Conor McGregor Boasts He's The Highest-Paid Debutant Actor Ever Thanks To Road House (2024)

He made his big-screen debut in the remake of 1989’s iconic film Road House, and Conor McGregor’s net worth got a considerable boost from its earnings. Born on July 14, 1988, in Dublin, Ireland, McGregor is widely regarded as one of the most iconic and influential figures in mixed martial arts (MMA) history. Known for his brash personality, lightning-quick wit, and exceptional fighting skills, McGregor has transcended the sport of MMA to become a global superstar.

McGregor’s journey into the world of combat sports began at a young age. Growing up in Crumlin, a suburb of Dublin, he began training in boxing at the age of 12. His passion for combat sports eventually led him to explore other disciplines such as kickboxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

In 2008, McGregor made his professional MMA debut, quickly amassing a string of victories on the European regional circuit. His relentless work ethic and undeniable talent caught the attention of the UFC, the premier organization in MMA, leading to his debut in the promotion in 2013.

McGregor’s rise in the UFC was meteoric. With his devastating knockout power, precision striking, and charismatic personality, he captured the featherweight title in 2015 by defeating the reigning champion, José Aldo, in just 13 seconds, setting a record for the fastest knockout in a UFC title fight.

Not content with just one title, McGregor made history again in 2016 by claiming the lightweight championship, becoming the first fighter in UFC history to hold titles in two weight divisions simultaneously. His victory over Eddie Alvarez solidified his status as one of the sport’s all-time greats.

In 2023, McGregor suffered a horrific leg injury, took a break from professional fighting, and took the time to transition to acting. He made his on-screen debut in Road House, opposite Jake Gyllenhaal, and Conor McGregor‘s net worth took a considerable boost from its earnings.

Conor McGregor’s net worth

Conor McGregor’s net worth is around $200 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. That makes him one of the wealthiest athletes in the world.

How much was Conor McGregor paid for Road House?

While it’s not public how much Conor McGregor was paid for Road House, the Irishman boasted that it was more than what The Rock got paid for 2001’s The Mummy, putting it in the realm of over $5.5 million—at the time, he was the highest-paid debutant actor ever.

“What did you think of my acting debut movie trailer? Hell of a ride! I am now officially the highest-paid first-time actor of all time, on record, pipping Dwayne Johnson for the top spot. Incredible!” he said in a since-deleted tweet.

McGregor doubled down on his claim about being the highest-paid debutant actor when he toldGood Morning Britain: “That’s the fact, the highest-paid, first-time actor of all time so it’s a nice feather in the cap. I’ve never done a movie before so I am akin to a white belt, a beginner. There’s not an action star in Hollywood that could take me on and that’s a fact, so let’s see how it goes.”

In an interview with People, McGregor revealed the fight scenes with Gyllenhaal were about as real as you could get. “It wasn’t fake fighting,” he said at the New York City premiere of Road House. “I don’t think so. As a man who fights for a living, it was very, very real. Very much real. There were real shots landed.” He continued: “I gave him a wallop, he gave me one back, and then the stuntmen that were stepping in at times took some big shots also.”

Gyllenhaal backed up this retelling, saying a few errant fists were fired. “By mistake, he clocked me in the face,” the actor explained to People, adding, “We would do a take [of] fake fighting, and then we’d go watch the monitors to see it back, to see what worked.”

Expanding on this with Jimmy Fallon, Gyllenhaal said: “He was always great with me. He would tell me to do things like, ‘Oh, you know, turn your hand, move a little bit more this way to try to make it look more real.’ “