Riddick Bowe is a retired American professional boxer who was active between 1989 to 2008. During his career which spanned for a few decades, he made a name for himself and earned millions from fights and endorsements.
In 1992, Bowe became even more famous after he became the undisputed heavyweight champion after he defeated Evander Holyfield. This became one of his highest-earning fights and went on to defend the title twice before he lost to Holyfield in their rematch. While some sources indicate that the professional boxer earned between $25 to $30 million during his career, this is not the case with his net worth. So how much net worth does the boxer have as of 2024?
Riddick Bowe’s Net Worth
Riddick Bowe’s net worth as of 2024 is estimated at $30 thousand. Riddick’s net worth is so small despite the boxer earning millions of dollars during his active years in boxing. Some sources show that he earned approximately $80 million from boxing and fights during his entire career and retired in 2008 with 415 million in his bank. But how come his net worth has decreased over the years?
Financial Problems of Riddick Bowe
Riddick Bowe’s financial status is one of the many cases that many athletes have faced. Despite a successful career, Bowe’s bank was experiencing low finances barely a year after retiring. By 2009, the boxer was low on funds and had begun appearing at flea markets and other public meetups to offer autographs.
During a 2021 interview with Vlad TV, Bowe disclosed that his former manager stole $15 million from him. Although Bowe’s allegations were never proven, he continued experiencing financial problems, making an example of many athletes who had successful careers but ended up in financial crises.
Riddick Bowe’s Career and Journey to Fame
Riddick Bowe began competing as a professional boxer in 1989. He held an undisputed world heavyweight championship in 1992 and won a silver medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics. He won a heavyweight championship in 1992 after he defeated Evander Holyfield a former undisputed cruiserweight champion.
In the same year, he won as a heavyweight champion. He was named Fighter of the Year by The Ring magazine and the Boxing Writers Association of America. In a rematch with Holyfield in 1993, he lost the WBA and IBF titles, becoming his only professional defeat.
Bowe went on to compete in other competitions and won the heavyweight championship in 1995 defeating Herbie Hide. In the same year, Bowe became the first boxer in history to win titles in all four major sanctioning bodies.
While Bowe retired from professional boxing in 2008, he has maintained his status as one of the greatest boxers of all time. In 2020, he was ranked 21st greatest heavyweight of all time by the article Boxing Scene.
Personal Life
Bowe was married to Judy his high school sweetheart. They married on April 27, 1988, and they had five children. The couple divorced in 1998. He served 17 months in federal prison after he was convicted of kidnapping his ex-wife and children in an attempt to save his marriage.