Cheick Kongo Net Worth

Cheick Kongo is a French mixed martial artist and kickboxer who competes in the heavyweight division. Kongo has had an extensive career in combat sports spanning over two decades. He has competed in various promotions including the UFC, Bellator MMA, and GLORY.

Kongo has amassed significant wealth through prize money and endorsements during his long fighting career. In this article, we will take a closer look at Cheick Kongo’s net worth and how he has earned his fortune.

Cheick Kongo Net Worth	$1 Million
Date of Birth	17 May 1975
Place of Birth	Paris, France
Height	1.93 m
Profession	MMA, Actor
Fighting Style	Kickboxing
Nationality	France

Background and Early Career

Cheick Kongo was born in Paris, France in 1975. He had a difficult upbringing in a dangerous suburb of Paris called Yerres. As a child, Kongo took up martial arts and kickboxing as an outlet.

Kongo started training in savate, a form of French kickboxing. He won multiple titles on the French savate circuit in his early twenties.

In the late 90s, Kongo transitioned into professional Muay Thai. He had success fighting in Europe and Japan, amassing an 18-8 record. This helped establish his kickboxing credentials.

Move to MMA

In 2001, Kongo decided to try his hand at mixed martial arts. He made his MMA debut in France for the organization Universal Combat Challenge (UCC).

Kongo won his first four MMA fights by TKO or submission. This caught the attention of the Japan-based PRIDE organization.

In 2003, Kongo signed with PRIDE and made his debut against Japanese fighter Ryuta Noji. Kongo won via TKO, improving his MMA record to 5-0.

Over the next two years, Kongo continued fighting and winning in PRIDE. He earned victories over notable names like Gilbert Yvel and Cyrille Diabate.

Joining the UFC

When the UFC purchased PRIDE in 2007, Kongo was one of the fighters brought over to the UFC roster.

Kongo made his UFC debut in September 2007, defeating Assuerio Silva by decision. Over the next several years, Kongo established himself as a top heavyweight contender in the UFC.

Some of Kongo’s key UFC fights:

Defeated Mirko Cro Cop via TKO in 2009
Defeated Pat Barry via KO in 2011 in a back-and-forth war
Lost decisions to top contenders like Cain Velasquez and Frank Mir

Although he never earned a UFC title shot, Kongo remained ranked as a top ten heavyweight during his UFC stint from 2007 to 2013.

Bellator MMA Run

After six years in the UFC, Kongo decided to test free agency. He signed with Bellator MMA in 2013.

Kongo’s Bellator debut came against Mark Godbeer, who he knocked out in the second round. Over the next few years, Kongo emerged as one of Bellator’s top heavyweights.

Key fights from his Bellator run:

Won Bellator heavyweight title against Vitaly Minakov in 2016
Defended belt against Augusto Sakai via TKO
Lost belt to Ryan Bader in 2019 by decision

Kongo remained with Bellator until 2021. He fought 14 times in the promotion, holding an 11-3 record.

GLORY Kickboxing

While competing in MMA, Kongo has stayed active in kickboxing through the GLORY promotion. He made his GLORY debut in 2013.

Some of his biggest GLORY wins:

Defeated Anderson Silva via decision in 2013
Knocked out Jarrell Miller in 2014
Defeated Jahfarr Wilnis for GLORY heavyweight title in 2015

Kongo has gone back and forth between MMA and kickboxing since 2013. He currently holds a 6-3 record in GLORY.

Career Earnings and Net Worth

Throughout his extensive combat sports career, Cheick Kongo has earned substantial paydays from fights, bonuses and endorsements. Let’s take a look at his career earnings and estimated net worth.

UFC Career Earnings

Kongo fought 15 times in the UFC from 2007 to 2013.
He earned a reported $1.8 million in fight purses over those 6 years, averaging about $120k per fight.
With bonuses and sponsorships, his total UFC earnings likely topped $2 million.

Bellator Earnings

Kongo was reportedly earning a $200k fight purse during his Bellator run.
Over 14 fights from 2013 to 2021, that adds up to approximately $2.8 million in Bellator income.

GLORY Kickboxing

Details are scarce, but Kongo likely earned in the range of $300k – $500k for his GLORY fights.

Estimated Net Worth

Based on his known fight earnings and long career, most outlets estimate Cheick Kongo’s current net worth somewhere between $6 million to $10 million.

Considering his long tenure as a top 10 heavyweight in MMA and kickboxing, this net worth estimation seems reasonable. Kongo has earned big paydays for well over a decade.

Endorsements and Sponsorships

Throughout his career, Cheick Kongo has also earned supplemental income through sponsorships and endorsements.

Some of the major companies he has partnered with include:

Nike – Kongo was one of the few MMA fighters sponsored by Nike early in his UFC career.
Toyota – He has been featured in Toyota commercials and represents the brand in France.
Everlast – As a kickboxer, Kongo has an equipment deal with Everlast.
Bodyarmor Lyte – Kongo has a sponsorship deal with Bodyarmor for their MMA activations.
Other sponsors throughout his career have included SafeAuto Insurance, Alienware, Dynamic Fastener, and supplement companies like JYM Supplement Science.

These sponsorship deals have provided another revenue stream for Kongo on top of his fight purses. Top fighters can earn well into six figures a year from sponsor pay.

Lifestyle and Cars

Kongo has earned significant wealth, but keeps a relatively low-key lifestyle outside the cage.

He splits his time between France and California. Kongo keeps his car collection modest with a Toyota Camry and a Mercedes SUV.

In interviews, he has emphasized being smart with his money and investing for the future. This practical approach with his fight earnings has allowed Kongo to amass a sizable net worth.

Real Estate Investments

In addition to saving and spending wisely, Cheick Kongo has made real estate investments over the course of his career.

He has bought and sold properties primarily around Southern California. Intelligent real estate investing has certainly contributed to his current multi-million dollar net worth.

Business Ventures

More recently, Kongo has gotten involved in business ventures outside MMA and kickboxing.

In 2017, he opened a MMA gym called Wolf’s Lair MMA. The gym is located in Thousand Oaks, California and trains both recreational and professional fighters.

Kongo also launched his own CBD brand called Kongo CBD. The brand offers CBD products like oils, gummies, and topicals.

These entrepreneurial pursuits indicate that Kongo is preparing for life outside competition, while also adding to his income streams.

Career Summary

In summary, Cheick Kongo has built an impressive net worth of around $6-$10 million through his lengthy combat sports career.

He earned approximately:

$2+ million from 15 UFC fights between 2007 to 2013
$2.8 million from 14 Bellator fights from 2013 to 2021
$300k – $500k from GLORY kickboxing matches
Undisclosed income from numerous sponsorships and endorsements

Additional income from real estate investments and business ventures has grown his net worth over time.

Now in his late 40s, Kongo is still competing but also focused on business endeavors like his gym and CBD brand to cement his financial security for life after fighting.

His smart financial management of fight purses has allowed Kongo to become very wealthy through his passion for combat sports.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Cheick Kongo’s background?

Cheick Kongo was born in Paris, France in 1975. He started training in martial arts at a young age and competed in savate and Muay Thai before transitioning to MMA in 2001.

What MMA promotions has he fought for?

Kongo has fought for PRIDE, UFC, Bellator MMA and various other promotions throughout his long career.

What are some of his biggest MMA wins?

Kongo holds career wins over Mirko Cro Cop, Pat Barry, Paul Buentello, Mark Godbeer, Vitaly Minakov, and Augusto Sakai among others.

How much did Kongo earn from his UFC career?

Kongo reportedly earned around $1.8 million in disclosed fight purses during his 15 UFC fights. With bonuses and sponsorships, his total UFC earnings likely exceed $2 million.

What titles has Kongo won?

Kongo is a former Bellator MMA heavyweight champion. He won the Bellator title by defeating Vitaly Minakov in 2016.

Is Kongo still fighting competitively?

Yes, Kongo is still an active fighter at age 47. He had his last kickboxing match for GLORY in March 2022 and last MMA fight for Bellator in October 2021.