What is Bernard Hopkins’ Net Worth and Salary?
Bernard Hopkins, the American former professional boxer, has a net worth of $40 million. He is known as “The Executioner” and is considered one of the greatest fighters of the modern era, having won 55 out of his 67 fights and holding various world championship titles across two weight classes. Hopkins holds the record for the oldest boxing world champion, having won at the age of 48.
Today, Hopkins is a minority partner with the boxing and MMA promotion company “Golden Boy Promotions.”
Bernard Hopkins’ Early Life and Time in Prison
Bernard Hopkins Jr. was born on January 15th of 1965, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He grew up in the Raymond Rosen housing project, situated in Philadelphia’s most crime-ridden area. By age 11, Hopkins was into petty theft, and within two years he was mugging people and had visited the ER three times with stab wounds. In 1982, Bernard entered the Graterford Prison with an 18-year sentence, guilty on nine felonies.
While in prison, someone murdered Hopkins’ oldest brother. Hopkins learned that the man who killed his brother would serve his sentence in Graterford Prison as well. The man eventually chose confinement instead of joining the general population. Hopkins later stated he was grateful, saying he would have killed his brother’s murderer, resulting in him never leaving prison.
Bernard reported witnessing worse things in prison than he ever saw in the streets, “I saw guys beaten, raped, and tortured,” and, after seeing a man murdered over a package of cigarettes, Bernard decided to change, “Something in me snapped. I knew that I had to be responsible for turning my own life around.”
When he was 21, a boxing program began in prison, and Hopkins discovered he had a passion for the sport. In 1988, after serving five years, Bernard was released from jail. Hopkins converted to Islam, swore off drugs, alcohol, and junk food, and never returned to prison.
Bernard Hopkins’ Boxing Career
Bernard Hopkins made his professional boxing debut in 1988 but struggled to find meaningful bouts. In 1993, he faced Roy Jones Jr. for the vacant IBF Middleweight title, which he lost. Hopkins earned the IBF Middleweight Title in 1995 by knocking out Segundo Mercado in the seventh round. He retained his middleweight title and defeated Félix Trinidad for the vacant WBA Middleweight title in 2001. Hopkins became the first-ever boxer to hold all four major championships in 2004 when he defeated Oscar De La Hoya for the WBO Middleweight title. His streak ended in 2005 when he lost to Jermain Taylor.
In 2011, Hopkins defeated Jean Pascal to secure the WBC Light heavyweight title, becoming the oldest world champion in boxing history. He beat his own record 22 months later, earning the IBF Light heavyweight title at 48. Hopkins retired in 2016 at the age of 52. He holds the records for Oldest Boxing World Champion, Most Consecutive Title Defences in the Middleweight Division, and Longest-Lasting Middleweight Title at ten years and three months.
Bernard Hopkins’ Family Life
Bernard Hopkins married his wife Jeanette in 1993 and the couple has been together ever since.
They have a daughter named Latrice Hopkins.
In 2007, Bernard Hopkins made controversial comments towards Welshman Joe Calzaghe, stating he would never let a white boy beat him. Hopkins later explained that he intended to create hype for their upcoming fight, rather than make racial slurs. However, Joe Calzaghe defeated Hopkins in 2008.
In 2011, Hopkins also questioned the racial credentials of Minnesota Vikings quarterback Donovan McNabb, claiming he had a privileged childhood and wasn’t “black enough” or tough enough compared to himself, Michael Vick, or Terrell Owens. Hopkins referred to McNabb as “the guy in the house” and stated he thought he was one of them.
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