Net Worth: $250M
Pretty much everyone is able to point Dwane “The Rock” Johnson out of a crowd, but they may not be aware that before he was one of the highest-paid actors in Tinseltown, he was a professional wrestler. And actually, even the people who are aware may not know that before that, he had started down the path of playing professional football.
Lucky for audiences everywhere, The Rock mainly retired from wrestling in 2004, right around the time his mainstream acting career was taken off. Now, the former beast in the ring has starred in such blockbuster hits as “Jumanji,” “Baywatch,” “Central Intelligence,” and “San Andreas.” The superstar has a reported net worth of between $250 and $300 million.
Chyna
Net Worth: N/A
Chyna, born Joan Marie Laurer, began her pro wrestling career back in the 90s. She was an instant hit in the industry, and officials dubbed her the “9th wonder of the world.” Joan was the first woman in history to take part in a Royal Rumble, as well as the “King of the Ring.” But her fame went a little beyond just wrestling…
Unlike many other female WWE stars who are approached to do adult photos or film and turn them down, Chyna said yes. The entertainer posed for Playboy magazine twice. She also released an autobiography and appeared on numerous television shows, including the "Howard Stern Show" and a celebrity version of "Fear Factor." Laurer passed away in 2016 from an overdose.
Kamala
Net Worth: $2M
James Harris, or Kamala, is not to be confused with Vice President Kamala Harris. Kamala could be picked out of a crowd when he was ready to jump in the ring due to all of his tribal face paint and, oh yeah – his spear and loincloth. His career began in 1978, but it wasn’t until 1984 that he signed with the WWF.
Kamala left the World Wrestling Federation on more than one occasion. The first time was in 1984 when he left to go on promotions. He returned in '86 and left again the following year due to issues with his pay. Once more, he returned, only to leave again in '93 to try his hand at professional truck driving. In 2011, the former wrestler had to have the bottom of his left leg amputated due to diabetes. Then, in 2016, he and a number of other former WWE wrestlers launched a class-action lawsuit against the organization for traumatic brain injuries, which wound up being dismissed.
Big Van Vader
Net Worth: N/A
Big Van Vader, who was born Leon Allen White, started his pro wrestling career in the mid-1980s when he joined the American Wrestling Association. It wasn’t until 1996 that he signed his first contract with the WWF. Vader worked with the company off and on for several decades and made his most recent appearance in 2017 when he got in the ring in Japan to honor Tatsumi Fujinami.
The former pro is widely hailed as one of the best super-heavyweight wrestlers in history. He’s won a number of championships, including the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship two times, the WCW World Heavyweight Championship three times, and the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Unfortunately, he passed away in May of 2018, following surgery and a 30-day hospital stay for pneumonia.
Diamond Dallas Page
Net Worth: $10M
Semi-retired pro wrestler Dallas Page is another legend in the industry. He’s been in the game since 1988 when he started as a manager with the American Wrestling Association. Nearly a year later, he transferred to the WCW where he started training as an athlete. Page went on to become a four-time WCW World Tag Team Champion, a two-time United States Heavyweight Champion, a World Television Champion, a three-time World Heavyweight Champion, and the 4th Triple Crown Champion.
Page was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2017 by Eric Bischoff. He still appears in a surprise match every now and then, as he did in 2015 at Royal Rumble. But for the most part, he’s busy with the Yoga fitness program that he developed, which has evolved into a video series called "Yoga for Regular Guys Workout." The wrestler also hosts his own podcast called DDP Radio.