Watching a World Wresting Entertainment (WWE) fight is like watching a very well choreographed dance featuring large, burly men in very tiny tights. It’s entertaining, it’s physical, and if you’re lucky, it’s lucrative. In the mid 1990′s wrestlers were akin to super heroes. Their super-human strength, over-the-top costumes, and villains versus heroes story lines made for compelling television. While most wrestlers are lucky to end up with a few concussions and a life-long health plan, other wrestlers are fortunate enough to have legions of devoted fans and a lot of cheddar. These are some of the richest wrestlers in the world:
5) Stephanie McMahon: $25 million
Pictured: Stephanie McMahon
Stephanie McMahon Levesque is an American corporate executive and Chief Branding Officer for World Wrestling Entertainment. She is the daughter of the WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon and United States Senate candidate Linda McMahon. Stephanie regularly appears on-air with her husband Triple H (COO of WWE). They play a tyrannical, sadistic couple that torments other wrestlers while Stephanie and Triple H engage in public displays of affection.
4) John Cena: $35 million
Pictured: John Cena
John Felix Anthony Cena is an American professional wrestler, bodybuilder, actor, and rapper. He is currently the World Heavyweight Champion in his third reign in the WWE. Outside of professional wrestling Cena released a rap album You Can’t See Me that debuted at number 15 on the Billboard 200 chart. He has also starred in the films The Marine, 12 Rounds, and Legendary.
3) Steve Austin: $45 million
Pictured: Steve Austin
Steven James Williams, better known as “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, is an American actor, producer, and retired WWE wrestler. At the height of his career Austin was known as a beer-drinking anti-hero who constantly fought with his boss, Vince McMahon. Regardless, McMahon declared Austin to be the most profitable wrestler in the history of the WWE. Austin has appeared in movies such as Knockout, The Expendables, The Longest Yard, and Grown Ups 2.
2) Dwayne Johnson: $70 million
Pictured: Dwayne Johnson
Dwayne Douglas Johnson, also known as the rock, is an American actor and semi-retired WWE wrestler. Johnson is known as one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. He had 17 championship reigns and 10 world titles with the WWE. His book, The Rock Says… was published in 2000 and debuted at #1 on The New York Times Best Seller list. He is currently a successful actor with roles in films such as The Scorpion King, The Game Plan, The Rundown, Be Cool, Tooth Fairy, The Other Guys, Fast Five, and Fast & Furious 6.
1) Vince McMahon: $500 million
Pictured: Vince McMahon
Vincent Kennedy “Vince” McMahon Jr. is an American professional wrestling promoter, commentator, announcer, actor, and occasional wrestler. He is currently the Chairman and CEO of the WWE. In the ring, McMahon plays a character known as Mr. McMahon—a two-time world champion wrestler and winner of the 1999 Royal Rumble. In 2001, McMahon purchased long-time rival promotion World Championship Wrestling from AOL Time Warner. McMahon has a $12 million penthouse in Manhattan, a $40 million mansion inn Greenwich, Connecticut, and a 47-foot yacht named Sexy Bitch. In 2001 Forbes estimated his net worth at $1.1 billion, but he has since dropped off the list.
