The Richest Wrestlers Who Earned the Most from Their Sports Career
May 23, 2023 Tony ChristopherThe names of the richest wrestlers always seem to be subject to speculation, especially when attendance at live events is limited due to government restrictions. Did that change the status quo in pursuing wealth, fame, and glory? Hardly anything changed except for the fact that events were live-streamed instead of attended by a live audience. In this article, we talk about the wrestlers earning the most in the industry and their most notable achievements in the money-earning game.
Richest WWE Wrestlers Who Earned the Most in a Single Year
What better way to start than to see who earned the most in a year? Money and fame are always a definite sign of a world-class star. It’s safe to say that these athletes are always the focus of the betting sites too. Everyone expects a lot from the fans, promoters, and themselves, and some crack under the heavy strain, but not these folks. They’ve managed to make millions doing what they love.
| ⛰ Dwayne Johnsson | Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has consistently been one of the highest-paid wrestlers in the world over the past decade. In 2013, he earned $46 million, which was the highest annual earnings of any wrestler at the time. From 2016 to 2021, he topped Forbes’ list of the highest-paid actors, earning tens of millions of dollars per year from his acting career. |
| 🐍 Steve Austin | “Stone Cold” Steve Austin was one of the biggest stars of the Attitude Era in WWE, and he earned high annual earnings throughout his career. In 1999, he earned an estimated $12.5 million from wrestling appearances and merchandise sales. He has also had success as an actor and television host. |
| 🏅 John Cena | Another wrestler who has consistently earned high annual earnings over the past decade is John Cena. In 2018, he was the highest-paid wrestler in the world, earning $10 million from WWE alone, and he has also had success in Hollywood with roles in movies such as Bumblebee and Daddy’s Home 2. |
| 🦈 Brock Lesnar | Brock Lesnar, also known as one of the strongest professional wrestlers, is a top-paid athlete who has earned high annual earnings from his wrestling career. In 2019, he earned $10 million from WWE, and he has also had successful runs in mixed martial arts, earning millions of dollars in fight purses. |
| 🕶 Randy Savage | Randy Savage – Although he passed away in 2011, Randy Savage was one of the highest-paid wrestlers of the 1980s and 1990s. He earned an estimated $8 million in 1991 alone, thanks to his successful wrestling career and endorsement deals with companies such as Slim Jim and Sega. |
| 🏈 Roman Reigns | Though Roman Reigns – also known by his real name Leati Joseph Anoaʻi – has not publicly disclosed the exact amount he has earned in any year, it’s safe to assume that he is very well paid. Forbes reported that he was the highest-paid wrestler in WWE in 2020, with an estimated earning of around $5 million from his base pay, bonuses, and merchandise sales. |
| 🦅 AJ Styles | AJ Styles – AJ Styles has been one of WWE’s top performers since joining the company in 2016. In 2019, he earned an estimated $3.5 million from his WWE contract and merchandise sales. He has also had success in other wrestling promotions, including New Japan Pro Wrestling and Impact Wrestling. |
| 🦁 Chris Jericho | Chris Jericho – Chris Jericho has had a long and successful career in professional wrestling, earning high annual earnings from a variety of sources. In 2019, he earned an estimated $3 million from his work in All Elite Wrestling (AEW), and he has also had success as a musician and author. |
| 🎩 The Undertaker | Mark William Calaway, better known as The Undertaker, who retired from in-ring competition in 2020, has been a top earner in WWE for many years. In 2018, he earned an estimated $2.5 million from his wrestling appearances and merchandise sales. Throughout his career, he has also had successful endorsement deals with companies such as Snickers and Subway. |
| 🐯 Lita | Lita, whose real name is Amy Dumas, has not disclosed her exact earnings for any specific year during her time with WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment). However, it is estimated that her annual salary during her peak in WWE was around $250,000 to $300,000, including her base pay, bonuses, and merchandise sales. That made her one of the best-paid female wrestlers at the time. |
The Highest-Paid Pay-Per-View Wrestlers
Pay-per-view (PPV) events are a major part of WWE’s programming, and they typically feature some of the biggest matches and storylines of the year. You can bet that one or more of the top 10 richest wrestlers in the world will always have something to do with one or more of the annual PPVs. WWE produces several PPV events each year, including some of the most popular and prestigious events in the industry, such as WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, SummerSlam, and Survivor Series.
A good example of how PPVs are a great opportunity for superstars to scoop in decent pay is Bill Goldberg, currently 56 years old. According to paywizard.org, Bill Goldberg, who was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma earned $3,000,000.00 a year between 2020 and 2023 under an exclusive contract. As a Hall of Famer, he was only required to compete in two TV matches per year, which are typically reserved for major pay-per-view events. Here are other great payday examples featuring the richest WWE wrestlers.
John Cena and The Rock (WrestleMania 28)
WrestleMania 28 was the 28th annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by WWE. It occurred on April 1, 2012, at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The show’s main event was a highly anticipated match, which had been building up for over a year, between John Cena and The Rock – two of the richest WWE wrestlers. What makes this the best-selling PPV is the record-breaking number of buys:
- 1.2 million buys
- $8.9 million in gate receipts
- $100 million to Miami budget
One can only imagine what the cut of The Rock was for emerging victorious in the match, which marked his first WWE match in over seven years. Other notable matches on the card included The Undertaker defeating Triple H in a Hell in a Cell match and CM Punk successfully defending his WWE Championship against Chris Jericho. Overall, WrestleMania 28 was a successful event that drew a large crowd and generated significant media attention.
John Cena and Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania 23, 2007)
WrestleMania 23 turned out to be another PPV masterpiece produced by WWE. It occurred on April 1, 2007, at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. The show’s main event was a championship match between John Cena and Shawn Michaels for the WWE Championship. Cena retained his championship after a hard-fought battle with Michaels. The event itself was a roaring success with a reported 1.2 million buys.
Although Mr. McMahon got his head shaved by Donald Trump, WrestleMania 23 was a highly successful event, with an attendance of over 80,000 and a record-breaking buy rate for a WWE pay-per-view at the time. No doubt, these record-breaking numbers would not have been the same without the spectacular performance that two of the richest wrestlers of all time – John Cena and Shawn Michaels – put in the ring.
The Edge vs. The Undertaker (WrestleMania 24, 2008)
Two of the richest wrestlers in the world at the time, the Edge and the Undertaker, clashed in the main event of WrestleMania 24 – a PPV event broadcast live on March 30, 2008, at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida. The championship match between Edge and The Undertaker, saw the latter win the World Heavyweight Championship.
More star power to the lineup added Raw’s triple threat match in which Randy Orton defeated Triple H and John Cena. It’s impossible to learn how much each of the five athletes took that night, but it’s safe to say that the event contributed to them being some of the richest wrestlers of all time. The pay-per-view got more than a million buys, while $5.85 was recorded in ticket sales that night.
Who is the Top Dog?
Technically, Vincent McMahon is the richest wrestler in the world with a net worth measuring $2.3 Billion in 2023. Some may say he is not a professional wrestler, and that would be correct, but he has participated in a few matches, even though his wealth is not the product of a wrestling career. One of the most memorable moments of his participation was the match with John Cena. You can relive the fond memories by watching the highlights.
Even though Vince McMahon was infamous for using trickery whenever needed and always having the biggest WWE wrestlers around him for safety reasons, that obviously has not impeded his business life. Some might argue that it may have even helped him build his empire and amass his incredible net worth.
While he is currently the majority owner and chairman of WWE, his son Shane McMahon is no slouch at business-making either. The founder and executive chairman of Ideanomics is a professional wrestler and has a net worth of around $100 million. Love him or hate him, he is one of the best-paid wrestlers on the roster.
FAQ
If you are curious about what people are asking in regard to the richest wrestlers of all time, simply check the questions and answers below. This is the right time to fill in any gaps on the topic, as we did our best to provide concise answers to each question.
1️⃣ Who is the richest wrestler in the world?
Surprisingly or not, the best-paid wrestler is the WWE chairman Vince McMahon. It's okay not to consider him a professional wrestler, but he did take part in matches vs. superstars. His massive wealth did not come from him wrestling, though, but rather from promoting wrestling.
2️⃣ Who is the No 1 richest wrestler in WWE?
It's logical to assume that the most famous WWE wrestlers would be the best-paid ones. Names like Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar have massive earnings for all the right reasons. Reigns' net worth is an estimated $18 million in 2023.
3️⃣ Who is the highest-paid WWE wrestler of all time?
The entertainment industry has been around for long enough to produce a lot of wealthy individuals, such as The Rock, Hulk Hogan, and John Cena. If we have to look at all the big names and derive a full list of the richest wrestlers, it would definitely include these three.
4️⃣ Who are the top 10 richest wrestlers in the world?
Who is getting paid what is always a pressing question for TV stars and athletes. As far as the best-paid WWE wrestlers are concerned, it's safe to assume that the Dwayne Jonson, Big Show, and Bill Goldberg are somewhere at the top of the list.
5️⃣ Who is the wrestler who's earned the most in a year?
The athlete who has earned the most in a single year from wrestling is Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. He did so in 2013 – one year after he faced off against John Cena in the main event of WrestleMania 28. This was one of his most successful years to date.
