Legendary ring announcer Michael Buffer has amassed a significant fortune over his career. The master of ceremonies (MC) began his journey in 1982, announcing all of Bob Arum’s Top Rank ESPN events during a time when local personalities were typically enlisted to introduce fighters.

By the late 80s, he had become the exclusive ring announcer for all of Donald Trump‘s casinos, including those in the gambling mecca of Atlantic City. Fast forward to 2024, and Buffer is an icon in the industry, known for his flashy suits and his trademarked catchphrase “let’s get ready to rumble”, which he officially registered in 1992.

He has collaborated with HBO and Showtime and currently announces all of DAZN’s boxing broadcasts, including those promoted by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing. While it might seem logical to assume that many of the boxing greats Buffer introduces have earned more than him due to their hefty fight purses, this is often not the case.

Buffer was present for Anthony Joshua’s IBF title fight with Daniel Dubois being the wealthiest man in the ring, with a net worth surpassing both AJ and DDD combined. And was also the wealthiest man in the ring on Saturday night, eclipsing Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.

Buffer’s iconic “let’s get ready to rumble” catchphrase wasn’t his initial pick for announcing boxing matches across the U. S. The 79-year-old reportedly tried phrases like “fasten your seatbelts”, and “man your battle stations” but they didn’t resonate with audiences. He then drew inspiration from Muhammad Ali’s famous phrase “I’m so pretty, I’m ready to rumble”.

His final choice has proven lucrative over time, as he’s reportedly made hundreds of millions from his trademarked five-word slogan, earning each time it’s used in a movie, TV show, video game, or on merchandise. Game maker Midway allegedly paid Buffer $100 million to license his phrase in the Ready 2 Rumble boxing game.

Michael Buffer is said to be worth an absolute fortune

Michael Buffer is said to be worth an absolute fortune ( 

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According to Celebrity Net Worth, Buffer earns between $25,000 and $100,000 per event announcement – some promotions have even paid him up to $1 million for a single show. Thanks to his significant contributions to the combat sports industry, Buffer is believed to have a hefty net worth of around $400 million.

For comparison, his brother Bruce Buffer, a ring announcer with the UFC, reportedly has a net worth of about $12 million. It’s also reported that Bruce earns around $100,000 per UFC event worked.

Fury’s net worth, meanwhile, is estimated to be around $50 million, while Usyk’s, albeit not publicly known, is thought to be similar. These figures are minute compared to Buffer’s gargantuan worth.