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Professional wrestling has come a long way in America since the days of local, independent territories putting on shows as a part of the NWA. Since the expansion of the WWE (then called the WWF), wrestling has become a billion-dollar industry. Unsurprisingly, with the amount of money generated by the WWE, some wrestlers have been able to gain quite an impressive net worth during their wrestling careers. Here is a list of the 10 richest professional wrestlers on earth right now.
1. Vince McMahon: Net Worth – $ 1.6 Billion
Chairman and CEO of WWE Vince McMahon
Press conference to announced that Sun Life Stadium will host WWE’s WrestleMania XXVIII on Sunday April 1, 2012 at Fontainebleau.
Miami Beach, Florida – 09.02.11
Featuring: Chairman and CEO of WWE Vince McMahon
Where: Miami Beach, Florida, United States
When: 09 Feb 2011
Credit: WENN
Vincent McMahon is the majority owner and CEO of the WWE. While McMahon has never been a full-time wrestler, he has wrestled in numerous matches and is even a two-time world champion. McMahon gained prominence by being the first to unite the previously segmented territorial promotions into a national promotion in America. McMahon inherited the WWF (now WWE) from his father, Vincent J. McMahon and is often solely credited for the popularity of professional wrestling in America. McMahon is also the founder of the XFL, a failed football league designed to be an alternative to the NFL in the early 2000’s. In 2018, McMahon announced he would be relaunching the XFL in 2020.
2. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson: Net Worth – $220 Million
Dwayne Johnson, often known by his in-ring monicker “The Rock”, is perhaps the most well-known wrestler of all-time. Not only is Johnson often considered one of the greatest wrestlers of all-time, with 10 singles world title reigns during his career, he is also the most successful WWE superstar post-wrestling, having become one of the biggest movie stars in the world in recent years. The Rock is known as one of the only wrestlers to gain real success in acting after leaving the ring, although WWE superstar John Cena seems to be poised to be the second to do such. Between the start of 2016 and June of 2018, the Rock starred in five films that totaled almost $3.5 billion in worldwide box office earnings. Johnson is also the lead in the HBO series Ballers.
3. John Cena: Net Worth – $55 Million
John Cena during an appearance on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ John promotes the movie ‘Blockers.’
Featuring: John Cena
Where: United States
When: 05 Apr 2018
Credit: Supplied by WENN.com
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John Cena is an active professional wrestler, rapper and actor who has been one of the most well-known and decorated wrestlers for much of the 2000’s and 2010’s in the WWE. Cena 25 total championships, including 16 world titles, tied with Ric Flair for the most in WWE history. While Cena’s in-ring persona has many detractors, he is still considered to be one of the greatest superstars in the history of the WWE. Cena has also starred in many films, such as The Hangover Part III, Trainwreck, Daddy’s Home, and Ferdinand. Cena also makes regular appearances on the reality show Total Divas, which follows the lives of his fiance Nikki Bella and her sister Brie. In 2005, Cena also put out a rap album, titled You Can’t See Me. Cena has also gained notoriety for his charitable acts, granting over 500 wishes for the Make-A-Wish foundation, the most in the organization’s history.
4. Steve Austin: Net Worth – $50 Million
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin (real name Steven Williams) is one of the most popular wrestlers in the history of the WWE. Austin and his subsequent feud with Vince McMahon became the defining feature of the WWE’s Attitude Era, perhaps the peak of popularity for American professional wrestling that took place in the 1990’s and early 2000’s. Stone Cold has also appeared in several films such as The Longest Yard, The Expendables and Grown Ups 2. He also hosted the WWE produced TV series Tough Enough for five seasons.
5. Triple H: Net Worth – $40 Million
Triple H (real name Paul Levesque) is a current professional wrestler and the Vice President of Talent and Creative for the WWE. Due to a combination of his salary as an executive ($1.1 million per year) and his earnings for in-ring performances, Triple H is earns more annually than even Vince McMahon himself. In a career spanning more than two and a half decades, Triple H has become one of the most decorated wrestlers in WWE history. In addition to his in-ring prowess, Triple H has also taken a huge role behind the scenes since his marriage to Stephanie McMahon in 2003, perhaps most notably the creation of the popular televised developmental program NXT.
6. Hulk Hogan: Net Worth – $25 Million
Hulk Hogan (real name Terry Gene Bollea) is a retired professional wrestler who gained immense notoriety in 1980’s and 1990’s and became the face of American professional wrestling for over a decade. Hogan remains as one of the most known wrestlers of all-time due to both his wrestling prowess and acting career. Beginning with a prominent role in Rocky III, Hogan has starred in several films and made appearances in TV shows such as Baywatch and The A-Team. VH1 also produced a reality show around Hogan and his family, titled Hogan Knows Best, which ran for four seasons between 2005 and 2007.
7. Kurt Angle: Net Worth – $25 Million
Kurt Angle is a gold medal-winning Olympian and professional wrestler currently acting as the general manager of RAW for the WWE. Angle has won an NCAA Division I Championship and World Wrestling Championship alongside his freestyle wrestling gold medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics. Angle has also won world titles for WWE, TNA, WCW, and IWGP wrestling promotions. Angle has also starred in several films, most notably Pain & Gain and The Last Witch Hunter.
8. Big Show: Net Worth – $20 Million
Big Show (real name Paul Wight) is a current WWE wrestler and actor. Big Show is a seven-time world champion and 11-time world tag team champion. During his career with the WWE, ECW and WCW, Big Show became the only wrestler in history to hold the WWE Championship, World Heavyweight Championship, ECW World Championship and WCW Championship. Big Show is reportedly being paid $850,000 per year from his WWE contract. He has also appeared in films such as Jingle All the Way and Waterboy, as well as television shows like Burn Notice, Royal Pains and Psych.
9. Chris Jericho: Net Worth – $18 Million
Chris Jericho (real name Christopher Irvine) is a current professional wrestler competing in New Japan Pro-Wrestling and making occasional appearances in the WWE. Jericho has also worked for ECW and WCW. During what is considered to be one of the best careers in modern wrestling history, Jericho has won three world titles, three world tag team titles and is a nine-time Intercontinental Champion. Additionally, Jericho is just the fourth person in WWE history to achieve a grand slam, meaning he has won a world title, two secondary single titles and a tag team title. As of 2018, Jericho is reportedly making $750,000 a year from his WWE contract alone. Jericho is also the lead singer of the heavy-metal band Fozzy and is a former contestant on Dancing With The Stars.
10. Mick Foley: Net Worth – $18 Million
Mick Foley
WWE RAW Superstars returned to The O2 Arena with a surprise cameo appearance of wrestling legend Mick Foley as a guests referee. Seeing as local hero Sheamus wasn’t on the roster for the Dublin show WWE Superstar CM Punk grabbed a tricolour flag proclaimed himself as Irish to the delight of the fans! Wonder how proud Celt Sheamus will take that bit of news?
Featuring: Mick Foley
Where: Dublin, Ireland
When: 02 Nov 2011
Credit: WENN
Mick Foley is a retired professional wrestler who has worked for promotions such as the WWE, TNA, WCW, NWA and ECW. In a career lasting over 20 years, Foley was able to become a four-time world champion and 11-time world tag team champion. Foley had his last professional match in the summer of 2012 and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in April of 2013. Foley has also written five memoirs and four children’s book during his career and made several cameos in television and film.
