These Are The Fortunes Of The Richest WWE Stars

They say if you do what you love, you never have to work a day in your life. What about when you get to enjoy a rewarding career and the fruits of your labor? It certainly seems as though more than a few have done that in the world of sports, especially when it comes to wrestling.

In fact, some have reaped the rewards so much that they have gone down as the richest pro wrestlers throughout the history of the sport. The question is: who has managed to outdo who outside the ring over the years?

40. Bret Hart built an incredible career for himself before a nasty concussion saw him retire

• Ring Name: Bret Hart
• Legal Name: Bret Sergeant Hart
• Years in the Ring: 1976 - 2011
• Net Worth: $7 million

Being the best there ever is, was, and will be isn’t a title that comes easily, but it’s precisely what Bret Hart managed throughout his incredible career. Of course, his feud with Shawn Michaels is part of what’s helped Bret Hart go down in history. However, it was also partly what saw him miss out on a title at SummerSlam.

Bret took on Sawn, Triple H, and Vince McMahon during his WWE run, starting in the 1980s and going all the way through until 1997. Sadly, Bret’s time signed with the WCE also came with horrible booking decisions, with the wrestler forced to retire in 2000 after Goldberg landed a nasty kick, with Bret making sporadic appearances until 2011.

39. Wade Barrett is still a part of the WWE despite retiring several years ago

• Ring Name: Wade Barrett
• Legal Name: Stuart Alexander Bennett
• Years in the Ring: 2004 - 2016
• Net Worth: $7 million

He might have retired at 35 in 2016, but Wade Barrett’s legacy continues to date. The wrestler spent ten years with the WWE, where he was a main fighter. However, he never got his hands on a world title. That doesn’t mean Wade’s a pushover - far from it. His time as a bare-knuckle boxer in England certainly proved that.

Amazingly, his bare-knuckle fighting was Wade’s main income boost, with the WWE perhaps offering him a chance to retire. Here, he was offered the opportunity to star in a WWE Studios-produced movie and suddenly learned about the joys of acting. Thankfully, Wade returned to the WWE in 2020, this time working as a color commentator.

38. Boosting his income with voice acting means Sheamus still has plenty left to give

• Ring Name: Sheamus
• Legal Name: Stephen Farrelly
• Years in the Ring: 2002 - Present
• Net Worth: $7 million

Hailing for Ireland is none other than Sheamus, known as Stephen Farrelly outside of the ring to his friends and family. Thankfully, his run with the WWE has seen the wrestler go from strength to strength. In fact, in 2018, just 15 WWE Superstars made at least $1 million in revenue, with Sheamus just making the cut.

He might be in his 40s, but Sheamus is still fighting fit, now working more on his time as a tag wrestler than his solo career, allowing for a longer run and more paydays to come. Although wrestling is still his primary income, Sheamus, like many others, now uses his thick Irish accent to help land several voice acting roles.

37. Jerry Lawler continues to perform over 50 years after stepping into the ring

• Ring Name: Jerry Lawler
• Legal Name: Jerry O’Neil Lawler
• Years in the Ring: 1970 - Present
• Net Worth: $7 million

All hail The King! Jerry Lawler will forever go down in history, especially after being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, thanks to his long-running career that has seen him fight it out in the ring since 1970. Over five decades later, Jerry is still lacing up his boots at 73 years old, with no end in sight.

Amazingly, this comes after Jerry had an on-air heart attack and behind-the-scenes strokes. Of course, his appearances have been a little sporadic in recent years, with Jerry also boosting his income with color commentary. To make matters better, his biggest paycheck came from taking on Michael Cole for 13 minutes, with Jerry netting $130,000 for the match.

36. Even an injury didn’t stop Dean Ambrose from bringing home over $2 million in 2018

• Ring Name: Jon Moxley / Dean Ambrose
• Legal Name: Jonathan David Good
• Years in the Ring: 2004 - Present
• Net Worth: $7 million

For years, people knew this wrestler as Dean Ambrose after his long and lucrative run with the WWE. This was a long way to come for the wrestler, who dropped out of high school before making a name for himself. In 2017, Dean racked up incredible performance bonuses and more events than another other Superstar, netting $2.7 million.

Sadly, an injury saw Dean step out of the ring for most of 2018, but the wrestler still collected $2.2 million for the four months of wrestling he managed. In 2019, the wrestler switched to AEW and has been wrestling under the name Jon Moxley ever since, with plenty excited to see what the star can offer.

35. A lot of Sting’s income is thanks to his merchandise endeavors

• Ring Name: Sting
• Legal Name: Steve Borden
• Years in the Ring: 1985 - Present
• Net Worth: $8 million

Not to be confused with the singer of the same name, who has a net worth of over $300 million, wrestler Sting still has an impressive $8 million to his name. Earning the title of Most Popular Wrestler during his WCW run no fewer than four times goes to show just how much of an impact Sting has made.

For years, Sting’s merchandise has long boosted his income, with the wrestler bringing in several million dollars for his matches. However, moving to the WWE at 59 years old in 2014 proved Sting’s body might have had enough, lasting under a year before suffering a career-ending injury. Still, Sting is currently signed to AEW and continually makes sporadic appearances.

34. Kevin Nash was once one of WCW’s highest-paid wrestlers in the ring

• Ring Name: Kevin Nash
• Legal Name: Kebin Scott Nash
• Years in the Ring: 1990 - 2020
• Net Worth: $8 million

Did you know Kevin Nash didn’t start his athletic career in the ring? Oh no, this wrestler was a basketball player and had a short stint overseas before finding his true calling in life. Standing at seven feet tall certainly means Nash has a presence in the ring unlike most others, quickly becoming one of WCW’s highest-paid stars in 2000.

Bringing in $1.8 million was a huge feat for wrestlers at the time, with Nash knowing when it was time to step out of the ring and into a new career. Now, Nash spends most of his time acting, having appeared in some big-budget movies, such as the drama comedy ‘Magic Mike’ franchise and the action thriller ‘John Wick.’

33. Transitioning to yoga has seen DDP find a new passion in life

• Ring Name: Diamond Dallas Page
• Legal Name: Page Joseph Falkinburg
• Years in the Ring: 1988 - 2020
• Net Worth: $8 million

It took until he was 35 for Diamond Dallas Page to step into the ring, but it was a moment that changed his life. In fact, DDP was even the one to team up with the unlikely celebrity appearance of Jay Leno in the ring, with the wrestler being in some of the highest-profile tag matches of the time.

However, DDP had another passion in life. One year after signing with the WWE, the wrestler started his own yoga business, DDP Yoga, that has spread across videos, infomercials, and books, with the star wanting to entice “regular guys” into the sport. DDP officially retired in 2020 but continues to work on his multi-million-dollar yoga company today.

32. Several head injuries once threatened to end Daniel Bryan’s wrestling career early

• Ring Name: Daniel Bryan
• Legal Name: Bryan Lloyd Danielson
• Years in the Ring: 1999 - Present
• Net Worth: $8 million

Going from one of the indie underdogs to one of the WWE’s most popular wrestlers to an early retirement was something no one saw on the cards for Daniel Bryan. However, nothing was set to hold him back. In 2015, Daniel was forced to step out of the ring after several head injuries put his life in danger.

Thankfully, the fan-favorite made his return three years later, making $700,000 for his on-camera appearances during his wrestling absence. The number has since shot up to the $2 million mark for his base salary, with Daniel continuing to show what the sport is all about. Fun fact: Daniel is also married to retired wrestler Brie Bella.

31. CM Punk took a break from wrestling to compete in the UFC before returning in 2021

• Ring Name: CM Punk
• Legal Name: Phillip Jack Brooks
• Years in the Ring: 1999 - Present
• Net Worth: $8 million

He might have been growing an incredible career with the WWE, but that didn’t stop CM Punk from looking for bigger and brighter things on the horizon. Like many other wrestlers, that came in the form of MMA, with CM Punk quickly making it his mission to become the Ultimate Fighting Champion, quitting the WWE as a result in 2014.

Sadly, things work out, with CM Punk earning a pretty disastrous track record in the UFC. When he left the WWE, CM Punk was bringing in $1.2 million a year and had a personal tour bus, which might be why he returned to wrestling in 2021. This time, he signed with AEW, quickly becoming a two-time World Champion.

30. The Miz’s paycheck has finally caught up to his popularity in wrestling

• Ring Name: The Miz
• Legal Name: Michael Gregory Mizanin
• Years in the Ring: 2003 - Present
• Net Worth: $9 million

Some wrestlers are instant hits as soon as they step into the ring. Others quickly learn they will have to work hard if they want to turn their reputations around. Then there’s The Miz. While it might have taken a while, the WWE finally realized his worth - and popularity - in recent years, with The Miz earning a huge profit boost.

As a result, The Miz is now worth $9 million, earning $2.5 million a year as his base salary, plus travel and accommodation. Thankfully, The Miz is beloved by fans and other wrestlers, something that’s often rare in the sport. In fact, he’s so beloved that The Miz has landed several TV and hosting roles alongside his wrestling.

29. A boost in income hasn’t seen the money go to Seth Rollins’ head

• Ring Name: Seth Rollins
• Legal Name: Colby Lopez
• Years in the Ring: 2005 - Present
• Net Worth: $9 million

Being one of the newer wrestlers hasn’t stopped several contract negotiations from helping Seth Rollins really find his footing in the world of wrestling. By 2017, Seth was bringing home $2.4 million, alongside a cut of merchandise sales. However, the following year, his base pay was raised to $3 million - minus a cut of merchandise sales.

Nowadays, Seth enjoys being one of the WWE’s top-paid wrestlers, bringing home $4 million in 2020, alongside a $200,000 bonus for any pay-per-view events he takes part in. Amazingly, it seems Seth didn’t use his money to live a lavish life, instead preferring to spend his time opening a coffee shop in his hometown in Iowa.

28. Kane’s income now gets a surprising boost from his time in politics

• Ring Name: Kane
• Legal Name: Glenn Thomas Jacobs
• Years in the Ring: 1992 - Present
• Net Worth: $9 million

Kane is more than just a name in the WWE - he’s a legend. After all, the wrestler has appeared in more than 1,800 matches in the franchise, far more than anyone else. To top things off, Kane has competed in more pay-per-view events than any other WWE wrestler, with each offering a hefty PPV bonus.

He might have been working as a part-time wrestler in recent years, but 2018 alone still saw Kane taking home $900,000 a year for his work. That’s not all. While many wrestlers eventually transition to commentary work or acting gigs, Kane decided to use his spare time on politics, becoming mayor of Knox County, Tennessee, in 2018.

27. John Bradshaw Layfield has enjoyed plenty of profits since turning his hand to business

• Ring Name: John Bradshaw Layfield
• Legal Name: John Charles Layfield
• Years in the Ring: 1992 - 2009
• Net Worth: $9 million

Some wrestlers want to have it all, but few have actually managed to pull it off. That was until John Bradshaw Layfield came along. What started as life on the football field quickly transitioned to wrestling in the ring before John hung up his boots once and for all in 2009, instead spending his time as a businessman.

Still, John earned his reputation through tag-team wrestling before turning his attention to main events earning almost $1 million a year as a result. However, John might have actually enjoyed a more lucrative career through his businesses, often appearing on new networks and even releasing his own book about financial management to boost his $9 million net worth.

26. Joey Styles has an incredible net worth despite never performing with the WWE

• Ring Name: Joey Styles
• Legal Name: Joseph Carmine Bonsignore
• Years in the Ring: 1992 - 2016
• Net Worth: $9 million

He might not be a name people expect to see on a list of the wealthiest professional wrestlers, but there’s no denying Joey Styles has made quite the income for himself over the years - despite the fact he’s never stepped foot in the ring as a performer. Instead, Joey earned his WWE reputation through his commentary.

He worked with the franchise for a year before Joey became a WWE executive and quickly rose through the ranks as the head of Digital Media Content. For years, Joey offered his insight into the sport and earned several fans as a result. However, his run with the WWE came to an end in 2016 when Joey was let go.

25. Moving to the WWF saw Gene Okerland earn an incredible contract as a commentator

• Ring Name: Gene Okerlund
• Legal Name: Eugene Arthur Okerlund
• Years in the Ring: 1970 - 2018
• Net Worth: $9 million

It turns out there is more of a connection between Mean Gene Okerlund and Hulk Hogan than many realize. The pair are often associated with one another, with Gene able to thank the wrestler for his vast fortune. In 1983, the pair made a move from the AWA to the WWE, known as the WWF at the time.

Here, they both received some large guaranteed contacts, with Gene himself snapping up more than $300,000 a year - more than several powerhouses in the sport at the time. In fact, Gene was taking home more than most other commentators, with his years of loyalty seeing the commentator make several appearances until he passed away in 2019.

24. Pat Patterson created incredible wrestling matches and a legacy that will never be forgotten

• Ring Name: Pat Patterson
• Legal Name: Pierre Clermont
• Years in the Ring: 1958 - 1984
• Net Worth: $10 million

Being known as Vince McMahon’s right-hand man was enough to see Pat Patterson earn quite the financial reward. After all, he spent a quarter of a decade working as a performer, producer, commentator, and referee within the sport, with Pat winning the Hardcore Championship at the turn of the century at the impressive age of 59 years old.

Still, it’s Pat’s time working behind the scenes, including the fact he was the one to create the Royal Rumble match, that really saw him go down in wrestling history. Breaking barriers as an openly LGBTQ wrestler earned the star plenty of fans, but sadly, it came to an end in December 2020 when Pat passed away at 79.

23. Kevin Von Erich did incredible things to keep his family name alive in wrestling

• Ring Name: Kevin Von Erich
• Legal Name: Kevin Ross Adkisson
• Years in the Ring: 1976 - 2017
• Net Worth: $10 million

The Von Erich Curse is alive and real, with Kevin Von Erich now the sole survivor of the Von Erich family. Sadly, the wrestler saw all five of his brothers lose their lives at incredibly young ages, but he has done more than enough to ensure his family’s name is never forgotten within the sport.

Believe it or not, but Kevin only performed in one WWE match. Still, he did star in his father’s promotion he founded, World Class Championship Wrestling. He eventually took over the promotion in 2006, with Kevin making a lot of money from selling the rights of the WCCW to WWE and his commercial real estate across Hawaii.

22. David Otunga has the shortest run in the ring of any of the wealthiest professional wrestlers

• Ring Name: David Otunga
• Legal Name: David Daniel Otunga
• Years in the Ring: 2009 - 2015
• Net Worth: $10 million

Getting a late start in wrestling didn’t mean David Otunga was about to enjoy years in the ring, as he retired when he was just 35 years old, giving him the shortest run of any of the wealthiest professional wrestlers in the world. Still, what David lacked in the ring he’s more than made up for on the outside.

Here, David worked as an attorney for years after graduating from Harvard Law School and even dabbled in acting before making his way to the WWE later in life. Even since retiring from the sport in 2015, David has continued to work as a commentator in wrestling, boosting his net worth to an impressive $10 million.

21. His large frame and wrestling style means André the Giant will never be forgotten

• Ring Name: André the Giant
• Legal Name: André René Roussimoff
• Years in the Ring: 1964 - 1992
• Net Worth: $10 million

Wrestling has long been about putting on a performance, with André the Giant perhaps one of the best at doing just that. Often billed as a “special attraction,” the seven-foot star always knew how to dominate the ring throughout his matches. It all began in the ‘60s, with André being a part of wrestling long before first-class flights.

His 500-pound frame meant the wrestler had to purchase two seats to fit on a plane, with André becoming the biggest wrestler of his time before he passed away. He was the highest-paid wrestler of all time, earning $400,00 a year - around $2 million in today’s money - but that tragically ended in 1993 when André passed at 46.

20. Not branching out from wrestling means Randy Orton currently only has one income

• Ring Name: Randy Orton
• Legal Name: Randal Keith Orton
• Years in the Ring: 2000 - Present
• Net Worth: $11 million

When you learn Randy Orton is the third highest-paid wrestler on the WWE’s books, you might wonder why his net worth isn’t as high as several other professional wrestlers in the world. That’s all because he has never branched out into other ventures, meaning all of his income currently comes through his wrestling career alone.

Still, it’s nothing to scoff at, with Randy taking home an impressive $4.1 million in 2020. This also comes with the perks of plenty of vacation days and a limited wrestling schedule. To top things off, Randy gets a cut of all merchandise sales, free travel and accommodation, and revenue from any pay-per-views he appears in.

19. Roman Reigns just misses out on being the highest-paid WWE wrestler

• Ring Name: Roman Reigns
• Legal Name: Leati Joseph Anoa’i
• Years in the Ring: 2010 - Present
• Net Worth: $12 million

He might have only joined the sport just over a decade ago, but Roman Reigns has achieved incredible things in that time. Being regarded as one of the best current professional wrestlers, teamed with being the longest-reigning WWE Universal Champion, means Roman isn’t going anywhere any time soon. Amazingly, that is even after battling leukemia during his football career.

Roman has practically been the face of the WWE since he joined the franchise and continues to wow the crowd with his moves. As well as being the second-highest-paid WWE wrestler - bringing home $5 million a year - being a full-time performer means Roman takes the top spot in that category, with everything boosted by merchandise sales.

18. Jeff Hardy has grown to become the far wealthier of the Hardy Brothers

• Ring Name: Jeff Hardy
• Legal Name: Jeffrey Nero Hardy
• Years in the Ring: 1993 - Present
• Net Worth: $12 million

While some people want to break away from their family name, Jeff Hardy has used this to his advantage. After all, the wrestler and his older brother, Matt, have spent their entire careers working together. Still, only one could be the better paid - and more famous - of the pair, with Jeff taking home that title.

Pulling in $2 million a year from the WWE is phenomenal compared to Matt’s $320,000 annual salary. Although there was a time they were on more equal footing, Jeff has since seen his net worth boosted even further with the $200,000 bonuses he gets from every pay-per-view match he competes in, resulting in a worth of $12 million.

17. Her incredible career means Ronda Rousey has the highest net worth of any female wrestler

• Ring Name: Ronda Rousey
• Legal Name: Ronda Jean Rousey
• Years in the Ring: 2018 - Present
• Net Worth: $12 million

While several performers go from wrestling to the UFC, Ronda Rousey has done things a little differently. In fact, her career began many years ago as an Olympic judo champion. That was before she transitioned to mixed martial arts and ultimately made her way to the WWE in 2018, where Ronda has been ever since.

Even then, Ronda’s final two UFC fights - both losses - earned her a staggering $10 million, with the wrestler’s WWE salary coming in at $1.5 million when she first signed with the franchise. She might not be the highest-paid female wrestler, but her incredible career has seen Ronda become the one with the highest net worth at $12 million.

16. For years, people believed Edge would never wrestle again after sustaining several injuries

• Ring Name: Edge
• Legal Name: Adam Joseph Copeland
• Years in the Ring: 1992 - Present
• Net Worth: $14 million

When he was 23 years old, Edge had a much different career in the WWE. Here, he worked as a jobber, meaning it was his role to make the other wrestler look good, earning Edge just $210 a week. Now, everything has changed, with Edge one of the wrestlers with the highest net worth of the moment.

His work ethic - and the backing of Hall of Fame broadcaster Jim Ross - has seen Edge rise through the ranks, with Ross offering the wrestler a $40,000 signing bonus when he finally signed professionally with the WWE. Nine years after returning from several neck injuries, Edge made his grand return and has been wrestling ever since.

15. Bill Goldberg has long been one of the highest-paid wrestlers per match

• Ring Name: Bill Goldberg
• Legal Name: William Scott Goldberg
• Years in the Ring: 1997 - Present
• Net Worth: $14 million

If you’re looking for wrestlers who earn the most per wrestling match, look no further than Bill Goldberg. The wrestler had an incredible run during his initial time in the ring, spending six years with the WCW to get things kicked off. Although Bill, for a time, wanted to be a professional football star, that all changed.

WWE buying out WCW saw Bill become the highest-paid performer, earning $2.5 million a year. For a time, his career was over. However, 12 years after retiring and after being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018, Bill made his grand return, now earning $3 million a year and reaping the rewards of his TV career.

14. Working on his own wrestling franchise has seen Jeff Jarrett earn most of his income

• Ring Name: Jeff Jarrett
• Legal Name: Jeffrey Leonard Jarrett
• Years in the Ring: 1986 - Present
• Net Worth: $15 million

2018 was a big year for several prominent names in the sport, as Jeff Jarrett was finally inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. However, much of his grand fortune hasn’t come from his time in the ring. Instead, it’s Jeff’s work making the number two wrestling franchise in the US, Impact Wrestling, formerly called Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.

Jeff built the franchise with his father after Vince McMahon famously fired him from the WWE. Even now, the WWE has been accused of stealing ideas from Jeff’s incredible franchise, with the wrestler ultimately leaving to work on Global Force Wrestling instead. Now, Jeff uses his time in the ring with AEW, also working as Director of Business Development.

13. His acting career has been far more lucrative for Dave Bautista than his wrestling

• Ring Name: Dave Bautista
• Legal Name: David Micahel Bautista Jr.
• Years in the Ring: 1999 - 2019
• Net Worth: $16 million

Age seemingly means nothing when it comes to wrestling, as the legend that is Dave Bautista didn’t make his debut with the WWE until he was 33. Still, he has enjoyed plenty of success away from the ring throughout his career, especially when it comes to his acting work. What about Dave’s incredible time in the ring?

The wrestler began his career in 1999, with the WWE immediately offering first-class flights to every match. Although he has been offered several chances to return to the franchise in that time, Dave has always turned them down. After all, he makes much more money from his acting roles, especially his time in the superhero ‘Avengers’ franchise.

12. Shawn Michaels’ popularity meant he was once the face of the WWE

• Ring Name: Shawn Michaels
• Legal Name: Michael Shawn Hickenbottom
• Years in the Ring: 1984 - 2018
• Net Worth: $17 million

There are plenty of people who have Shawn Michaels to thank for acting as inspiration for their own careers. After all, it didn’t take long for the wrestler to become a fan favorite across the nation for fans of the WWE. Throughout his 30 years with the franchise, Shawn even worked both in the ring and behind the scenes.

For a time, Shawn was the true face of the WWE, especially after becoming a four-time World Champion in the sport. The popularity came with plenty of perks, but Shawn still retired a handful of times throughout his career. His final came in 2010, with a one-off final match in 2018 marking Shawn’s last time in the ring.

11. Creating an entire brand for himself really paid off for The Undertaker

• Ring Name: The Undertaker
• Legal Name: Mark William Calaway
• Years in the Ring: 1987 - 2020
• Net Worth: $17 million

It’s hard to find someone as instantly recognizable as The Undertaker. The wrestler is one of the more recent retirees, but his legacy even saw Triple H once refer to the star as the greatest superstar the WWE has ever seen. His moves helped The Undertaker create an incredible brand and persona for himself, but that’s not all.

Much of his final years in the ring were spent as a part-time performer, with The Undertaker taking to the ring to show off his moves in major matches, such as WrestleMania. Sadly, the part-time schedule also came with a part-time paycheck, earning The Undertaker $2 million a year before the wrestler hung up his boots for good in 2020.

10. Mick Foley was always known for his incredible dedication to his stories

• Ring Name: Mick Foley
• Legal Name: Michael Francis Foley
• Years in the Ring: 1983 - 2012
• Net Worth: $18 million

It’s tough to find a wrestler that ever quite puts on performances like Mick Foley. The wrestler was always known for his extreme shows, thinking nothing about being hit with a baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire or thrown through tables that were on fire. Every match he was in was a show, with Mick now reaping the benefits.

Of course, being one of the more hardcore performers meant all eyes were on Mick throughout his career. It also means plenty can’t get enough of the wrestler’s stories, with Mick selling several autobiographies about his life in the ring. To top it off, the former wrestler also tours the nation telling his stories to live crowds.

9. His music makes up a large portion of Chris Jericho’s net worth

• Ring Name: Chris Jericho
• Legal Name: Christopher Keith Irvine
• Years in the Ring: 1990 - Present
• Net Worth: $18 million

It’s not uncommon for wrestlers to use their stardom to step into the world of acting. However, Chris Jericho has something else up his sleeve: music. The wrestler has been a part of the heavy metal band Fozzy since 1999, with their music really helping to boost his net worth. Of course, it makes things a little difficult.

Scheduling his wrestling around his touring means Chris is often doing just one or the other at a time, meaning we can sometimes be left waiting to see him in the ring. However, that hasn’t stopped him from branching out even further. That’s because TV work, a comedy web series, and an autobiography have all kept Chris busy.

8. Signing lengthy contracts means Big Show often has a constant income

• Ring Name: Big Show
• Legal Name: Paul Donald Wight II
• Years in the Ring: 1994 - Present
• Net Worth: $20 million

What happens when you stand seven feet tall and weigh more than 450 pounds? If you’re anything like Big Show, you earn the title of the World’s Largest Athlete. Of course, being so large means Big Show always knows how to steal the attention of the room, even earning himself a ten-year contract with WWE in the ‘90s.

The wrestler was one of many to reap the benefits of such a stage presence, with many thinking of Big Show as one of the modern-day novelty acts, hailing back to the days of André the Giant. That hasn’t seen him lose any popularity. In 2018, WWE signed another three-year contract with Big Show for $850,000 a year.

7. Turning down a ten-year WWE contract was almost a big mistake for Kurt Angle

• Ring Name: Kurt Angle
• Legal Name: Kurt Steven Angle
• Years in the Ring: 1998 - 2019
• Net Worth: $25 million

Winning multiple gold medals at the Olympics meant great things were destined to come Kurt Angle’s way. In 1996, after the Summer Olympics, Kurt was looking for a new direction for his freestyle wrestling. However, realizing there was no money in the sport saw him turn from freestyle to professional wrestler. At least, that’s what he thought.

Kurt was offered a ten-year contract with WWE in the ‘90s but initially rejected the idea. By the time he realized it was the best deal, it was off the table. Instead, Kurt had to work his way through the ranks like everyone else, earning him a lot of praise from Triple H. That was until Kurt’s retirement in 2019.

6. A costly divorce saw Hulk Hogan lose a huge amount of his riches

• Ring Name: Hulk Hogan
• Legal Name: Terry Gene Bollea
• Years in the Ring: 1977 - 2012
• Net Worth: $25 million

We’ll give you a minute to think of a wrestler more prominent than Hulk Hogan. The man was one of the first to take his fame in the ring and turn it into a lifestyle, once earning more than most others who ever stepped into the ring. However, Hulk’s riches were also his downfall, as they offered a luxurious lifestyle.

In 2009, a divorce saw Hulk have to pay $30 million and hand over 70% of his assets to his ex-wife, but that’s not all. Being the highest-paid WWE wrestler in the ‘80s and highest-paid WCW wrestler in the ‘90s certainly topped up his bank account, with several failed business ventures eating into Hulk’s grand fortune over the years.

5. Brock Lesnar has tried his hand at just about every sport over the years

• Ring Name: Brock Lesnar
• Legal Name: Brock Edward Lesnar
• Years in the Ring: 2000 - Present
• Net Worth: $28 million

When learning everything Brock Lesnar has done, it might be little surprise that he has a net worth of $28 million. From making it in the WWE to trying to become an NFL star to mixed martial arts to returning to the WWE to returning to MMA to, once again, heading to the WWE, Brock has done it all.

Still, his time with the WWE has paid off the most for Brock over the years, as he is now the highest-paid in the franchise, earning $10 million a year. That’s not all, as Brock has even returned to the UFC, making $3 million in recent fights. While he might be known to bounce around, things are paying off.

4. There was a time Steve Austin was all people could talk about in WWE

• Ring Name: Steve Austin
• Legal Name: Steve James Anderson
• Years in the Ring: 1989 - 2003
• Net Worth: $45 million

Stone Cold Steve Austin was once the one to watch in the ring. His legendary moves, including the Stone Cold Stunner, made him a force to be reckoned with, with many fans thinking the WWE hasn’t been the same since his retirement in 2003. Still, Steve continues to be a part of the sport all these years later.

While he’s nowhere near making the $5 million annually that he was during his time in the ring, appearing in various movies, TV shows, and even his own reality series has certainly paid off. Plus, Steve has often returned as a guest referee and general manager in the WWE, meaning he’s always a part of the action.

3. Branching into acting has seen John Cena’s net worth explode

• Ring Name: John Cena
• Legal Name: John Felix Anthony Cena Jr.
• Years in the Ring: 1999 - Present
• Net Worth: $60 million

Would you believe John Cena has been a part of the wrestling world for almost 25 years? Even today, he is still going strong and has learned how to branch out into other ventures thanks to many of the greats who have come before him. After all, John Cena is now no stranger to acting, largely thanks to Vince McMahon.

WWE Studios was the one behind John’s first three movies before he started working with more established names. However, being a part-time wrestler and full-time actor does come with its perks. As well as having a net worth of $60 million, John is also known as one of the WWE’s top performers, even all these years later.

2. Triple H finally hung up his boots in 2022 after decades of performing

• Ring Name: Triple H
• Legal Name: Paul Michael Levesque
• Years in the Ring: 1992 - 2022
• Net Worth: $150 million

Being the son-in-law of Vince Mcmahon has seen Triple H transition perfectly from a wrestling superstar in the ring to a man working behind the scenes. It’s also paid pretty well, with Triple H receiving $1.5 million a year in 2017 for his wrestling and another $650,000 for working as the Executive Vice President of Talent.

By the end of his career, Triple H was earning a whopping $3.3 million for his part-time wrestling career, but it finally came to an end in 2022. While he might have retired from matches, Triple H is still one of the most humble and supportive wrestlers in the franchise, often helping other wrestlers get their start and recognition.

1. The Rock is easily the wrestler with the highest net worth of them all

• Ring Name: The Rock
• Legal Name: Dwayne Douglas Johnson
• Years in the Ring: 1996 - 2019
• Net Worth: $320 million

No wrestler has made a name for themselves quite like The Rock. His wrestling career started all the way back in 1996, but by 2016, Forbes named him as the highest-paid actor of the year. Still, it might be tough to find someone who deserves it more than the star, as The Rock had to work his way from nothing.

The former wrestler has made it no secret that he had just $7 in his pocket when he started wrestling, something that ultimately served as inspiration for The Rock’s production company, Seven Bucks Productions. As well as being a beloved star around the world, The Rock has truly taken Hollywood by storm in ways no one ever thought were possible.