Jake Paul is a 28-year-old professional boxer and entrepreneur from Cleveland, Ohio. He started as a Vine and YouTube star before transitioning to boxing in 2020. With a 12-2 record, Paul has fought notable opponents, including Mike Tyson and Anthony Joshua, while building Most Valuable Promotions, a boxing promotional company.
You know him from viral videos, Disney Channel, or controversial boxing matches. Jake Paul has been famous for over a decade, but his career has taken more twists than most people experience in a lifetime.
Born January 17, 1997, Paul built his name on social media chaos before pivoting to professional boxing. His journey from internet troublemaker to legitimate combat sports figure remains one of the strangest success stories in modern entertainment.
From Vine Star to Disney Channel Actor
Paul’s rise began on Vine in 2013. He posted comedy sketches and pranks that attracted millions of teenage viewers. His content was loud, often reckless, and designed for maximum shareability.
By 2014, he had expanded to YouTube. His vlogs showed a similar formula: pranks, stunts, and an aggressive editing style that kept viewers engaged. The strategy worked. His subscriber count climbed into the millions.
Disney Channel noticed. In 2016, Paul landed a role on Bizaardvark, playing Dirk Mann. He became one of the first major internet personalities to cross over to traditional television. The show ran for two seasons, but Paul’s tenure ended in 2017.
Disney fired him after neighbors complained about his disruptive behavior at his West Hollywood rental home. Videos showed dangerous stunts, property damage, and crowds of fans causing disturbances. The network confirmed his exit in July 2017, citing that his dismissal was related to neighborhood complaints.
Building Team 10 and YouTube Empire
Around the time of his Disney exit, Paul launched Team 10. The concept was part content house, part talent incubator. Young creators lived together in Los Angeles, collaborating on videos and cross-promoting each other’s channels.
Team 10 operated like a digital media company. Paul recruited influencers, managed their content, and took a percentage of their earnings. The model was controversial. Some members later claimed exploitative contracts and poor working conditions.
The content house generated massive views. Paul’s YouTube channel grew to over 20 million subscribers. By his early twenties, he was earning millions annually from advertising revenue, sponsorships, and merchandise sales.
Jake Paul’s Boxing Career and Record
In 2020, Paul made an unexpected pivot. He announced his first professional boxing match against British YouTuber AnEsonGib, also known as Gib. Paul won by first-round TKO in January 2020.
Most observers dismissed it as a publicity stunt. But Paul kept fighting. He knocked out former NBA player Nate Robinson in November 2020. Then came Ben Askren, a retired MMA fighter, in April 2021. Paul won by first-round TKO again.
The pattern continued. Paul fought former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley twice, winning both times. The second fight ended with a brutal sixth-round knockout. He defeated Anderson Silva, a UFC legend, by decision in October 2022.
Paul’s record stands at 12-2 with seven knockouts. His complete fight history and statistics document each bout in detail. His only losses came against Tommy Fury in February 2023 and Anthony Joshua in December 2025. The Fury fight was competitive. Joshua’s knockout in the sixth round was devastating.
Paul’s most high-profile bout came in November 2024 against 58-year-old Mike Tyson. The fight generated massive pay-per-view numbers on Netflix. Paul won by unanimous decision, though critics questioned the matchup’s legitimacy given Tyson’s age.
His opponents have mostly been MMA fighters, aging athletes, or other influencers. Traditional boxers and hardcore fans have criticized his resume. But Paul has consistently moved up in competition. The Joshua fight represented his biggest challenge yet.
He suffered a broken jaw during training for the Joshua bout. The injury required surgery and months of recovery. As of early 2026, he’s still rehabilitating and planning his return.
Most Valuable Promotions and Business Ventures
Paul co-founded Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) in 2021 with Nakisa Bidarian, a former UFC executive. The company promotes boxing events and manages fighters.
MVP has signed notable boxers, including Amanda Serrano, one of the most successful female fighters in history. The company promotes events that blend traditional boxing with influencer-driven marketing. This approach attracts younger audiences who might not watch conventional boxing.
Beyond boxing promotion, Paul invested in several businesses. He co-founded Betr, a sports betting and media company. He launched W, a men’s grooming brand. He created the Anti Fund, a venture capital firm focused on early-stage companies.
His business strategy mirrors his boxing approach. He targets industries where traditional gatekeepers control access. Then he uses his social media reach to bypass those gatekeepers and build direct relationships with consumers.
The success varies. Betr has faced regulatory challenges in several states. But Paul’s ability to monetize his brand across multiple verticals shows business acumen beyond viral content creation.
Net Worth and Earnings Breakdown
Forbes listed Paul as one of the world’s highest-paid creators in 2025, estimating he earned $50 million in the previous year. Most sources place his net worth around $200 million, though exact figures are difficult to verify.
His income streams include:
Fight purses remain his largest single revenue source. The Tyson fight reportedly paid him tens of millions. Even his smaller fights generate seven-figure paydays.
YouTube advertising still contributes significantly. With over 20 million subscribers, his channel generates millions annually from ads alone.
Sponsorships and endorsements add another revenue layer. Companies pay him to promote products to his massive following.
Business ventures like MVP and Betr could eventually surpass his fighting income. If these companies scale successfully, they represent long-term wealth building beyond his boxing career.
His spending habits match his earnings. He owns multiple properties, luxury cars, and frequently posts about expensive purchases. Whether this is a genuine lifestyle or calculated brand building remains unclear.
Anthony Joshua Fight and Broken Jaw Recovery
The Anthony Joshua fight on December 19, 2025, was supposed to prove Paul belonged in legitimate boxing. Joshua, a two-time unified heavyweight champion and Olympic gold medalist, represented Paul’s toughest opponent by far.
The fight didn’t go as planned. Joshua knocked out Paul in the sixth round. The stoppage was decisive. Paul showed heart but was clearly outmatched by a fighter with decades of elite-level experience.
The broken jaw he suffered during training camp may have affected his performance. Some observers noted he seemed hesitant to engage fully. The injury required surgical intervention with plates and screws.
His recovery timeline extends into mid-2026. Doctors have cleared him for light training, but full-contact work remains months away. This setback forces him to reconsider his career trajectory.
The loss raised questions. Can he compete with elite boxers? Should he return to fighting MMA crossovers and aging stars? Or does the Joshua fight mark the beginning of his transition away from active competition toward full-time promotion?
Controversies and Legal Troubles
Paul’s career has been marked by regular controversy. In 2017, he faced criminal trespass charges after filming himself in an empty mall during riots. The charges were later dismissed.
The FBI raided his Calabasas home in 2020 as part of an investigation into alleged looting during protests. No charges were filed against Paul, though several associates faced legal consequences.
In 2023, the SEC charged him with unlawfully promoting cryptocurrency assets without disclosing he was being paid. Paul settled the charges without admitting wrongdoing.
Sexual assault allegations have also surfaced. In 2021, TikTok star Justine Paradise accused Paul of sexual assault during a 2019 incident. Paul denied the allegations. No criminal charges were filed.
His content has generated ethical concerns. Critics argue his pranks encourage dangerous behavior among young viewers. The Los Angeles Fire Department publicly condemned stunts that involved setting furniture on fire in empty pools.
These controversies haven’t significantly damaged his earning power. If anything, they’ve reinforced his “Problem Child” persona. He leans into the villain role, using criticism as promotional fuel.
Personal Life and Relationship with Jutta Leerdam
Paul has been engaged to Jutta Leerdam since March 2025. Leerdam is a Dutch speed skating champion who won silver at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
The couple met in early 2023 when Paul invited Leerdam onto his podcast. Their combined social media following exceeds 33 million. Paul shares highlights of their relationship and training routines on his Instagram, where he has over 27 million followers. Leerdam maintains her athletic career while supporting Paul’s boxing ventures. She was ringside for the Tyson and Joshua fights and is currently training for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
Paul lives primarily in Puerto Rico, where he trains. The move offers tax advantages and distance from Los Angeles controversies. Leerdam splits time between the Netherlands and Puerto Rico.
What’s Next for Jake Paul
Paul’s immediate future involves recovery and rehabilitation. The broken jaw needs several more months of healing before he can return to full training. His team hasn’t announced his next fight.
Several paths forward exist. He could continue pursuing fights with legitimate boxers, though the Joshua loss complicates that narrative. He might return to fighting MMA crossovers, where his size and power advantages are more pronounced.
His promotional work with MVP may become his primary focus. Building a successful boxing promotional company could cement a longer-term legacy than his fighting career. He’s already signed several promising fighters and promoted successful events.
Political aspirations have also been mentioned. Paul has been vocal about his conservative views and support for Donald Trump. Some speculate he could pursue political office, following the influencer-to-politician pipeline.
His boxing record may never satisfy purists. But his impact on combat sports is undeniable. He helped popularize influencer boxing, brought younger audiences to the sport, and proved social media stars could generate massive pay-per-view numbers.
Whether you view him as a legitimate boxer or a promotional genius exploiting boxing’s loose regulations, Jake Paul has achieved what seemed impossible in 2020. He went from YouTube pranks to headlining events with boxing legends, building a business empire along the way.
His story isn’t finished. At 28, he has decades ahead to define his legacy. The next chapter will determine whether he’s remembered as a curiosity or a genuine force in combat sports.
