The Riches Pro Wrestlers Of All Time

Great Riches For Pro Wrestling Stars

 

Professional wrestling has entertained us all through out the 80's an 90's, with a dozen colorful characters like Hulk Hogan, Brett hart and the The Rock. These athletes gave us action, drama, humor and combat. Events like “Wrestlemania” thrilled us to the point that  a lot of spent hundreds of dollars on pay-per-view to see who would win.

We didn’t care if it wasn't real. We didn’t want to know if Superfly jumping off the turnbuckle was rehearsed. We had guys who truly hated each other, partners that teamed up and then betrayed pone another. We wanted the storyline and the attitude. We wanted our version of reality TV at its finest hours and we cared about the ending.

We cheered for the British Bulldog, laughed with the late Rowdy Roddy Piper, hated the Iron Sheik and ripped our shirts off to be just like Hulk Hogan. There were characters from every walk of life, someone who appealed to every demographic, and it worked. It still works. Many of these men who made this industry what it is today have done very well for themselves, and they deserve every penny.  This list, in no particular order, gives you an idea as to how well some of these guys did, and are still doing.

The Rock: $70 Million

 

 

Dwayne Johnson is so incredibly well-known today for his work on the silver screen that many of his fans don’t even know that he started out as a professional wrestler. This is understandable, with a charismatic and humorous personality it's not hard to understand why we he is one likable wrestlers to step foot  in the ring, since he hasn’t wrestled since 2003. It’s scary to think that anyone who is 12 or younger wasn’t even alive the last time this guy raised his trademarked eyebrow in the ring.

At a staggering $70 Million dollars the Rock has out-earned every other wrestler that has ever jumped from the top turnbuckle. Most of that is from high profile movies like the Fast & the Furious, G.I.Joe and the Tooth fairy. Come on, you remember Dwayne in a dress from the infamous SNL Skit, right?

When he isn’t throwing punches, he is taking them. He has a daughter that he dotes on and two nephews that give him a run for his money in the workout room. One is in the NFL and the other is at UCLA. Both play football and attempt to out-bench press their famous uncle at every turn. Good luck boys.

 

Stone Cold Steve Austin: $45 Million

 

 

Steve Austin, or Stone Cold as his friends called him,  arguably one of the most badass wrestlers of all era he was one of the top wrestlers of all time in terms of popularity, box-office draw and championships won. He is even rumored to have sold more merchandise than any other wrestler, including the great Hulk Hogan, who does not appear on this list due to the shellacking he took in his divorce.

Stone Cold was the anti-hero. He was the anti-establishment bad boy. He hated the corporation, hated being told what to do and how to do it, and blazed a trail of attitude and defiance across the ring. Because of this, fans flocked to him, bought his stuff and joined his cause.

His film career has exploded, as he is know best known as the guy who kicked Sylvester Stallone’s but in the first Expendables project. He also had a run in the latest edition of Adam Sandler’s Grown-Ups 2, and has made appearances on a dozen other movies and shows. 

John Cena: $35 Million

 

Since 2005, John Cena has been the franchise player of the WWE. He is the main guy and holds the United States Championship belt. He released a rap album which debuted at number 15 on the billboard chart. He has starred in movies and made television appearances. Cena has done it all, and been paid for it very well for it all.

Professionally, John Cena has been awarded 24 championships at various levels and in different leagues. He has had 15 different reigns as a champion throughout that time. He has the 4^th highest amount of combined days as champion in the history of wrestling as a sport. His accomplishments are many, and he continues to add to the list daily.

With all of this spectacle and circumstance you would think that this guy is just a greedy, selfish money-making machine. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. John Cena is a regular donator to charity, especially the “Make-A-Wish” Foundation. This organization arranges for once in a lifetime wishes to come true for terminally ill kids. John Cena holds many titles and championships, but he will tell you that the most important record he holds is this one. He has fulfilled more wishes than any other person in “Make-A-Wish” history. Our hat is off to you for that one John.

 

 

Triple H:  $25 Million

 

 

Paul Michael Levesque decided to go with an easier to pronounce name when he got into wrestling. Unfortunately, the character name he was assigned by Vince McMahon wasn’t much better. Hunter Hearst Helmsley as he was known for exactly two bouts was quickly shortened into the iconic moniker of “Triple H.”

Triple H had a stunning Wrestling profile having played the heel most of his career as a professional wrestler. He racked up 13 championships and earned millions of dollars while he worked on his body and perfected his craft. As it turns out, all that work on his physique was actually to assist him with the second phase of his career, as a husband.

Triple H married Stephanie McMahon, of the McMahon family wrestling dynasty, in 2003. This gave him a large sway over his own career and his options increased drastically. He now serves as an executive with the WWE under his wife , and occasionally accepts a grudge match to disrobe and get back in the ring.

 

 

 

Goldberg:  $12 Million

 

 

One of the biggest names in wrestling had one of the shortest careers of them all. A former professional football player for the Rams, Falcons and Panthers, Goldberg’s NFL career ended because of a major injury. He actually had his abdominal muscles tear away from his pelvis.  Sound painful?

During his rehab, he met professional wrestlers Lex Luger and Sting, who urged him to get into the business. After a lot of contemplation and even more rehabilitation, he decided to give it a try. A short 7 years and $12 Million dollars later, it looks like he made a good decision.

Goldberg owns over 25 classic, collectable vintage automobiles. Among them are the rare but beautiful Shelby Cobra 427 and the Plymouth Hemi Cuda Convertible. He also likes to give back. He is an active animal welfare advocate and spokesman for the ASPCA. He has even addressed Congress on the importance of outlawing illegal animal fighting throughout the United States.

 

  

 

The Undertaker: $16 Million

 

 

If ever there was a wrestler who put in his time, played the bad guy when nobody else wanted to and earned his paycheck…it’s the Undertaker. He has been with the WWE since 1990 and today is their longest running active performer. In other words, he has paid his dues.

Once feared as the unknown villain, the Undertaker has become a classic character with a cult following of loyal but creepy PRO Wrestling fans. The crowd at Wrestlemania is filled with Undertaker look-alikes year after year, and some of the costumes are getting pretty outlandish. But the money maker is evident and the box office is strong, which has kept this character on Santa’s good boy list for decades.

Unlike the other members of this list that had a boat-load of help making their money numbers by starring in blockbuster films, the Undertaker has made virtually all of his money through his actual wrestling and merchandising deals. Who says hard work won’t kill you? This guy claims to be undead after all.

 

 

 

Hulk Hogan: $8 Million

 

Is there a wrestling fan anywhere out there who’s never heard of Hulk Hogan? I really don’t think so, the man is truly one of the largest star that professional wrestling has ever produced. Really, it’s not surprose to hear that he’s worth $8 million.

Hogan revolutionized wrestling in the 1980s and 1990s, which helped the WWE to grow into the mega production that it is today. His passion was obvious for all to see, and it captured the hearts of fans the world around.

Interestinly, the Hulkster used to be worth a helluva lot more thatn $8 million. He was worth $30-40 million before his divorce. He says he lost 70% of his wealth to his former wife, and was even close to bankruptcy. Damn, does anyone else feel bad for the guy?

Rey Mysterio: $8.5 Million

 

 

Most fans only know of this masked high-flying wrestler since his time in the WWE. But this guy has been around for decades, wrestling in several other promotions.

What does all this experience and talent get you? Well, lots of cash. Rey Rey is worth $8.5 million, and continues to rake in merchandising fees at 4% on all his branded gear.

Unfortunately, due to a knee injury, it is very likely that his professional career has come to an end. He spends these days at home, working hard to recover. Who knows – we may one day be lucky enough to see him step into the ring once more.