Ben Askren: Net Worth, Age, Family, Education, Height & Weight
Ben “Funky” Askren is an absolute legend in the combat sports world, known for a grappling style that left opponents completely helpless.
He skyrocketed to fame as a two-time NCAA Division I National Champion, a 2008 US Olympian, and an undefeated mixed martial arts champion in both Bellator and ONE Championship.
Today, his incredible journey extends beyond the cage into podcasting, cryptocurrency investing, and coaching the next generation of wrestlers.
With a soaring net worth and a personality that never quits, Askren remains one of the most fascinating figures in modern sports entertainment.
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Ben Askren Net Worth in 2026👇👇
When you look at Ben Askren’s financial portfolio, you realize he wrestles with the market just as effectively as he wrestled his opponents.
| Net Worth Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Estimated Net Worth (2026)👉 | $10 Million – $12 Million |
| Primary Income Sources👉 | MMA Purses, Crypto Investments, Podcasting |
| Monthly Income👉 | $80,000+ (Estimated from investments/businesses) |
| Annual Income👉 | $1,000,000+ |
| Additional Assets | Details |
|---|---|
| House / Real Estate | Custom home in Wisconsin, Askren Wrestling Academy facilities |
| Cars👉 | Practical family SUVs, occasionally seen in luxury sedans |
| Investments👉 | Heavy Bitcoin and cryptocurrency portfolio, real estate, gym ownership |
| Mobile/Tech👉 | High-end Apple devices, professional podcasting equipment |
| Year | Estimated Net Worth | Growth/Milestone |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 (MMA Debut)👉 | $100,000 | Early sponsorships and small fight purses |
| 2014 (ONE Championship)👉 | $2,500,000 | Major contract signing and title defenses |
| 2019 (UFC Era)👉 | $6,000,000 | Massive UFC contract, historic trade, high profile bouts |
| 2021 (Boxing Match)👉 | $9,000,000 | Huge payday for the Jake Paul boxing match |
| 2026 (Projected)👉 | $12,000,000 | Crypto appreciation, podcast growth, academy expansion |
Askren built his wealth through a combination of elite athletic performance and incredibly shrewd financial planning.
While many fighters blow their earnings on flashy jewelry and sports cars, Ben took a different route.
He invested heavily in his own business—the Askren Wrestling Academy (AWA)—and became an early, vocal advocate for Bitcoin.
His fight purses from Bellator, ONE Championship, the UFC, and his highly lucrative boxing match against Jake Paul provided the capital, but his strategic investments turned that cash into long-term, generational wealth.
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Spend Ben Askren’s Money
Imagine you have access to Ben Askren’s estimated $12,000,000 net worth!
How would you spend it like “Funky” Ben? Here is a fun, interactive-style look at what you could buy with his impressive bankroll.
- Current Budget: $12,000,000
- Buy 100 whole Bitcoins (at current projected prices): $6,000,000
- Open 5 new Askren Wrestling Academy locations: $2,500,000
- Build a professional Disc Golf course in your backyard: $250,000
- Fund a premium combat sports podcast studio: $100,000
- Purchase 10,000 pairs of high-end wrestling shoes for kids: $1,000,000
- Lifetime supply of organic flip-flops and casual wear: $50,000
- Remaining Balance for family vacations and savings: $2,100,000
Quick Facts
Get to know the essential details about the man behind the “Funky” moniker.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Age (as of 2026) | 42 Years Old |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Weight | 170 lbs (77 kg) – Fight Weight |
| Body Measurements | Chest: 42″, Waist: 34″, Biceps: 15″ (Approx.) |
| Eye Color | Blue |
| Hair Color | Brown (Famous for his curly afro) |
| Profession | Retired Mixed Martial Artist, Podcaster, Wrestling Coach |
| Net Worth | $10M – $12M |
| Zodiac Sign | Cancer |
| Shoe Size | 10.5 (US) |
About Ben Askren
| Personal Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Benjamin Michael Askren |
| Nicknames | Funky |
| Birth Date | July 18, 1984 |
| Birth Place | Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States |
| Ethnicity | White / Caucasian |
| Religion | Christian |
Ben Askren’s story is one of relentless pressure and unwavering self-belief. Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, he grew up with a deep passion for competitive sports.
He eventually found his true calling on the wrestling mats in Wisconsin.
By the time he reached the University of Missouri, Askren had developed his signature “Funky” style—an unorthodox, highly effective grappling technique that completely neutralized traditional wrestling attacks.
He dominated the collegiate scene, securing two NCAA Division I championships and capturing the attention of the entire nation.
Following his incredible collegiate run and a trip to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Ben transitioned into mixed martial arts.
He took his suffocating grappling style into the cage, rattling off a massive undefeated streak.
He claimed the Bellator Welterweight Championship and defended it multiple times before moving to Asia to conquer ONE Championship.
His eventual trade to the UFC—the first trade in MMA history, which sent Demetrious Johnson to ONE—cemented his legacy as a historic figure in the sport.
Though his UFC and boxing runs had mixed results, Ben’s impact on the combat sports landscape is absolutely undeniable.
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Ben Askren’s Favorites
| Category | Favorite Choice |
|---|---|
| Favorite Food | Clean, organic meats and vegetables |
| Favorite Hobby | Disc Golf, Podcasting, Analyzing Crypto |
| Favorite Destination | Wisconsin outdoors, peaceful lakes |
| Favorite Color | Blue |
| Favorite Sport (Besides MMA) | Collegiate Wrestling, Disc Golf |
| Favorite Crypto | Bitcoin |
Ben Askren treats his passions like a carefully tended garden; he waters them daily with focus and enthusiasm.
Whether he is dissecting the intricacies of the cryptocurrency market, launching a disc across a sunny park, or breaking down high-level collegiate wrestling matches on his podcast, he brings the same intense, laser-focused energy that he once used to pin opponents to the mat.
Ben Askren Family & Relationships
| Relationship | Detail |
|---|---|
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse | Amy Askren (m. 2010) |
| Children | Three children (Two daughters, one son) |
| Parents | Chuck Askren (Father), Michele Askren (Mother) |
| Siblings | Max Askren (Brother, also a national champion wrestler) |
Despite his loud, confident persona in the media and the fighting cage, Ben Askren is a profoundly dedicated family man who fiercely protects his personal life.
He married his long-time partner, Amy Askren, in 2010, and together they have built a beautiful, grounded life in Wisconsin.
Raising three children, Ben emphasizes the values of hard work, discipline, and education.
His brother, Max Askren, was also an incredibly talented wrestler, proving that elite grappling is quite literally in the Askren family DNA.
Career & Achievements of Ben Askren
| Career Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Active Since | 2009 (MMA), Early 2000s (Wrestling) |
| Debut Year/Work | 2009 (Professional MMA Debut vs. Josh Flowers) |
| Major Titles | Bellator Welterweight Champion, ONE Welterweight Champion |
| Wrestling Awards | 2x NCAA D1 Champion, Dan Hodge Trophy Winner, 2008 Olympian |
| Major Works | Funky podcast, Askren Wrestling Academy |
Ben Askren built his career like a magnificent, unshakeable fortress.
Brick by brick, he laid a foundation of elite collegiate wrestling, earning the prestigious Dan Hodge Trophy and cementing his status as one of the greatest college athletes of his generation.
When he transitioned into mixed martial arts, he didn’t just participate; he conquered.
He wrapped his opponents in a web of unbreakable pressure, capturing world titles in two different major organizations.
Even when the fortress faced the blazing cannons of the UFC and the boxing ring later in his career, the foundation remained incredibly strong.
He utilized his massive platform to pivot gracefully into coaching, broadcasting, and entrepreneurship.
Today, his career achievements stand as a testament to the power of leaning into your unique strengths and ignoring the critics.
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Education & Qualification of Ben Askren
| Education Level | Institution |
|---|---|
| High School | Arrowhead High School (Hartland, Wisconsin) |
| College/University | University of Missouri |
| Highest Qualification | Bachelor’s Degree |
Education and athletic development went hand-in-hand for Ben Askren.
At Arrowhead High School, he laid the groundwork for his future dominance by winning multiple state championships.
However, it was at the University of Missouri where he truly blossomed into an elite tactician.
His college years did more than just provide him with a degree; they gave him the ultimate laboratory to test, refine, and perfect his “Funky” grappling system against the best athletes in the country.
This profound understanding of body mechanics and leverage became the ultimate qualification for his lifelong career in combat sports.
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Interesting Facts About Ben Askren
- Undefeated for a Decade: Ben Askren went an astonishing 10 years in professional mixed martial arts without a single defeat, dominating fighters across the globe.
- The Historic Trade: He was part of the first-ever major fighter trade in MMA history. The UFC traded former flyweight champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson to ONE Championship in exchange for Askren.
- Disc Golf Fanatic: Askren is an avid, highly competitive disc golf player. He has even sponsored tournaments and advocates heavily for the sport’s growth.
- Bitcoin Believer: Long before it was mainstream, Askren was a loud and proud advocate for Bitcoin. He frequently wore crypto-branded apparel during his fight walkouts.
- The “Funky” Origin: His nickname “Funky” comes directly from his highly unorthodox scrambling and wrestling style, which often looked awkward but was mathematically devastating.
- Olympic Pedigree: Before ever throwing a punch, he represented the United States in freestyle wrestling at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
- Author: He co-authored a book detailing his life, mindset, and the relentless pursuit of greatness on and off the wrestling mats.
- Watermelon Squeeze: Askren once famously demonstrated his crushing squeeze strength by literally crushing a watermelon with his bare arms to prove his grappling pressure.
- Academy Owner: He runs the Askren Wrestling Academy alongside his brother Max, training thousands of youths to become state and national champions.
- Hodge Trophy Winner: He is one of the rare wrestlers to win the Dan Hodge Trophy (the Heisman of college wrestling) multiple times.
FAQs
What is Ben Askren’s net worth?
As of 2026, Ben Askren’s net worth is estimated to be between $10 Million and $12 Million, thanks to his successful MMA career, lucrative boxing match, and smart cryptocurrency investments.
Where was Ben Askren born?
Ben Askren was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, but he spent his formative years and built his wrestling legacy in Wisconsin.
What is Ben Askren’s favorite food?
Ben prefers a clean, healthy diet consisting of organic meats, fresh vegetables, and whole foods to maintain his health and coaching stamina.
What is Ben Askren’s body type?
He has an athletic, stocky, and incredibly strong core build, perfectly optimized for grappling and wrestling leverage rather than pure aesthetic bodybuilding.
Did Ben Askren ever fight in the UFC?
Yes! He fought in the UFC in 2019, securing a controversial but thrilling submission victory over Robbie Lawler before facing Jorge Masvidal and Demian Maia.
Who is Ben Askren married to?
Ben Askren is happily married to his wife, Amy Askren. The couple tied the knot in 2010 and have three children together.
What is Ben Askren’s nickname?
His famous nickname is “Funky,” which he earned in college due to his bizarre but highly effective scrambling style on the wrestling mat.
Is Ben Askren a crypto investor?
Absolutely. Ben has been a massive proponent of Bitcoin and cryptocurrency for years, frequently using his social media platforms to educate his followers on digital assets.
How many times was Ben an NCAA champion?
Ben Askren was a two-time NCAA Division I National Champion during his time at the University of Missouri, absolutely dominating the 174-pound weight class.
