CONOR MCGREGOR warned Cristiano Ronaldo seven years ago that he’d overtake him as the highest-paid athlete on Forbes’ rich list.
Back in May of 2021, it was announced that the UFC‘s poster boy had landed at the top of the prestigious list.
INSTAGRAM@THENOTORIOUSMMAConor McGregor was named the highest-paid athlete of 2020 by Forbes[/caption]
McGregor’s finances were boosted through sales of his Proper 12 WhiskeyGetty
McGregor warned Cristiano Ronaldo of his success way back in 2016Getty
The Notorious, 34, earned a whopping £128million during Forbes’ financial year – despite only taking to the cage once.
A staggering £113million of that sum came from the Irishman’s selling of his majority stake in Proper 12 Whiskey.
And McGregor forecast his rise to the top of Forbes’ rich list after Ronaldo dropped in on one of his training sessions for his UFC 202 rematch with Nate Diaz.
After asking Ronaldo if he “has a jet” in 2016, McGregor said: “I wanna get a jet someday.
“You were number one on the Forbes list, I was like number 35. I’ll get up [there].”
After the pair broke into laughter, Ronaldo asked: “Your ranking?”
McGregor replied: “Something like that, 38 I think.”
Ronaldo then informed McGregor he was ‘first’ on the list, which promoted the Dubliner to say: “Maybe next year I’ll get ya.”
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He added: “Congratulations. But I’m about to take over the UFC now it’s sold for four billi.”
McGregor revealed his desire to reach the summit of Forbes’ rich list ahead of his ill-fated UFC 257 rematch with Dustin Poirier.
Before breaking his leg in the octagon, he said: “I’m already a very wealthy man and it is only going to go up, make no mistake about it.”
The Notorious hasn’t set foot inside the cage since the horrific leg break but is eyeing a summer return to action following his painstaking rehab and dramatic body transformation.
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When asked about the Irishman fighting again this year, head coach John Kavanagh told MMA Fighting: “I’d be willing to bet my house on it.
“I was actually just chatting with him yesterday or the day before and then [his manager] Audie [Attar] was in town.
“Yeah, I think there’s some interesting negotiations going along now.
“I absolutely can’t say anything beyond that, but I’m very, very confident that we’ll see Conor back in the octagon this year.”