Making millions from a melodious voice and beautiful songs makes perfect sense. However, making a fortune from announcing fights? Not so much! Well, unless you’re Bruce Buffer!
Bruce Buffer managed to build himself a $12 million fortune by using his voice and style to add more excitement to an already exciting event.
He had signature moves, a catchphrase, and undeniable charisma that turned him into the “Veteran Voice of the Octagon.”
Image source: Google
Yet, that’s not all that Bruce did. For instance, did you know he has a black belt in Tang Soo Do? No?
Well, allow me to share how Bruce Buffer moved from being in fights to announcing them!
Bruce’s Early Life and How He Got Into Martial Arts
To start, Bruce Buffer was born on May 21st, 1957, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. There isn’t a lot of information available about his home or family.
However, from what I could tell, Bruce lived a relatively normal childhood, with an interest in martial arts that solidified when he was thirteen.
At the time, his family moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he took up judo.
He only managed to get a green belt, meaning he knew enough about the art to recognize the scope of its practice—even if he himself wasn’t able to perform it perfectly.
Perhaps he didn’t continue his judo practice because his family moved to Malibu, California, only two years later.
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It was there that Bruce struck a friendship with two of Chuck Norris’ students, who introduced him to Tang Soo Do, a form of Korean martial arts based on karate.
It’s no surprise that Bruce found himself drawn to the new sport, earning a black belt along the way. Later, his love for the discipline and the art of balance led him to kickboxing in his twenties.
Sadly, his time in the ring was cut short at 32 after a serious concussion forced him to hang up his gloves.
Bruce Buffer’s Net Worth
The electrifying “Voice of the Octagon” who’s turned fighter introduction into an art form managed to make a fortune of $12 million!
Since 1996, he’s been transforming dull fight announcements into something more, complete with his legendary “Buffer 180” move and signature catchphrase “It’s time!”.
His current salary per UFC event stands at around $100,000!
Beyond the UFC, he conquered video games, TV, and movies with his voice and style, helping grow his fortune.
Career
A few years after Bruce stopped kickboxing, he made his first UFC announcement, a preliminary fight on UFC8. Soon enough, he was hosting all the fights at UFC 10.
Image source: Google
However, his move to a full-time ring announcer happened after, surprisingly, an episode of the beloved show Friends!
During an episode titled “The One with the Ultimate Fighting Champion” Bruce played an announcer and managed to convince the UFC owner himself to become a full-timer.
Career Away From the UFC
Bruce didn’t limit himself to the UFC; he became an entertainment chameleon.
For instance, he played poker tables, where he appeared in the World Series of Poker and impressively finished second in a high-stakes Poker After Dark Tournament.
Image source: Google
He also appeared on many television shows including Entourage, and Tosh.0.
Moreover, Bruce did a couple of films, like Hot Tub Time Machine 2, and a few video games, including Smite and EA Sports UFC 3.
He’s announced for international MMa promotions, the World’s Series of Beer Pong, and has been featured in everything from comedy specials to mortgage ads!
Personal Life
Unlike Bruce’s career, there isn’t much to share about his personal life as everything is under wraps. However, there are a few interesting nuggets here and there!
To start, Bruce’s half-brother is Michael Buffer, another famous boxing announcer. Their father introduced them to each other a few years before Bruce appeared as an announcer.
Image source: Google
Moreover, the brothers are actually the grandsons of the famous boxer, Johnny Buff. I think the fascination with martial arts and boxing runs in the family!
Regarding Bruce’s romantic relationships, he was married to Annie Buffer. The couple divorced in 2015 and have one son.
To Sum Up
Bruce Buffer’s net worth, around $12 million, is built on something few people have: Style!
You can have a great voice, perfect pitch, or even perfect enunciation. However, it was Bruce’s unmatched flair and energy that set him apart.
He managed to use this charisma to grow a career that’s as iconic as the fight he announces!
Featured image source: Google
