From US$40 a match to US$20 million per film: Dwayne Johnson’s incredible rise to fame – and how he spends his fortune, from eating 5,000 calories a day to buying luxury cars and homes for his family
- The Rock started his wrestling career earning just US$40 a match, but went on to star in The Mummy, the Fast and Furious franchise and more, becoming Forbes’ highest-paid actor ever listed in 2018
- He also makes bank through brand deals with Apple, Under Armour and Ford, his companies Teremana Tequila and Zoa Energy – and once splurged on a Rolex, which broke in the ring in just a week
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has had an incredible career indeed, starting out in wrestling before breaking into Hollywood – and making bank along the way.
Although much of his earnings come from brand deals, his property portfolio and other business interests, including his tequila company, the actor has pulled in millions from his screen jobs over the years, too.
Read on to find out just how this showbiz icon makes his money – and what he likes to splurge it on.
Dwayne Johnson earned US$40 a match when he started his wrestling career
Johnson wrestled under the nickname “The Rock” and forged an illustrious career between 1996 and 2004. Over his career, he was one of the top box office draws in history. But he started off only making US$40 a match, he once told Stephen Colbert.
He earned US$5.5 million for his first movie role
Once his wrestling career was coming to an end, Johnson attempted the tough transition from being a wrestling star to a movie star.
He hit the ground running by scoring a US$5.5 million payday for his role in 2001’s The Mummy Returns.
He followed that with the sequel The Scorpion King and through the early 2000s starred in modest hits like The Rundown, Be Cool and Doom.