Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez has set his sights on a new milestone: becoming boxing's first billionaire. The undisputed super middleweight champion is on track to achieve a personal net worth exceeding $1 billion as his career approaches its twilight years.
Canelo's journey to financial stardom has been as impressive as his in-ring performances. He's earned an estimated $600 million over his 20-year career, and in 2025, he overtook Cristiano Ronaldo as the highest-paid athlete in the world. While other boxers like Floyd Mayweather and Mike Tyson have amassed considerable wealth, Canelo's steady rise in earnings and business smarts set him apart.
Richard Schaefer, Canelo's business manager and former CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, came out of retirement at Alvarez's request. He's confident about Canelo's financial future:
"He's just great at everything he does, and he's without any question the smartest businessman in boxing I have ever met. He's going to be the first fighter to break the billion-dollar net worth. I have zero questions about it."
Canelo's business acumen extends beyond the ring. He's shown unmatched intelligence in managing his fortune, setting him up for long-term financial success.
The Mexican superstar's next big payday is set for September 13, when he'll face Terence Crawford. Schaefer believes this fight will be monumental:
"I don't remember any fight bigger than Canelo-Crawford. It's going to be the biggest fight in the sport for as long as I can remember. With Mayweather-Pacquiao, people hyped it up... but I think Canelo-Crawford is a fight between two men truly in their prime. This will be substantially bigger."
Canelo's durability in the ring adds to his marketability. Schaefer points out, "He has never been dropped, never been hurt." This resilience, combined with his undisputed champion status, makes him one of the most lucrative and accomplished fighters in boxing history.
The upcoming Canelo-Crawford fight has the potential to surpass even the biggest past boxing events. Unlike the 2015 Mayweather-Pacquiao fight, both Canelo and Crawford are at the peak of their careers.
Canelo's financial future looks even brighter with his recent four-fight contract with Saudi adviser Turki Alalshikh. As he continues to break new ground in boxing and finance, Canelo Alvarez is proving that his skills extend far beyond the ring.
