Royce Gracie is a professional mixed martial artist, born on 12th December 1966, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He fights for Bellator MMA, as a UFC Hall of Famer and expert in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Gracie is considered to be one of the most influential figures in the history of modern MMA and is a member of the “Gracie family”, a prominent Brazilian martial arts family.
Have you ever wondered how rich Royce Gracie is? According to sources, it has been estimated that Royce Gracie’s overall net worth is $5 million, accumulated by being one of the most successful people in his profession. In achieving the record of consecutive victories by submission in UFC history, Royce significantly increased his wealth, which has continued to grow through the years of his career. Since he is still an active MMA fighter, his net worth continues to grow.
Royce Gracie Net Worth $5 Million
Royce was born to famous Grand Master, Helio Gracie who introduced his son to Jiu Jitsu at a very young age, and encouraged Royce to continue practicing while learning from him and his older brothers, who are now all successful figures of BJJ themselves. Royce’s first competition came when he was just eight years old and by the time he was fourteen, he had already started giving classes. Due to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu’s federation rules, he was awarded a blue belt when he was sixteen, and his black belt even though a few months short of the minimum age requirements, thanks to his father’s influence. However, his debut as a black belt carrier was not successful as he lost in the first round to a student of Osvaldo Alves.
Royce soon joined his older brother Rorion at the new Gracie Academy in the US, where he also helped teaching. His true debut as a fighter came in 1993, when he won the Ultimate Fighting Championship tournament by being the lightest fighter in the competition. This was one of the first official No-Holds-Barred events in the US, and his victory made him one of the most recognized figures in the fighting world, and earned him respect from fellow fighters. Gracie won two more UFC tournaments in the following years, building his net worth.
In 1998 Royce was challenged by his uncle Carlson’s student, Wallid Ismail, who wanted a chance to prove that his tutor’s school was stronger than Helio’s. Although it wasn’t common for him, Gracie accepted but due to his long pause in grappling tournaments, he was defeated by Wallid. Royce returned to MMA, building a successful career, but the verbal battle between him and Wallid never ended.
Gracie fought in some of the most significant shows like Pride FC, K1 Dynamite and UFC. In 2007, after his win against Kazushi Sakubara, he was tested positive for anabolic steroids , and although Royce disputed all the California State Athletic Comission’s allegations, this left a big stain on his career.
In December 2010 at the UFC press conference, Gracie announced his retirement. Upon his father’s death, the Grand Master Helio Gracie, Royce decided to return to the “old days” in his master and father’s honor. He hung-up his coral belt and started wearing a navy blue belt similar to the Gracie Jiu Jitsu representatives in the late ‘60s.
When it comes to his most recent activities, Gracie won the fight against Kem Shamrock at Bellator 149 in February 2016, after returning from retirement to face his rival.
Aside from fights, Royce has starred in Sepultura’s music video for “Attitude”, and appeared on the film “Vale Todo” by Roberto Estrella, adding to is net worth.
In his personal life, Royce has three sons and a daughter with his wife Marianne, who he married in 1995. He is currently in dispute with the IRS over alleged back taxes.
