Big John McCarthy is most recognized for his work as a mixed martial arts referee in a variety of organizations, particularly the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The former MMA referee, sometimes known as John Michael McCarthy, is one of the most well-known individuals in the sport.
McCarthy, who measures 6ft 3 inches tall and weighs 260 pounds, makes some of the opponents appear little in comparison. McCarthy has been married to Elaine McCarthy for approximately 38 years, and the couple has three children: Britney McCarthy, John Michael McCarthy Jr., and Ronald II McCarthy.
Despite his job with the UFC, John McCarthy has a net worth of $1 million, largely due to his MMA experience. Let’s take a look at Big John’s sources of income and how they contribute to his net worth.
Referee in MMA
Big John is the first head referee in the UFC, having presided over four fights between Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu great Royce Gracie and the UFC. Despite officiating the majority of MMA fights, the UFC’s “Godfather” is paid an incredible sum.
Most of the rules in the MMA rulebook were created by the father of three, who even replaced the traditional squared ring with an octagon. Big John, like Herb Dean, is said to get paid $1500 for main card fights and $10,000 for high-profile fights as of 2021.
McCarthy was paid a paltry figure of $1,900 for officiating one of the UFC’s most anticipated fights between Conor McGregor and Jose Aldo, since most of the pay are kept under wraps. When fellow referee Kenny Bayless got $25,000 for Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao in the same year, it added fuel to the flames.
Furthermore, before leaving the UFC, the referee was earning around $380,000 per year. Knowing who he is, merely refereeing does not increase John McCarthy’s net worth sufficiently.
The Bellator MMA’s Joe Rogan
Following his departure from the UFC due to a busy schedule, the 58-year-old joined the Bellator MMA broadcasting team. Unlike the UFC, he is highly appreciated in this organization for his contributions to the sport.
Former UFC commentator Mike Goldberg, Mauro Ranallo, Josh Thompson, and WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross are among Big John’s broadcasting team.
Because Big John is new to television, information about his remuneration are kept under wraps. Because he exclusively works on pay-per-view, Joe Rogan in the UFC earns roughly $55,000 to $60,000 per fight. We hope Big John, Bellator’s man behind the mic, achieves this level of success in the near future.
Bellator MMA has always been a competitor of the UFC, thus we can presume that they have contributed significantly to John McCarthy’s net worth.
Podcast: Weighing In
Along with his Bellator buddy Josh Thomson, Big John McCarthy hosts a podcast called “Weighing In.” They established it in 2018, and it consists of in-depth MMA analysis and event reviews.
They have fantastic content for MMA fans and provide concise information on various themes. The podcast can be found on all major podcasting platforms. It has a 4.8 out of 5 star rating on Apple Podcasts.
Different indicators, such as the total number of views and downloads, are used to verify the pay in the podcast.
A well-received podcast can earn you $100,000 per year on average. Because it is a joint venture, the profits are split equally, boosting John McCarthy’s net worth.
Additional Resources
Aside from MMA, Big John McCarthy has worked in the entertainment business. In the music video for the band New Found Glory, he featured alongside retired MMA fighter Bas Rutten.
Big John McCarthy made an appearance in a New Found Glory song video. Photo courtesy of John McCarthy’s Facebook page.
Friends, MTV2’s Bully Beatdown, and a cameo in the film Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown are among his other performances.
In 2011, Big John published his book, Let’s Get It On! — The Making of MMA and Its Ultimate Referee. On Amazon, it’s $37.29 for a limited time. It’s also reasonable to suppose that book sales will help the ref’s fortune.
Assets and Way of Life
The MMA superstar isn’t a big fan of high-end living. Instead, he prefers to spend his time traveling with his wife and friends. In his Harley Davidson, the 58-year-old enjoys riding down the highway on road trips.
He and his wife are happily married and live in Orange, California. They’re also accompanied by Jitsu, their pet dog, and Fred, their pet possum. The former referee also recently bought his wife a Jeep, which must have cost him a pretty penny.
Furthermore, John McCarthy is living a happy life and is able to devote more time to his family. We wish him the best of luck in the future, as well as the well-being of his family.
Trivia
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