Inside Conor McGregor’s business empire as he adds fight promotion to his advertising portfolio, a $600 million whiskey business and a ‘revolutionary’ app
Conor McGregor is a huge MMA star, but it’s his business acumen that has made the Irishman one of the richest athletes in the world.
The former double-weight champion is the highest-paid fighter on the UFC roster and in 2021 overtook Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to top Forbes’ list of highest-paid athletes.
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However, his ability to financially surpass two of the biggest names in football history is largely due to his success outside of the Octagon.
‘Notorious’ has amassed a £200million fortune by combining his huge UFC checks with several companies, meaning he can walk away from fighting whenever he wants.
Ahead of his return against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 on June 29, talkSPORT.com explored five ways McGregor became a champion in the business.
Ad portfolio
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The UFC superstar, who makes no secret of his love of drink, used part of his fortune to acquire a portfolio of pubs in Dublin.
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In 2019, McGregor spent £1.7million on the Black Forge Inn and reportedly spent a further £868,000 transforming the venue into a gastropub.
Today it is one of the most popular venues in the Irish capital and a well-known celebrity hotspot having gained the patronage of football icon Steven Gerrard, comedian Kevin Hart and football legend rap Snoop Dogg.
McGregor owns two other pubs in the town and plans to expand his empire across borders in the coming years.
“I have about five more in the production phase, construction, construction and renovation,” McGregor said in 2023. “I want to bring this for sure to the United States of America and all over the world. “
Alcohol companies
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McGregor’s biggest source of income outside of fighting has been his alcohol businesses, particularly Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey which he launched in 2018.
In April 2021, the 35-year-old and two other investors sold their shares in Proper 12 for $600 million (£503 million) and McGregor became the richest man in sport in the process.
“Mystic Mac” still works with the brand today as he fights a lawsuit filed by his former training partner, Artem Lobov, who claims he came up with the idea and owes him money for the sale.
McGregor has since launched Forged Irish Stout to rival Guinness and has enjoyed huge success with the beer, often sponsoring the biggest boxing and MMA fights.
Fitness app
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As well as entertaining fans with pub fare and booze, McGregor has used his platform to help people get ripped like him.
Ahead of a return fight against Dustin Poirier in January 2021, McGregor released McGregor FAST – an app “based on groundbreaking sports science that adds meaning to training.”
The program includes distinct, science-backed zones – green, orange and red – that feature workouts designed to increase a person’s anaerobic threshold and, therefore, their ability to work hard.
Fashion
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McGregor was known to be unemployed when he arrived in the UFC, but after cashing in on a $60,000 bonus in his debut, he bought a three-piece suit and a gold pocket watch.
The Crumlin native always likes to look good and he quickly developed a reputation for spending huge sums of money – between £5,000 and £10,000 – on suits from a top tailor.
David August made the infamous “F*** you” costume that McGregor wore for a press conference with Floyd Mayweather before their crossover boxing fight in August 2017.
A year later, the two went into business together and founded August-McGregor, which has sold suits and casual clothing to individuals ever since.
Bare-Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC)
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McGregor’s latest move sees him become a rival to his boss.
UFC CEO Dana White has enjoyed a great relationship with his biggest star over the years, but will be upset about buying a stake in a rival fight promotion.
It was recently announced that McGregor had become part owner of the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) and earlier this week he signed the paperwork to make things official.
McGregor will champion the rapidly growing promotion for years to come, but fans are already speculating that he will take off the gloves and step into the ring for a bare-knuckle fight.
Whatever happens, BKFC is poised to gain momentum as McGregor combines his promotional skills and entrepreneurial spirit to make the next great bare-knuckle combat sport.
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