If you’re an avid fan of the UFC, you’ve certainly heard the name Jon Jones, as the prolific fighter currently holds the title of UFC Heavyweight Champion. UFC head honcho Dana White has frequently sang the MMA fighter’s praises in recent weeks, and he’s the subject of Netflix’s newest sports docu-series, The Cage, meaning all eyes are on Jones at this time. Over the course of his nearly two-decades long career, the New York native has garnered a reputation for doing whatever it takes to succeed in the ring, including a variety of controversial maneuvers which have made him a fan favorite for the adrenaline fiends watching at home. Given that the UFC champion has seen so much success in recent months, it seems that this is as good a time as any to unpack his net worth, investments and financial holdings.
Athlete’s Early Life and Career Beginnings
Long before he was snapping necks and cashing checks with the UFC, Jon Jones was born to a humble Rochester, New York family. Despite his frail, bony physique, Jones showed an early propensity for MMA skills, which was quite concerning to his pacifistic pastor father. According to a 2012 write-up in The Christian Post, Jones’ father explained, “I wanted him to preach. I tried to discourage him from being a fighter. I told him you don’t want to do that. You can do other things. Be a pastor.” Despite his father’s reservations, Jon showed great promise in the world of professional fighting, and even took home state champion honors as a high school wrestler. Before long, he was taking on national fights with Iowa Central Community College, eventually dropping out to pursue a career in mixed martial arts.
Jon Jones’ first professional MMA fight was in the spring of 2008, and saw him rapidly ascending the ranks of the underground circuit. After six consecutive wins in the span of only three months, the fighter caught the eyes of UFC reps, who recruited Jones to join the still fledgling organization. Bones ultimately made his UFC debut in August 2008, fighting Brazilian MMA legend André Gusmão. Through a hail of spinning back kicks, unpredictable strikes and his trademark elbow maneuvers, Jones managed to win the fight via unanimous decision, setting the stage for a promising future with the organization for decades to come.
Jon Jones’ Rise to Prominence
As you can expect, most of Jon ‘Bones’ Jones’ net worth and income stems from his UFC fight purse winnings. Front Office Sports has even listed Jones as the highest-earning UFC Heavyweight fighter, reporting over $7.3 million in career earnings. These earnings also included bonuses made from UFC’s superlative categories, including the Knockout of the Night and Submission of the Night awards, which carry additional payouts of between $50,000 to $200,000 each.
As of this writing, Jones has participated in 29 UFC events, with his next foray into the ring already scheduled for Nov. 16. The prolific elbow-thrower maintains a near-perfect record, touting 27 wins, 1 loss via disqualification, and one no-contest ruling which invalidated his landmark 2015 takedown of Daniel Cormier due to a failed drug test. As it stands, no man has ever truly bested Bones in the octagon, as his only two non-wins were the result of his own missteps.
Jones’ single loss came in 2009, when he was disqualified for utilizing illegal strikes in a match against Light Heavyweight up-and-comer Matt Hamill. Though Jones recorded 55 strikes to Hamill’s seven, and scored the only takedown of the evening, referees and the Nevada State Athletic Commission ruled that his illegal maneuvers were in excess violation of state laws and UFC guidelines, resulting in a full disqualification. As a noted champion of Bones’ work in the ring, UFC commissioner Dana White was incensed at the ruling, arguing that it should have been considered a no-contest. In fact, White has claimed as recently as 2019 that he is still fighting to have the ruling overturned, in order to restore Jon Jones’ perfect record with the organization.
37-Year-Old Has Had Many Career Highlights
One of Jon Jones’ greatest UFC highlights includes his career-making fight against former IFL Light Heavyweight Champion Vladimir Matyushenko in 2010. The competition, which was long promoted as one of the biggest events of the year, concluded in less than 2 minutes after Bones managed to score a stunning TKO using his signature elbow swings. Per a follow-up report in MMA Mania, this was the fight that truly made White consider Jon Jones’ status as a top fighter in the league.
White is quoted as saying “Vladimir Matyushenko is a guy who I have a lot of respect for and I didn’t think it was going to happen that easy. Jones is the real deal and he just catapulted himself tonight into the top eight in the world. Tonight solidified it… He’s got to keep his head together, stay focused and keep doing all the right things in training. He’s smart, good looking and bad-ass. He’s going to make a lot of money – this kid is going to do very well.”
In 2011, Jon Jones shattered records by becoming the youngest UFC champion in franchise history, with another rapid TKO victory against the previous champion, Maurício “Shogun” Rua. In the years since, Bones has continued to maintain and defend his title, despite several suspensions which have made him one of the most controversial fighters in the league. These controversies include failed drug tests, disciplinary action for illegal strikes and eye gouging and multiple arrests, including a 2015 hit-and-run case which saw Jones stripped of his UFC rank. In the last few years, Jones seems to have really turned his act around, however, resulting in the fighter returning to the octagon in 2023 to claim the Heavyweight Championship.
Endorsements and Other Investments Only Add to Jones’ Net Worth
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Jon Jones, also known under the nickname Jon ‘Bones’ Jones, is currently packing an estimated net worth of $3 million. Though this is a far cry from some of his peers, Jones has managed to stack up millions in spite of numerous personal and professional controversies, disciplinary actions, and trials and tribulations. As stated, his biggest payouts have come from his UFC salary and bonuses. Still, the fighter has made history in the world of brand and endorsement deals, having secured the first ever international Nike sponsorship for a mixed martial artist.
Likewise, Bones has developed collaborative relationships with brands including MuscleTech, Gatorade, Reebok, and more. As the first MMA fighter in history to launch his own shoe line, Jon Jones has definitely stamped his mark on pop culture at large, though there’s little public information revealing how much he’s made on these side ventures. Jones has also invested a chunk of his net worth into real estate, including the 2011 purchase of a 4,400 square-foot home in Ithaca, New York. The fighter has since sold the home and moved his permanent residence to Albuquerque, New Mexico, though there’s no word on how much he ultimately made from the sale.
Any way you slice it, Jon Jones is a massive success in his chosen field, having developed some impeccable fighting skills and demonstrated unbreakable resolve over the course of his storied career. As the fighter continues to defend his title, as he will in his upcoming fight against Stipe Miocic on Nov. 16, his net worth is only expected to grow. Learn more about the champion’s one-of-a-kind career in Netflix’s The Cage, streaming now.
