In a surprising twist to one of the most talked-about fights in recent memory, the signed contracts for the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson bout have surfaced—and they reveal a guaranteed purse far smaller than the rumored millions.
When the two stepped into the ring in 2024, the event was nothing short of a spectacle. Over 108 million viewers tuned in live on Netflix, and more than 72,000 fans packed AT&T Stadium, generating an impressive $18.1 million gate. Yet, despite the massive audience and widespread speculation—many believed Jake Paul took home $40 million and Mike Tyson earned $20 million—the official earnings were never released. Now, thanks to Goldin Auctions, we have a clearer picture.
The auction house has put up a set of contracts signed by both fighters with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. According to the documents, each fighter was guaranteed just $2 million by the event's promoter. The contract explicitly states: "In consideration of the contestant participating in the above described contest, promoter promises to pay the contestant $2 million." It also includes a clause ensuring that "guaranteed payment will be made to contestant immediately after each event in the presence of a Department Representative."
It's worth noting that disclosed purses often don't tell the whole story. In combat sports, fighters frequently earn additional revenue through pay-per-view shares, sponsorships, and other bonuses. For context, Islam Makhachev was listed as earning just $150,000 for his lightweight title defense at UFC 311, while Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather's disclosed purses for their 2017 megafight were $30 million and $100 million respectively—far below their actual earnings.
Goldin Auctions has opened bidding at $2,500 for the pair of contracts, which come with JSA Letters of Authenticity verifying the signatures. The auction house is no stranger to high-profile sales, having previously sold Logan Paul's Pokémon card for over $16 million. Whether these documents become a collector's item or a reminder of the gap between perception and reality in big-money fights, one thing is clear: the Paul vs. Tyson bout was a cultural moment, even if the paychecks didn't match the hype.