the contest unfolded, with Joshua ultimately securing a knockout in the sixth round. Reflecting on the outcome, Paul remarked:

I think my jaw is broken by the way. It’s definitely broke.

He later shared a photo of his injury, adding:

Double broken jaw. Give me Canelo in 10 days.

In a post-fight interview, Paul was candid about the result, stating:

Anthony’s a great fighter. I got my a*s beat, but that’s what this sport’s about. I’m going to come back and keep on winning

and continued,

[It was] a nice little a*s-whoopin’ from one of the best to ever do it. I love this s*it and I’m going to come back and get a world championship belt at some point.