Mike Tyson paid $50,000 each for his famous pet tigers and kept them until one ‘ripped someone’s arm off’ and cost him $250,000 in compensation

   

Mike Tyson was the proud owner of three pet tigers in the 1990s and 2000s, having paid $50,000 each for the trio.

Throwback to when Mike Tyson helped the referee hold his rival up after  thunderous knockout sent him

At the peak of his powers as boxing's undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, 'Iron' Mike had pretty much everything money could buy.

Tyson had three tiger cubs and kept one into adulthood

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Tyson had three tiger cubs and kept one into adulthoodCredit: Getty

However, as a result of a chance meeting one day, he even managed to acquire a selection of pets that are normally out of reach regardless of how big your bank account might be.

Tyson owned three white tigers at one point in time, keeping them in his home when they were cubs.

As they got bigger, he donated two of the animals to a sanctuary, while continuing to keep one for 16 years.

Asked how he got his tigers, Tyson said on his Hotboxin' Podcast: "Black market.

Throwback to when Mike Tyson left his opponent Michael Johnson's face disfigured with earth-shattering punch to score frightening 40-second KO back in 1985

"This guy was selling them and said, 'I can get you a full grown one for $70,000 or I can get a small one for like $50,000.'

"So I got the baby. I get the baby, we feed the baby with a bottle and then eventually she's 400lbs.

"And then you figure out - how do I get rid of this motherf***er?!"

Asked if they were ever aggressive, he replied: "Not to me. Never to me."

A young Tyson was one of the most feared fighters all over the world

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A young Tyson was one of the most feared fighters all over the worldCredit: Getty

Previously, Tyson explained the story of why he had to eventually get rid of the tiger he kept for 16 years.

He revealed in a GQ interview “I had to get rid of her when her eyes and her head got bad.

“Oh and she ripped somebody’s arm off.”

It had been rumoured that Tyson's tiger jumped over a fence and attacked a neighbour.

Tyson's tigers loved him, but didn't take kindly to tresspassers

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Tyson's tigers loved him, but didn't take kindly to tresspassersCredit: Getty

However, when asked about this Tyson clarified: “No, that’s not what happened.

“Somebody jumped over my fence where the tiger was and jumped in their habitat and started playing with the tiger.

“And the tiger didn’t know the lady so it was a bad accident.

“She jumped in the property where the tiger was at.

“They tried to [sue me] until they found out she jumped over the fence and she trespassed the tiger.

“And listen, when I saw what the tiger did to her hand, I had a lot of money back then, so I gave her $250,000 or whatever it was.

“Because she was just f***ed up.”

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Tyson lives a far calmer life in middle age these days with not a single tiger in sight.

However, he will be returning to the boxing ring this year as he is set to fight Jake Paul on November 15.