30 little-known facts about Floyd Mayweather Jr.

13. Even after he retired, Mayweather was one of the world’s highest-earning athletes

If there’s one thing Floyd Mayweather Jr. genuinely cares about, it’s money. And if there’s one accolade that symbolizes success in Mayweather’s world, it’s being recognized as the highest-earning athlete in all of sports. Forbes, the American business magazine, is the foremost authority when it comes to ranking the highest-paid athletes, and Mayweather topped their list in 2012, 2014 and 2015.

However, Mayweather still manage to crack Forbes‘ top-25 list in 2016, when he was retired, earning a whopping $44 million ($32 million in “salary” and $12 million in endorsements). This remarkable “achievement” placed Mayweather ahead of the likes of Russell Wilson, Rafael Nadal, Neymar and Gareth Bale. Somehow, despite myriad legal issues and negative press, Mayweather has managed to retain endorsement deals and turn his mere presence into a viable commodity — a rarity for contemporary boxers.

The last time Mayweather snagged top spot on Forbes‘ list was 2015, his final (until now) active year as a boxer. Of course, that was the year Mayweather finally fought Manny Pacquiao in the most lucrative fight in boxing history, and he concluded his campaign by cruising past Andre Berto for good measure. All told, Mayweather earned an obscene in $300 million in 2015, with $285 million coming from his salary/earnings. For those writing boxing’s perpetual obituary, it still remains unfathomably lucrative — with genuine mass appeal — in some instances.

And make no mistake, expect Floyd Mayweather Jr. to use Conor McGregor as a springboard to reclaiming top spot in the rankings that embody his very essence.