We’re all familiar with Hulk Hogan, The ‘Rock’ and John Cena. Perhaps it’s for the questionable movies they have acted in more than their athletic prowess, but the fact is WWE stars know how to grab public attention.
Let’s be honest… everyone’s watched a bit of wrestling at some point in their life, right? But, even if wrestling isn’t your thing, we bet you’re certainly curious to find out who some of the richest wrestlers in the world are, no? After all, everyone loves reading about celebrities who’ve raked in millions and how much their net worth is – even if it’s through a sport you may not avidly watch. Maybe it’s because having such chunky paychecks is something normal people like us can only dream of. Unless we’re fortunate enough to hit the jackpot when benefitting from an exclusive no-deposit bonus offer at an online casino. But even then, the likelihood is pretty slim!
But until you win big, we’ve researched high and low to come up with a list of the top 10 richest WWE wrestlers for 2022. So, here they are:
#1. Vince McMahon – $2.3 Billion
Topping the charts, we have the owner of the World Wrestling Entertainment company, Vince McMahon. From humble beginnings growing up in a mobile home, McMahon inherited the company from his father back in the 1980s and transformed it into the brand we know today.
While the 72-year businessman may now be worth over $2 billion and rub shoulders with the likes of Donald Trump, he has had to navigate some financial challenges to get to where he is today. For instance, he had to bounce back from being declared bankrupt in the 1970s when a major property deal he was involved in fell through.
#2. Dwayne ‘The Rock Johnson – $400 Million
While he may miss out on the top spot when it comes to the richest wrestlers, Dwayne Johnson is, in fact, the highest-paid actor in the world, where he commands at least $20 million per movie. While ‘The Rock’ may have made his fortune in Hollywood, his career started in the ring back in the 90s.
Johnson is a prime example of why it’s important to diversify your income sources. From wrestling and movie production to endorsement deals with Apple and Underarmour and investments in drinks brands, he’s not leaving revenue generation up to chance.
#3. Stephanie McMahon – $150 Million
Coming in third and representing the ladies in the ring, we have former professional wrestler Stephanie McMahon. Having recently taken the reins of the family business, she commands a net worth of $150 million. Stephanie owns around 2.5% of the WWE, and much of her fortune can be attributed to her father, Vince McMahon, who nabbed the top spot on our list.
#4. ‘Triple H’- $150 Million
Next up, we stick with the McMahon family with Triple H, who is formally known as Paul Michael Levesque. Triple H joined the McMahon empire when he married Stephanie. He’s now the executive vice-president of talent and live events at WWE, where he earns $2.8 million per year.
Although Triple H retired from wrestling back in March 2021 due to health concerns, he still has an interest in the industry. Just like The Rock, Triple H does have other income streams. From acting in films such as Inside Out and Blade: Trinity to sharing in the WWE, Triple H knows he won’t fall short.
#5. John Cena – $80 Million
John Cena entered the world of professional wrestling back in 2000, but now he’s certainly known for his work on the big screen rather than in the ring, despite the fact that he was the highest-paid wrestler once.
In addition to his film star credentials, Cena is also a TV personality and children’s author and has lucrative endorsement deals with prominent brands like Gillette and Honda. With such a diverse range of skills, it’s easy to see why John Cena joins the ranks of the world’s richest wrestlers.
#6. Steve Austin – $30 Million
Austin’s interest in the WWE franchise dates back to 1995. Although he officially retired as a wrestler back in 2003, he remains a huge presence in the wrestling world. He’s not just a referee, but was a co-general and sheriff on the Raw show till 2004. As well as hosting reality shows, Steve Austin has starred in several films, including The Expendables.
This year, Austin returned to WWE for WrestleMania and released his own brand of lager, Broken Skull Ranch. So, like his counterparts, Austin also knows how to keep busy.
#7. Hulk Hogan- $25 Million
Now for a man that we all know and love. Hulk Hogan is arguably the most famous wrestler of all time, and with a net worth of $25 million, he’s amongst the richest too. Despite spending most of his days in the ring, he has also tried his hand at acting, with his most well-known role being Thunderlips in Rocky 3.
Hulk’s finances took a knock when he divorced his wife and lost a huge proportion of his assets in the settlement, and was left on the verge of bankruptcy. Thankfully, however, he managed to bounce back when he came back to WWE as the host of Wrestlemania.
#8. Stacey Keibler – $25 Million
Retired professional wrestler and former cheerleader, Stacey has also dabbled in acting, dancing and modelling. As a woman of many talents, it’s no surprise to find her on this list. With stakes in World Championship Wrestling and the WWE, Keibler made her fortune in the ring and diversified her income streams upon retirement.
#9. Kurt Angle – $25 Million
Kurt Angle first made his mark in the wrestling world at a pro-wrestling event in 1996 which resulted in him being signed by the WWE.
At present, the American actor and retired wrestler work as a backstage producer with WWE, and it’s his interest in wrestling that’s made the greatest contribution to his net worth of $25 million.
#10. Chris Jericho – $18 Million
Last up on our list is Canadian-American professional wrestler Chris Jericho who was made famous for his appearances in the WWE ring from 1999 to 2018.
Not only does Jericho have 30 championships in the EEW, ECW and WCW under his belt, but as a musician, he also generates income through podcasts and rock concerts.
