Hulk Hogan Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What Is Hulk Hogan’s Net Worth and Salary?

Hulk Hogan, known as an American actor, wrestler, and star of reality television, possesses a net worth estimated at $25 million. This figure includes the settlement from Gawker.com, which was initially set at $140 million but ultimately decreased to $31 million before taxes. It also reflects the substantial losses, amounting to tens of millions, he incurred during his divorce from his former wife, Linda Hogan.

During the highly publicized divorce with Linda, it emerged that Hogan’s net worth was $30 million in 2007. Consequently, he had to relinquish 70% of the couple’s liquid assets, pay $3 million in cash for property settlements, and give up a 40% stake in his various business ventures. More information regarding their divorce settlement will be provided in the next section. Hogan has also confessed to squandering “hundreds of millions” on an extravagant lifestyle during his peak years in the 1990s.

Hogan played a crucial role, more than any other individual, in transforming professional wrestling from a regional curiosity into the vast “sports entertainment” empire it is today. During his prime in the 1980s and 90s, notably in Vince McMahon’s WWF (where he earned up to $1 million for appearances at Wrestlemanias V and VI) and later at Ted Turner’s competing WCW organization, he became one of the most recognizable figures worldwide and successfully expanded into television and films.

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Gawker Lawsuit

In 2012, Hulk Hogan engaged in consensual relations with the spouse of radio host Bubba the Love Sponge. Unbeknownst to Hogan, Bubby had secretly arranged to film the encounter using a surveillance camera. Later that same year, Gawker.com obtained the sex tape and an editor chose to publish a two-minute edited version on their homepage. After its release, Hulk requested that Gawker remove the video. When they declined, Hogan filed a lawsuit, asserting that Gawker had intruded on his privacy. He claimed that the unauthorized video caused him “long lasting humiliation.”

Hogan’s initial lawsuit demanded $100 million in damages. On March 18, 2016, a Florida jury ruled in favor of Hogan. The jury originally mandated Gawker to pay a judgment of $115 million. Shortly thereafter, the jury raised the judgment by an additional $25 million, totalling $140 million. Gawker attempted and failed to appeal the ruling, leading them to a forced fire sale.

CEO of Gawker, Nick Denton, along with the editor responsible for the posting, were deemed PERSONALLY liable for $115 million of the $140 million judgment. In 2013, Denton claimed that “invasion of privacy has incredibly positive effects on society.” The website also attempted to assert that since Hogan was a public figure who had previously discussed his sex life on reality television, the sex tape was newsworthy and thus fell under fair use. The jury did not concur.

In determining the judgment, the jury considered two key facts disclosed by Gawker’s legal team:

• 1) Gawker earned approximately $50 million in revenue the previous year and had a valuation of at least $80 million.
• 2) On paper, the net worth of Gawker founder/CEO Nick Denton was $120 million, primarily based on the…
  • value of Gawker.

  On August 1, 2016, personal bankruptcy was filed by Nick Denton. Within this filing, his only assets were noted as his 30% interest in Gawker and his New York City apartment. The combined value he assigned to these was $50 million, although their actual worth may be significantly lower. His liabilities were reported to be as high as $150 million. Gawker reached a settlement with Hogan in November 2016 for an amount of $31 million.

  A few months after the initial judgment, it came to light that Hulk’s lawsuit had received $10 million in funding from billionaire Peter Thiel, known for his connections to PayPal and Facebook. Thiel had a longstanding resentment towards Gawker and Nick Denton for disclosing his sexual orientation. In 2007, Gawker published an article titled, “Peter Thiel is totally gay, people.,” which Thiel later claimed along with several other articles about his acquaintances “ruined people’s lives for no reason.” In a 2009 interview, Thiel characterized the writers of Gawker as terrorists. Encouraged by one of his friends, he decided to leverage his influence and wealth to assist other victims of Gawker’s reporting in defending against the site’s onslaughts.

  “It’s less about revenge and more about specific deterrence. I saw Gawker pioneer a unique and incredibly damaging way of getting attention by bullying people even when there was no connection to the public interest.the company’s public persona.

  This strategy proved successful, and before long, “Hulkamania” had evolved into a global pop culture sensation that persisted in various forms well into the 21st century.

  Acting

  Leveraging his fame, Hogan embarked on a career in acting. His debut film role came in 1982 as Thunderlips in “Rocky III.” Throughout the ’80s and ’90s, Hulk was involved in numerous mainstream projects in pursuit of becoming a legitimate Hollywood action star, appearing in movies such as “No Holds Barred,” “Suburban Commando,” and “Mr. Nanny.” Additionally, he featured in the TV series “Thunder in Paradise” from 1993 to 1995. About ten years later, Hogan jumped on the celebrity reality television trend with VH1’s “Hogan Knows Best,” which showcased him and his family. He also made a guest appearance in ABC’s “The Goldbergs” in 2019.

  Other Endeavors

  Hogan has always displayed shrewdness in merchandising and marketing, managing a variety of businesses throughout his career. In 1995, he opened his own pasta restaurant, Pastamania, at the Mall of America in Minnesota, though it ceased operations after just one year.

  Moreover, Hulk has claimed to be the initial choice to promote what later became the George Foreman Grill. Instead, he opted for endorsing a meatball maker, a decision that ultimately cost him around $200 million:

  In 2006, he introduced his energy drink, Hogan Energy, and soon after, a line of frozen cheeseburgers named “Hulkster Burgers” appeared in stores. Following the end of that business venture, he opened a restaurant called Hogan’s Beach in his hometown of Tampa in 2012, later establishing Hogan’s Hangout in Clearwater Beach.

  According to the Wrestling Figure Checklist, a total of 171 different action figures of Hogan were produced by various manufacturers and promotions from the 1980s to the 2010s.

  

  Jerod Harris/Getty Images

  Personal Life

  In December 1983, Hulk tied the knot with Linda Claridge. Together they share two children: daughter Brooke Hogan and son Nick Hogan. Following allegations of Hulk’s infidelity, Linda filed for divorce in 2007. At that point, it was revealed that Hulk Hogan’s net worth was estimated at $30 million, equivalent to about $45 million today. The filings also disclosed that Hogan had invested his wealth in various businesses and real estate across Florida. He continues to earn money from merchandise and residuals associated with his Hulk Hogan brand.

  After over two years of dating, Hogan married Jennifer McDaniel in December 2010. However, he announced their divorce on Twitter in February 2022. On September 22, 2023, he married his third wife, yoga instructor Sky Daily.

  Divorce Settlement

  Upon finalizing the divorce from Linda Hogan, he was obligated to pay her 70% of their liquid assets, along with $3 million in cash to settle…

  The settlements regarding real estate, along with a continuous 40% stake in his various ventures, were part of his financial landscape. During a radio interview in 2011, Hulk revealed that the divorce nearly drove him into bankruptcy. Although Linda did not receive alimony, she was granted $7.44 million from the $10.41 million in their bank and investment accounts. She also retained ownership of a Mercedes-Benz, a Corvette, and a Cadillac Escalade.

  Since then, Hulk has seen some recovery in his finances. He returned to the WWE in February 2014, marking his first appearance in over five years, and took on the role of WrestleMania host. However, in July 2015, Hogan was released from the WWE following the emergence of several racist remarks. He was later reinstated into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2018. Most recently, on January 23, 2023, Hogan joined Jimmy Hart to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of Raw during WWE Raw is XXX.

  

  Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

  Real Estate

  In 1992, Hulk invested $2 million into a waterfront property located in Belleair, Florida. He quickly tore down the existing house and dedicated the next few years to constructing a lavish mansion that ultimately surpassed 17,000 square feet in size. The project reached completion in 1996 and was the residence featured on the reality series “Hogan Knows Best” from 2005 to 2007.

  In 2006, presumably as they faced separation, Linda and Hulk put the house on the market for a staggering $26 million. By 2008, the financial crisis and property market slump began to take effect, and with the couple separating, they sought to liquidate assets to move on. By August 2009, the asking price was reduced to $13.9 million. The price continued to drop until Hulk ultimately accepted $6.2 million in April 2012, which was $19 million below the initial asking price.

  In 2014, Hulk acquired a home in Clearwater, Florida, for $3 million. Two years later, he purchased the adjacent property for $1.6 million.