Anthony Joshua’s enormous web value after shedding £32m from Jake Paul struggle prize pot
Anthony Joshua’s knockout victory over Jake Paul earned him a staggering payday, but the British boxing star had to hand over £32m in tax to authorities
Anthony Joshua is set to forfeit nearly half of his total prize money despite convincingly defeating Jake Paul in their lucrative heavyweight match. The British boxer knocked down the American YouTuber-turned-professional boxer in the sixth round at Miami’s Kaseya Center on Saturday, leaving his younger rival on the canvas with a double broken jaw.
Exclusively streamed on Netflix, the duo reportedly split a staggering £140m purse from the showdown – equating to over £4m each for every minute spent battling it out inside the ropes. However, two-time world heavyweight champion and former Olympic gold medallist Joshua will have to surrender a significant portion of his earnings due to strict obligations to pay both American and British tax authorities.
According to AceOdds, the Watford-born boxer will have to shell out 37 per cent of his prize money to the IRS as the bout took place on American soil, with the payday subject to US income tax at the maximum rate.
‘AJ’ must also pay the difference between what he owes in the UK and the tax already paid in the US, with £5.5m going into HMRC’s coffers.
Lastly, the 36-year-old must also hand over an additional £1.4m to the taxman in national insurance contributions. In total, this leaves Joshua with a £38m windfall from the fight, with £32m deducted from his original pot in tax.
However, the boxer maintains that he’s not in it for the money. “It’s not even my biggest payday, it’s not about money. For me it was more about the opportunity. I had to showcase my skills,” he said.
Despite the high tax rate, Joshua is far from cash-strapped. According to the Sunday Times Rich List, the Briton already had a net worth exceeding £195m before his most recent bout thanks to earnings from previous fights and several lucrative sponsorship deals with top brands, as well as a thriving property empire.
Joshua has accumulated 29 wins throughout his professional career, including notable victories over Wladimir Klitschko and Dillian Whyte. Some of these fights have been particularly profitable, with an estimated £200m earned from just ten of Joshua’s highest-paying bouts.
Notable paydays include £54m from his rematch against undisputed world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk and £36m from his second fight against Mexico’s Andy Ruiz Jr in December 2019.
Joshua also profits from endorsements with companies such as Under Armour, Lucozade, Jaguar Land Rover and Hugo Boss. His 258 Group manages properties valued around £75m in London, while Joshua also owns a range of plush properties including a massive £40m pad in his home county of Hertfordshire.
