Over the years, the wrestling world has seen a rapid increase in wealth, with the top 5 richest wrestlers, both retired and active, now reaching millionaire and billionaire statuses.
These individuals, whose showbiz careers extend far beyond the ring, have amassed much of their fortune through other entertainment ventures, including appearances in movies, reality TV shows, and more.
This article from SportsBuddy examines the top five richest wrestlers, their entertainment careers, and the sources of the massive wealth contributing to their impressive net worth.
The top five richest wrestlers, according to Forbes, are listed below in ascending order.
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Top 5 richest wrestlers and their entertainment careers
5. John Cena (Net Worth) – $80 million
Profile
| Full name | John Felix Anthony Cena |
| Age/Date of birth | 47 years (April 23, 1977) |
| Wrestling Status | Active (Part time performer), currently signed to WWE |
| Salary | $10 Million/year |
| Sources of wealth | Professional Wrestling, Acting, business |
| Net worth | $80 million |
| Endorsements | Capri Sun, Fruity Pebbles, Gillette, Hefty, Gold’s Gym, Subway, Honda, FanDuel |
| Marital status | Married to Shay Shariatzadeh |
| Residence | Land o’ Lakes, Florida |
Entertainment career
John Cena’s entertainment career has been adventurous, with the multi-talented wrestler also venturing into music, movies, and reality TV shows.
Wrestling
Having idolized Horgan growing up, Cena started training for a professional wrestling career in 1999, with the stage name The Prototype. He then made an unofficial debut for WWE (WWF) on October 10, 2000, against Mikey Henderson, which he lost.
On the June 27 edition of SmackDown!, Cena made his WWE television debut by accepting Kurt Angle’s open challenge. He had already changed to using his real name, Cena, in the ring by this time.
Through out his career, which has included an interlude of retiring and returning, he has emerged as one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, with a joint-record 16-time world champion, 13-time WWE champion, and three-time World Heavyweight Champion.
Music
Cena also ventured into music, particularly the hip-hop genre, and he released an album in 2005 titled ”You Can’t See Me’, recorded with his cousin Tha Trademarc. It features his entrance theme, “The Time is Now,” and singles like “Bad, Bad Man” and “Right Now.”
He has also contributed songs to WWE soundtrack albums, including WWE Originals and WWE ThemeAddict: The Music, Vol. 6.
Movies
Cena ventured into the movie industry with The Marine in 2006 and has since starred in films like 12 Rounds (2009), Legendary (2010), Trainwreck (2015), Blockers (2018), and Bumblebee (2018).
He played Jakob Toretto in F9 (2021) and Fast X (2023) and voiced characters in Ferdinand (2017) and TMNT: Mutant Mayhem (2023). He also portrayed Peacemaker in The Suicide Squad (2021) and its spin-off series.
Reality TV
American Grit (2016–17), Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards (2017–18), and a 2019 revival of Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader are among the TV shows that Cena has hosted.
He had appearances on Saturday Night Live (2016) and in the films Psych and Hannah Montana Forever as a guest star.
In addition, Cena co-hosted Wipeout (2021) and provided the voice of Baron Draxum in Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2018). He gave a funny tribute to the 1974 streaker event by presenting an award at the 2024 Oscars.
Cena’s massive earnings from these entertainment ventures have contributed massively to his net worth, making him one of the top five richest wrestlers in the world.
