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Ronda Rousey

$13 Million
Mixed Martial Artist, Professional Wrestler (Retired), Actress

Quick Facts

Full Name Ronda Jean Rousey
Net Worth $13 Million
Profession Mixed Martial Artist, Professional Wrestler (Retired), Actress
Date of Birth February 1, 1987
Nationality American
Height 5'7" (170 cm)
Spouse/Partner Travis Browne (m. 2017)
Children 2 (La'akea Browne, 2021; Liko'ula Browne, 2025)

Biography

Ronda Rousey’s net worth is estimated at $13 million, accumulated through a groundbreaking career that spanned Olympic judo, UFC mixed martial arts, WWE professional wrestling, and Hollywood film. Rousey became the first American woman to win an Olympic medal in judo (bronze, 2008), the first female fighter signed by the UFC, and the UFC’s inaugural Women’s Bantamweight Champion—transforming women’s MMA into a pay-per-view draw and paving the way for the division’s existence.

Updated March 2026: According to Sports Illustrated, Rousey’s net worth is estimated at $13–14 million, reflecting earnings from her UFC career (approximately $15–16 million in fight purses from 2012–2016), WWE contract payments, acting roles in the Fast & Furious and Expendables franchises, endorsement deals, and book sales. In February 2026, she announced a return to MMA competition, agreeing to face Gina Carano on Netflix on May 16, 2026, per ESPN.

Early Life and Education

Ronda Jean Rousey was born on February 1, 1987, in Santa Monica, California, to AnnMaria De Mars and Ron Rousey. Her mother, AnnMaria, was the first American to win a World Judo Championship (1984) and later became a sports psychologist. Rousey’s father, Ron, died when she was eight, an event she has described as profoundly shaping her emotional development. She was born with a speech impediment, and her early years included speech therapy. She grew up partly in Minot, North Dakota, before the family relocated to the Los Angeles area. Rousey began practicing judo at age 11, initially under her mother’s instruction, and trained at Pedro’s Judo Center in Wakefield, Massachusetts, under Jimmy Pedro. She attended Santa Monica High School but spent significant portions of her teenage years training, often with national and international judo programs. At age 17, she became the youngest judoka to qualify for the 2004 Athens Olympics, though she did not medal. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, at age 21, she won the bronze medal in the under-63 kg (139 lb) category, becoming the first American woman to win an Olympic judo medal.

Combat Sports Career

After retiring from judo at 21 following the 2008 Olympics, Rousey supported herself by working as a bartender and cocktail waitress in Venice Beach, California, while training in mixed martial arts. She began her MMA career in 2011 with King of the Cage, compiling an undefeated record using her trademark armbar submission technique—winning her first six amateur and professional bouts by armbar in the first round. She joined Strikeforce in 2012, winning the Women’s Bantamweight Championship, which she held until Strikeforce was acquired by the UFC.

The UFC signed Rousey as its first female fighter and staged the first women’s UFC bout at UFC 157 on February 23, 2013. She became the inaugural UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion and made six successful title defenses, setting a record for the most UFC title defenses by a female fighter at the time (later surpassed by Valentina Shevchenko in 2022). Her fights drew pay-per-view audiences comparable to the sport’s male headliners. Her undefeated streak ended on November 14, 2015, when Holly Holm knocked her out with a head kick at UFC 193 in Melbourne, Australia. After a year away, Rousey returned at UFC 207 on December 30, 2016, but was defeated by Amanda Nunes in 48 seconds in the first round. She retired from MMA in 2016, though the formal announcement came later. She was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in July 2018 as the first female fighter so honored.

In 2018, Rousey signed with WWE, debuting at WrestleMania 34. She won the Raw Women’s Championship at SummerSlam 2018 and held it until WrestleMania 35. She returned to WWE in January 2022, won the Royal Rumble, and ultimately won the SmackDown Women’s Championship twice and the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship with Shayna Baszler. She became the eighth WWE Women’s Triple Crown Champion. In September 2023, she departed WWE. According to Sports Illustrated, her WWE salary was approximately $1.5 million per year, or approximately $2.1 million including bonuses and endorsements. She confirmed in September 2025 that she had retired from professional wrestling. In February 2026, she announced a return to MMA to face Gina Carano on Netflix on May 16, 2026.

How Ronda Rousey Built Her $13 Million Fortune

  • UFC Fight Purses: According to Sports Illustrated, Rousey’s total UFC compensation from 2012 to 2016 was approximately $15–16 million. Her peak payout was approximately $3 million for her final UFC bout against Amanda Nunes at UFC 207. Forbes estimated she earned $3 million split between acting and fighting between June 2014 and June 2015, ranking her the eighth highest-paid female athlete in 2015 at $6.5 million total.
  • WWE Contract: Her WWE salary of approximately $1.5 million per year during two stints (2018–2019, 2022–2023) added roughly $4–5 million total over her WWE tenure, per Sports Illustrated.
  • Film Career: Rousey appeared in The Expendables 3 (2014), Furious 7 (2015), Entourage (2015), and Mile 22 (2018). The Fast & Furious franchise, in which she played Kara, grossed over $1.5 billion globally.
  • Endorsements: At her peak, Rousey held endorsement deals with Carl’s Jr., MetroPCS, Reebok, and others. During her undefeated UFC run, Forbes estimated her annual endorsement income at approximately $3 million.
  • Book and Media: Her 2015 autobiography My Fight / Your Fight became a New York Times bestseller, generating additional income from sales and adaptation rights.

Personal Life

Ronda Rousey married former UFC heavyweight Travis Browne on August 28, 2017, in a private ceremony in Hawaii. Browne, who is of Native Hawaiian descent, competed in the UFC heavyweight division from 2011 to 2017. Together they have two daughters: La’akea Makalapuaokalanipō Browne, born in September 2021, and Liko’ula Pā’ūomahinakaipiha Browne, born in January 2025 during the Los Angeles wildfires. Browne also has two sons, Kaleo and Keawe, from a previous relationship. The family resides in Hawaii. In 2025, Rousey revealed publicly that severe concussion problems were a significant factor in her retirement from MMA, according to BBC Sport. She has been a vocal advocate for fighter pay, and in March 2026, following the UFC’s $7.7 billion valuation, she publicly called for the organization to pay fighters at least a living wage.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Ronda Rousey’s net worth?

Ronda Rousey’s net worth is estimated at $13 million according to Sports Illustrated, reflecting earnings from her UFC career ($15–16 million in total purses), WWE contracts, acting roles, endorsement deals, and book sales. Her relative net worth is lower than her career earnings would suggest due to taxes, personal expenses, and the relatively modest compensation structure of the UFC at the time of her active career.

How much did Ronda Rousey earn in the UFC?

Rousey’s total UFC compensation from 2012 to 2016 has been reported at approximately $15–16 million by Sports Illustrated. Her highest single-fight payout was approximately $3 million for her title bout against Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 in December 2016. At her 2015 peak, Forbes ranked her the eighth highest-paid female athlete globally, with $6.5 million in total earnings that year.

Is Ronda Rousey returning to MMA?

Yes. In February 2026, Rousey announced she will return to MMA competition for the first time in approximately a decade to face Gina Carano in a bout scheduled for May 16, 2026, on Netflix. The fight was arranged by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions. Rousey had previously confirmed in September 2025 that she had retired from professional wrestling following her WWE departure in 2023, per BBC Sport.

How Old Is Ronda Rousey?

As of March 2026, Ronda Rousey is 39 years old. Ronda Rousey was born on February 1, 1987 in Riverside, California, USA.

How Tall Is Ronda Rousey?

Ronda Rousey stands 5’7″ tall (170 cm).

Who Is Ronda Rousey’s Husband?

Ronda Rousey married fellow UFC fighter Travis Browne in 2017. The couple lives on a ranch in Southern California and has two children together. Rousey has been open about how family life has become her priority since retiring from combat sports.

Does Ronda Rousey Have Kids?

Yes, Ronda Rousey has two children with husband Travis Browne: La’akea (~4) and Liko’ula (~1). Rousey has spoken about raising her children on their ranch and stepping away from the spotlight to focus on family.

Where Does Ronda Rousey Live?

Ronda Rousey lives on a ranch in Riverside, California. She also owns a ranch in Southern Oregon. Rousey has embraced a rural lifestyle since stepping away from professional fighting.

How Much Does Ronda Rousey Make Per Year?

Ronda Rousey earned $3 million for her UFC 207 fight against Amanda Nunes, tying the record for highest UFC purse at the time. Her total UFC career earnings were approximately $16 million, with additional income from WWE and film appearances.