Rory McIlroy's enormous net worth towers over Conor McGregor with help of $104M earnings
Rory McIlroy and Conor McGregor are two of the highest-earning sports stars of the 21st Century, but McIlroy's fortune pips McGregor's for several important reasons
Few athletes can step toe-to-toe with either Rory McIlroy or Conor McGregor when it comes to fame and fortune.
The duo - arguably Ireland's two biggest sporting exports - are bona fide household names, having taken their respective sports by storm at one point or another. Both have amassed fortunes that reflect their success, with golf icon McIlroy a five-time major winner and McGregor a former multi-weight UFC champion.
However, when it comes to net worth, McIlroy's significantly outshines McGregor's, bolstered by a staggering $104 million in PGA Tour earnings alone. According to Celebrity Net Worth, McIlroy's fortune stands at $250M, while McGregor's is estimated at $200M.
This gap highlights the financial power of McIlroy's sustained success and his lucrative off-course ventures, compared to McGregor's high-profile but less consistent earnings, with the Dublin native's last fight coming back in 2021.
McIlroy's $104M PGA Tour earnings makes him the second-best paid golfer of all time, behind Tiger Woods. The pair are the only two to ever surpass the $100M mark in career earnings on the tour.
His on-course success includes five major championships - the 2011 US Open, 2012 and 2014 PGA Championships, the 2014 Open Championship, and most recently, the 2025 Masters, which saw him complete a career Grand Slam, and added $4M to his coffers.
Elsewhere, McIlroy's three FedEx Cup titles (2016, 2019, 2022) brought in bonuses of $10M, $15M, and $18M respectively, further cementing his status as one of golf's highest earners.
Off the course, the Northern Irishman's endorsement deals with brands like Nike, TaylorMade, Omega, and Workday have been a major driver of his wealth, reportedly earning him $40-50M annually, with endorsements often outpacing his tournament winnings.
His business ventures, including co-founding TMRW Sports with Woods to launch the tech-driven TGL golf league, and investments in companies like Whoop and TickPick through his Symphony Ventures firm, have diversified his income streams.
The 35-year-old also has a lavish real estate portfolio that includes a $12.3M California mansion, a Florida estate in the prestigious Bear's Club, and properties in Northern Ireland and the UAE.
In contrast, McGregor's $200M fortune, while formidable, relies heavily on a few massive paydays rather than the consistent earnings McIlroy enjoys. The 36-year-old's wealth includes an estimated $100M from his 2017 boxing match against Floyd Mayweather.
His MMA career, which began professionally in 2008, has seen him earn significant purses as a two-division UFC champion, with additional income from endorsements with brands like Proper No. Twelve whiskey, which he sold for around $200M in 2021.
McGregor's acting debut in the 2024 Road House remake reportedly netted him a further $5.5M, setting a record for an athlete's first acting role.
However, the Irishman's earnings have been less steady than McIlroy's. His UFC fights, while lucrative, are infrequent, and his business ventures, though successful, lack the diversified scope of McIlroy's portfolio. It's also worth nothing that McGregor's lavish lifestyle, including a fleet of luxury cars and a Lamborghini yacht, contrasts with McIlroy's more modest way of living.
The disparity in their fortunes also reflects the financial landscapes in their respective sports. Golf, with its high-value sponsorships and longevity, offers sustained earning potential, as evidenced by McIlroy's ability to remain a top earner for over a decade. His rejection of a reported $300-500M offer to join LIV Golf further underscores his financial confidence.
MMA, while capable of producing massive one-off paydays, is more volatile, with fighters like McGregor relying on marquee events to boost their wealth. With no end in sight for McIlroy's golfing career, his financial lead over McGregor is likely to grow, solidifying his status as Ireland's richest sports star.