How Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Went From Having $7 To His Name To Earning An Estimated $800M Net Worth

For those of a particular age, certain cultural moments immediately evoke nostalgia. Undoubtedly, one of those moments is best wrapped up in Dwyane “The Rock” Johnson’s coined phrase: “If you smell what The Rock is cooking.”

For years, the WWE wrestler would taunt his opponents and captivate the audience through what was once described as the most electrifying move in sports entertainment: the people’s elbow. However, Johnson’s story doesn’t start or end with his popularity in wrestling.

Football Was The Original Dream For The Rock

Johnson — a California native — spent the early years of his life engaged in sports while watching his father, Rocky Johnson, have a career in the wrestling industry. Although this example would eventually foretell The Rock’s career, he would spend some time pursuing a football career.

After graduating from high school, Johnson attended the University of Miami as a member of its football program. According to Bleacher Report, the athlete played on the team from 1991 until 1994, helping the program win a national title in 1991. He ended his collegiate football career with 77 tackles and 4.25 sacks.

Entering The Family Business Became Johnsons’ Breakout Decision

Going undrafted into the NFL, Johnson decided to pivot his career to what he describes as the family business. On an episode of the “Pivot Podcast,” Johnson noted that he chose to follow in his father’s footsteps as a professional wrestler, but his father was vehemently against the idea.

However, after more conversations, his father got on board and supported Johnson’s decision. During the discussion on the podcast, The Rock admitted that his entry into the wrestling industry wasn’t easy. While he had family pedigree on his side, he only had $7 in his pocket at the beginning of this transitional moment.

Deciding to officially pursue wrestling, The Rock would make his debut locally and  eventually sign with WWE. During his tenure, he became a 10-time WWE champion, and would headline several of the organization’s events.

Johnson leveraged his popularity and success as a wrestler to expand his career into the entertainment industry as an actor and the face and name behind several brands. According to data from Celebrity Net Worth, The Rock’s collective success has earned him an estimated $800 million fortune.

Let’s take a look at the different ways The Rock built his empire to become “the most electrifying man” across several industries.