Ronda Rousey

Ronda Rousey was the most dominant and marketable female fighter in MMA history, holding the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship from 2012 to 2015. Her finishing speed was unprecedented -- she won her first three UFC title defenses in a combined 96 seconds. Her pay-per-view numbers were among the highest for any UFC fighter regardless of gender, and she appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated, Ring Magazine, and ESPN The Magazine.

Rousey's endorsement portfolio included Reebok, Carl's Jr., Monster Energy, and Metro PCS. She also crossed over into Hollywood, appearing in The Expendables 3, Furious 7, and her own documentary. Her UFC purses peaked at $3 million per fight, and she earned additional pay-per-view bonuses. After devastating losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes ended her MMA dominance, she transitioned to WWE, where she was reportedly paid $1 million per appearance.

Rousey's lower net worth relative to her fame reflects the economics of women's MMA during her era, where even the biggest star earned a fraction of what male counterparts commanded. Her impact on the sport -- proving that women's MMA could sell pay-per-views -- was worth billions to the UFC, but she captured only a small percentage of that value.