DWAYNE JOHNSON
The People's Champ of Hollywood
It’s crazy what $7 bucks can do.
Dubbed “The Great One” in professional wrestling lore, the football upstart-turned wrestling star-turned movie mogul has had many twists and turns in his career. Despite it all, it has made him the wealthiest actor in Hollywood. And one of the most physically imposing as well.
Following his failed tenure in the CFL, Dwayne Johnson took after family tradition and became one of the biggest stars in WWF/E (during the most prominent era in wrestling history).
Debuting in 1996 as “Rocky Mavia,” “The Rock” captivated fans all across the globe during his initial 7-year run, a run partly altered by making waves in Hollywood with the 2001 hit The Mummy Returns and then his breakout lead role in The Scorpion King.
Johnson’s roles throughout the 2000s did not stray from his early foray into acting, with his action/adventure niche roles. The Rundown and Walking Tall foretold what he’d be most known for, as he stepped away from World Wrestling Entertainment in 2004.
From his flamboyant supporting character in Be Cool to a hardnose coach in a detention center to a fairy (yes, a fairy), Johnson’s humble beginnings on the big screen were tough to back. But between his presence and the potential he had, it was only a matter of time before his star blossomed.
His roles in films Get Smart and the Other Guys saw Johnson as the charming and comedic character he was once known for in the squared circle. The wrestler-turned-actor’s growth stunned through his 2010 film Faster part. And while the film was not critically acclaimed (going north of $35 million at the box office), Johnson parlayed what would become his role in the-then ailing Fast & Furious series.
The promotion and reception between 2009’s Fast 4 and 2011’s Fast 5 was night and day. By the turn of the decade, “The Rock” was seen as the savior of the franchise and carried his star momentum throughout the last decade, ultimately making him one of the biggest celebs today. Between his return to the ring and his numerous projects with Kevin Hart, the Fast Family, and company, he could do no wrong. He now co-owns the same company his old employer once created in the XFL alongside his ex-wife, Seven Bucks Productions’ Chairman Dany Garcia. It’s crazy how life works.
The acting chops are not the most-refined, but with box-office success that can only be matched by Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 80s and 90s, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson can have any label he pleases. Akin to his hit HBO series, he’s a baller.
