Jake Paul’s $92 Million Payday Outshines Dwayne Johnson’s Biggest Film Cheque

Jake Paul’s recent bout against Anthony Joshua on 19 December ended in defeat, but the real headline was the staggering sum he pocketed for just over 16 minutes in the ring. Reports suggest Paul walked away with a cool $92 million, a figure that’s hard to wrap your head around, especially considering the outcome. The total purse for the match was $184 million, split evenly between the two fighters. Paul himself hinted online that the actual number might be even higher, posting:

Stop asking me. $267 Million.

That sort of cash for a single night’s work puts Paul well ahead of some of the world’s most bankable film stars, including Dwayne Johnson. The Rock’s biggest payday to date came from the 2023 film Red One, which netted him $50 million—more than double his take for Black Adam the year before. Even so, it’s not even close to what Paul earned in the ring.

Hollywood’s Top Earners Can’t Compete

Johnson isn’t the only A-lister whose biggest cheques look modest next to Paul’s. Tom Cruise reportedly made $75 million for Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, and Robert Downey Jr. matched that for Avengers: Infinity War. Sandra Bullock, Johnny Depp, and Harrison Ford have all scored massive paydays for single films, but none have cracked the $92 million mark for a single gig.

Here’s a quick look at some of the top reported film salaries:

• Tom Cruise – Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol: $75 million
• Robert Downey Jr. – Avengers: Infinity War: $75 million
• Sandra Bullock – Gravity: $70 million
• Johnny Depp – Alice in Wonderland: $68 million
• Harrison Ford – Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull: $65 million

Meanwhile, Johnson’s other notable cheques include $23.5 million for Red Notice and Jumanji: The Next Level, $22.5 million for Black Adam, and $20 million for Hobbs & Shaw and Skyscraper. Still, none of these come close to Paul’s recent windfall.

Paul’s Previous Fights and Earnings

Paul’s not new to big paydays. His fight against Mike Tyson reportedly had an $80 million purse, with Paul taking home $40 million. Other matches have seen him earn $1.2 million against Nate Robinson, $2 million for Tyron Woodley, and $1.5 million for Anderson Silva. The Tommy Fury bout brought in $3.2 million, not counting a hefty slice of the pay-per-view profits.

It’s clear Paul’s transition from YouTube to boxing has paid off handsomely, with each fight adding millions to his bank account. The numbers are eye-watering, especially when you stack them up against what the biggest names in film are earning for months of work on set.

After the Loss: Paul’s Response

The Joshua fight drew plenty of criticism from fans, mainly due to the size gap and Joshua’s experience. The difference was obvious once the match got underway, and Joshua finished things with a knockout in the sixth round. Paul didn’t shy away from the result, telling reporters:

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

He later posted a photo of his injury, captioned:

Double broken jaw. Give me Canelo in 10 days.

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

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.

He added:

[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.