Justin Gaethje is an American professional mixed martial artist who competes in the lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). The 34-year-old fighter based in Arizona is widely recognized for his impressive striking skills inside the octagon. His skills have earned him a lot of respect from fans and critics alike. Gaethje holds an impressive track record, and it’s no surprise that he is considered to be one of the top-earning fighters in the sport.
Justin was born in Safford, Arizona, on November 14, 1988. The fighter grew up in a small town called Safford. He took education by attending Safford High School. There, he was an accomplished athlete who excelled in wrestling and football. After high school, Gaethje went to the University of Northern Colorado.
He continued to keep wrestling there. He also began training in mixed martial arts (MMA). He was fast enough to develop his reputation as a fearsome striker holding incredible power and durability, earning himself the nickname “The Highlight.” Gaethje is known for being a private person, as he rarely discusses his personal life in public.
However, he has mentioned in some interviews his girlfriend, Caroline. He told me about being in a long-term relationship with her, whom he met while attending the University of Northern Colorado. He is also an avid outdoorsman who enjoys fishing and hunting in his free time.
What is Justin Gaethje Net Worth?
According to reports, Gaethje boasts a net worth of around $4 million as of 2023. While most UFC fans would already know that the income of a fighter can vary depending on his fights so, the same goes with Gaethje, ‘The Highlight.’ He has been earning substantial amounts throughout his career.
For instance, he earned about $165,000 for the first UFC fight he fought against Eddie Alvarez. His most recent fight against Charles Oliveira earned him a whopping income of $356,000. However, Gaethje earned the biggest payday of his entire career in UFC after his fight against Khabib ‘The Eagle’ Nurmagomedov. According to reports, he earned a staggering amount of $1.2 million after the fight.
Also read: Kiersey Clemons Net Worth
Justin Gaethje Payouts
Justin Gaethje’s payouts have been quite lucrative throughout his UFC career. After winning his debut match against Michael Johnson, he earned a substantial $200,000. In his next fight, despite losing to Eddie Alvarez, he received a bonus of $50,000. The exact details of his subsequent payouts are not available, but it is known that he earned $110,000 in his loss to Dustin Poirier.
After this loss, Gaethje went on a winning streak, winning several UFC awards in most of his fights. His victory over Tony Ferguson was particularly rewarding, as he earned a whopping $450,000 due to receiving both the Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night bonuses. In his fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov, although he lost, Gaethje still made $440,000.
Gaethje has only suffered four losses throughout his MMA career and won 23 fights. He began his career by winning his first 18 fights, including securing the WSOF Lightweight title and defending it five times. After that, he moved on to the UFC and continued his impressive winning streak.
Also read: Cameron Monaghan’s Net Worth.
Career highlights
Gaethje started his journey in combat sports with wrestling, which he started at the age of just four years. He continued wrestling through his collegiate years, though, and he never pursued it professionally. While he was in his high school years, he won the state championship twice and finished with an impressive 191-9 record. After high school, he joined the University of Northern Colorado under an NCAA Division I program and ended his final year with a 17-8 record.
Gaethje made the transition to MMA and fought for multiple promotions. Some of them include Rage in the Cage, Ring of Fire, and World Series of Fighting (WSOF). His time with WSOF was particularly impressive, as he maintained an undefeated record in all 10 of his fights.
In 2017, Gaethje signed with the UFC and won his first fight against Michael Johnson via TKO. He then suffered two back-to-back losses against Dustin Poirier and Eddie Alvarez. But he stayed determined and bounced back with a four-fight win streak. Unfortunately, he suffered a loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov before winning against Michael Chandler. He tapped out in the first round in his most recent fight against Charles Oliveira.
Gaethje’s net worth and popularity in the UFC remain strong despite his ups and downs. His striking skills and impressive track record have earned him a legion of fans, and it’s clear that he has the potential to continue his success in the years to come. As he continues to compete in the octagon, fans and analysts alike will undoubtedly be keeping a close eye on Gaethje’s net worth and career trajectory.
Also read: Cameron Monaghan’s Net Worth
