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UFC commentator Joe Rogan has become quite the polarizing figure. While his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, remains wildly successful, it has also drawn plenty of backlash. Rogan, who broke into the entertainment industry as a comedian, was recently named one of the 50 most influential people in comedy in 2022.
The list, released by The Hollywood Reporter, praised Rogan's ability to attract eyes and ears, both online and in person, stating:
"Despite — or because of — all his controversial headlines throughout the pandemic, Rogan continues to dominate the podcast charts (and fill arenas, on his rare stand-up tour dates)... His 13-year-old The Joe Rogan Experience — in which the comedian and MMA commentator interviews a mix of celebrity guests and “intellectual dark web” figures at length — topped Edison Research’s most recent quarterly ranking of the 50 most listened-to shows in the U.S."
The list continued with:
"In early 2023, Rogan plans to open his comedy club in his transplanted home of Austin, which is sure to disrupt the city’s already hot comedy scene. Like or loathe, Rogan’s prominence is undeniable."
Rogan's success in the podcast world has paid off, as Spotify reportedly rewarded him with a $200 million contract due to his success. Rogan's contract also gives him the ability to earn even more than the reported amount, while giving Spotify exclusive rights to The Joe Rogan Experience through 2023. The podcast reportedly averages over 10 million views per episode.
How much does Joe Rogan make from the UFC?
While Joe Rogan brings in plenty of money from Spotify, as well as his comedy tours, his UFC contract does not pay him nearly as much. Rogan reportedly makes $50,000 per pay-per-view event, and it appears that he still does the job simply out of enjoyment.
Rogan, who is very close with UFC President Dana White, has shared that he will walk away from the promotion once the frontman retires. Rogan has been calling fights for the UFC since 1997, reportedly doing his first twelve fights for free. White took over as UFC President in 2001. While it is well-known how passionate the former Fear Factor host is about mixed martial arts, it is still shocking that he worked for free.
While his contract was previously limited to pay-per-view events, Rogan now only works pay-per-view events in North America. As much as he loves the sport of mixed martial arts, traveling out of the country simply became too much for Rogan.
