‘Dream to Lead This List’- Conor McGregor Grateful to Top Elite List of Athletes on Forbes

UFC elite and former double divisional champion, Conor McGregor, is the highest-paid athlete in the world for 2021, according to Forbes. The Irishman leapfrogged some of the biggest names in the sporting world including soccer behemoths Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to grab the numero uno spot.

On this jovial occasion, ‘Notorious’ took to Instagram and posted a heartfelt note showing his gratitude towards the business magazine. He wrote, “Baby we did it!! Uimhir a Haon 🇮🇪 (number one) Thank you Forbes for recognizing my role as an entrepreneur! It was a dream to lead this list with so many successful athletes! Onwards and upwards we go.”

McGregor earned $180 million in the period between May 1, 2020, and May 1, 2021. Although his major earning source is not from the fights in the octagon, he still garnered $22 million, with the other $158 million coming from business ventures. This included $150 million after the recent sale of his majority stake in his Proper No.12 whiskey brand.

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McGregor, who first made to the Forbes list back in 2016, has continued to feature in successive years. He leads an elite list of athletes to earn more than $100 million this year which includes Messi, Cristiano, and Dallas Cowboys quarterback, Dak Prescott.

When Conor McGregor challenged Cristiano to topple him one day

McGregor, and fellow top-10 earner Cristiano Ronaldo, are good friends. The latter paid a visit to the gym where the ‘Notorious’ was working out with his team in 2016. After the interaction, McGregor took to Instagram and acknowledged the same.

“My brother Ronaldo dropped by the gym today! He is an animal. Thank you @cristiano, much respect! I will see you for that Forbes number 1 spot next year,” he wrote then.

He had asked the current Juventus talisman about his private jet and said he will get one for himself soon. He even hilariously told Cristiano that he will take over UFC in that meeting.

When Cristiano asked McGregor about his ranking, the Irishman said, “Forbes list, I was like 35, I will get up.” He then challenged the soccer legend to topple him next year. Although it took him a bit longer, he was successful in toppling CR7.

Despite this milestone, McGregor knows he has a serious task come UFC 264. He will look to end the trilogy bout against Poirier with a victory and claim the bragging rights.

Can McGregor topple Poirier too?