Rapper 50 Cent’s 2020 prediction regarding Floyd Mayweather’s finances now appears accurate. Facing reported tax liens and foreclosures, Mayweather is preparing for a high-stakes rematch against Manny Pacquiao this September, a move seemingly driven by financial necessity.
The relationship between the musician and the boxer was once a public spectacle of friendship, particularly during Mayweather’s transition into the ‘Money’ persona. But the partnership fractured after Mayweather served a two-month jail sentence in 2012 for domestic abuse. According to 50 Cent, the dispute centered on the legitimacy of Mayweather’s promotional company. In a 2012 interview, he explained the situation. “As he was actually going into jail, he asked me to help him with Mayweather Promotions,” 50 Cent stated. He continued, “Then as he actually got in, and I took a look, I realized there is no Mayweather Promotions, there’s no LLC, there’s no seal, it’s not incorporated.” After investing his own money to build the company, 50 Cent said Mayweather refused to acknowledge him as a partner upon his release, ending their alliance.
Mayweather continued to earn hundreds of millions, retiring in 2017 with over a billion dollars in career earnings. His spending, however, reportedly did not slow down. This led 50 Cent to make a bold claim on the radio in February 2020. When asked if Mayweather should fight again, he was direct. “I think he got to right now because the money is gone,” he said. “With his lifestyle that money is gone, trust me. Now it’s like if you call him, he’ll be at, you know, your local hosting in a nightclub cause he needs that action right now.”
At the time, the statement was widely dismissed. Today, it seems prophetic. Reports indicate two of Mayweather’s commercial properties have been foreclosed, and the IRS has filed a $7.3 million lien against him for unpaid taxes. He also reportedly risks losing more properties used as collateral for a $54 million loan, adding to the financial pressure. For Mayweather, the upcoming bout against Pacquiao is more than a defense of his 50-0 record. The massive payday is a direct response to the financial circumstances his former friend predicted years ago.
