Michael Buffer Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What Is Michael Buffer’s Net Worth?

Michael Buffer, an American boxing announcer and entrepreneur, has amassed a net worth of $400 million. He is renowned for being one of the greatest ring announcers in the history of boxing and wrestling. Buffer gained worldwide fame through his signature catchphrase, “Let’s Get Ready to Rumble,” which he employs to commence most major boxing events. As explained in the following section, Michael wisely trademarked this famous phrase, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in royalties over the years.

In addition to boxing, Buffer’s unique voice and captivating stage presence have allowed him to appear in various other venues, including professional wrestling events, World Series baseball games, NBA Finals matches, and even notable television series and films. His distinct style and catchphrase have contributed to his status as one of the most recognizable personalities in sports entertainment.

How much does Michael Buffer make to say, “Let’s get ready to rumble”?

Buffer typically earns between $25,000 and $100,000 for each time he delivers those five iconic words, depending on the match. In some exceptionally rare instances, he has received as much as $1 million for a single event.

Trademark and Video Game Earnings

In the early 1980s, a 38-year-old Michael Buffer had never set foot inside a boxing ring. As an avid boxing fan, he would watch significant matches on TV, yet he had no connections in the sport and was clueless about becoming an announcer. He recognized, however, that the existing style of announcing—which lacked dramatic flair—was ready for enhancement. Thus, Michael made a decision. He modified his resume, claiming extensive announcing experience, and secured his first job in 1982. His good looks and showmanship, even before he coined his famous catchphrase, quickly endeared him to boxing fans. Within a year, he was announcing every boxing match promoted by Bob Arum’s Top Rank on ESPN, gaining national exposure at a time when most ring announcers were just anonymous locally hired individuals.

Although being a well-received announcer was fulfilling, Michael felt something crucial was missing—something that would distinguish him from other nameless announcers and excite the arena crowds. He concluded that he needed to create a saying—a catchphrase, slogan, quote, or tagline—that would be exclusively his to declare just before the main event.

Initially, Michael attempted phrases like “Man your battle stations!” and “Fasten your seatbelts!“, but neither truly resonated with the audience. Then, one day, he recalled a famous quote from Muhammad Ali: “I’m so pretty, I’m ready to rumble. Rumble, young man, rumble“. Michael cleverly merged this idea with another well-known phrase from New York, …Sports announcer Sal Marchiano stated, “We’re ready to rumble from Resorts International.” Buffer felt he was onto something significant. He contemplated it for a while and eventually decided on the phrase:

“Let’s get ready to rumble!“

Throughout the late 1980s and early 90s, Michael served as the exclusive ring announcer for all boxing matches in casinos owned by Donald Trump. This period, largely fueled by Mike Tyson’s popularity, marked a renaissance in professional boxing. Riding this wave, Buffer successfully established his brand and popular catchphrase. Additionally, Michael was the sole ring announcer for all World Championship Wrestling main events featuring Hulk Hogan and other top WCW wrestlers until the organization’s closure in 2001.

Over the years, “LGRTR” has led to numerous ad campaigns, TV appearances, and movie roles for Michael, including “America’s Next Top Model, Cycle 18,” “The Bold and the Beautiful,” “2012,” “You Don’t Mess With the Zohan,” “Rocky Balboa,” “Against the Ropes,” “Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star,” “Ready to Rumble,” “The Simpsons,” “Rocky V,” and “Harlem Nights.”

As Michael’s catchphrase gained popularity, he began to notice its widespread use. It appeared in newspaper headlines, at car dealerships, and in various advertisements. This served as the catalyst for a brilliant yet straightforward business decision on Michael’s part: he opted to apply for a trademark.

Interestingly, the initial suggestion to seek a trademark came from Michael’s long-lost half-brother, Bruce Buffer, who would later become a UFC announcer. Bruce was inspired after learning about NBA coach Pat Riley’s fortune from trademarking the term “threepeat.” Shortly after the Chicago Bulls completed their first of two threepeats in 1993, the brothers decided to pursue trademark registration. With the trademark secured, Michael Buffer became the owner of those five iconic words. Recently, Bruce shared with the Wall Street Journal:

“When I decided to trademark the rumble phrase, part of my inspiration was ‘three-peat’ and the Riley story. It just solidified that you can do this.”

Now, by owning the trademark, anyone wishing to use the phrase must compensate Michael. Since 1992, he has accrued hundreds of millions in earnings by licensing the phrase for use in songs, video games, films, TV shows, and a plethora of merchandise. He further enjoys six-figure payments for corporate events and speaking engagements globally. What was the inaugural track on ESPN’s platinum-selling 1995 album “Jock Jams, Volume 1”? LGRTR. What about the first track on its remix sequel? LGRTR. Numerous sports teams across the NHL, NFL, NBA, and MLB have licensed Michael’s phrase to energize their crowds during games. One of the most notable licensing agreements occurred with the video game “Ready to Rumble.” Following its massive success, game developer Midway reportedly paid Buffer $100 million for perpetual licensing of his phrase.

Early Life

Michael Buffer was born on November 2, 1944, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. His father served in the United States Navy during World War II at the time of his birth.

When Buffer was just 11 months old, his parents divorced, and he was subsequently raised by a pair of foster parents—specifically, a school bus driver and his wife. During the Vietnam War, Buffer enlisted in the United States Army, serving from the age of 20 to 23. Following his military service, he took on numerous roles, including a car salesman, model, and actor.

Boxing Announcer

In 1982, Michael embarked on his journey as a ring announcer, and by 1983, he was announcing all boxing matches broadcasted on ESPN. This role brought him both fame and substantial wealth, particularly after he wisely secured a trademark for his iconic catchphrase, “Let’s Get Ready to Rumble!” in 1984. After a long process, he finally obtained a federal trademark for the phrase in 1992, having initiated the process back in the mid-’80s. During the late 1980s, Buffer became the exclusive ring announcer for boxing events at casinos owned by Donald Trump. Many boxing legends, including Sugar Ray Leonard, have praised Buffer’s announcing work. Leonard once remarked to Buffer, “When you introduce a fighter, it makes him want to fight.” Over his career, Michael has amassed $400 million solely from trademark licensing. He signed an exclusive deal with DAZN to be the sole ring announcer for all its boxing broadcasts. Notably, in 2007, he announced a boxing match between Evander Holyfield and Matt Hardy on Saturday Night’s Main Event XXXV at Madison Square Garden. On August 25, 2018, he served as the announcer for a YouTube boxing match that featured Logan Paul and KSI.

Wrestling

Until 2001, Buffer was the primary ring announcer for World Championship Wrestling (WCW) main events, which included appearances by Hulk Hogan and other prominent figures. Although WCW ceased operations, Buffer continued his role as lead announcer through the former parent company, Time Warner, for their pay-per-view events. HBO also aired several matches from promoter Top Rank. Initially, Buffer’s exclusive contract prevented him from announcing for the UFC; however, after WCW’s closure, he was free to announce in other wrestling promotions.

Other Ventures

Apart from his roles in wrestling and boxing announcements, Buffer has lent his voice to a range of events, including the MLB World Series, Stanley Cup Finals, NBA Finals, the Volunteer 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway, and NFL playoff games. He announced for the Affliction: Banned mixed martial arts event on July 19, 2008. That same year, he participated in the 2008 World Series of Poker finale, announcing between players Peter Eastgate and Ivan Demidov. For that occasion, he tweaked his catchphrase to “Let’s get ready to shuffle up and deal.” Additionally, in 2017, he appeared as a guest announcer at the United States Grand Prix. Buffer has also adapted his trademark line for various campaigns, including Mega Millions (“Let’s get ready to win big!”), Kraft Cheese (“Let’s get ready to crumble!”), and Progressive Insurance (“Let’s get ready to bundle!”).

Furthermore, Buffer has made guest appearances on popular talk shows hosted by David Letterman, Jay Leno, Arsenio Hall, Conan O’Brien, and Jimmy Kimmel. He has appeared as a guest star on shows such as “Saturday Night Live,” “In Living Color,” “Mad TV,” and “The Howard Stern Show.” Buffer has made numerous appearances.In numerous films and TV series, such as “Creed” (where he portrays himself), “Grudge Match,” “America’s Next Top Model,” “The Bold and the Beautiful,” “2012,” “You Don’t Mess with the Zohan,” “Rocky Balboa” (again, as himself), “Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star,” “Ready to Rumble,” “The Simpsons,” and “Rocky V,” he has made appearances. Additionally, in 2007, he featured in an episode of “Deal or No Deal” on NBC. Furthermore, Buffer made a cameo in the 2019 remake of “Dumbo,” delivering the line “Let’s get ready for Dumbo!”

Personal Life

In 2008, Michael underwent treatment for throat cancer.

His rise to fame has facilitated reconnections with estranged family members from his earlier life. After seeing Buffer on television, his birth father contacted him in 1989. This led to an introduction to his half-brothers, one of whom is Bruce Buffer, currently an announcer for the UFC. Initially, Bruce acted as Michael’s agent/manager.

Married at the age of 21, Buffer faced a divorce seven years later. This first marriage resulted in the birth of two sons, Michael and Matthew. He remained unmarried until 1999, and his second marriage ended in divorce in 2003. While making an appearance on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” he proposed to his third wife, Christine, with whom he is still married. The couple currently resides in Southern California.