Dwayne Johnson’s $80 Million Payday Didn’t Come From The Smashing Machine

Hollywood heavyweight and wrestling icon Dwayne Johnson has reportedly added a staggering $80 million to his fortune, but not from his most recent film project. Despite the buzz around The Smashing Machine, which failed to make a splash at the box office, Johnson’s latest windfall actually came from his ongoing partnership with WWE.

WWE Contract Brings In Massive Earnings

According to recent reports, Johnson’s lucrative WWE deal has been the real game-changer for his bank account. Dave Meltzer, speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, broke down the numbers:

I haven’t calculated what Dwayne’s probably fixing on—80 million dollars over… this will be the end of the second year of that deal. Because he signed that deal on… was it January 3rd, 2024? Right. So two years—80 million dollars, roughly. Unbelievable.

Meltzer also pointed out that this figure doesn’t even include Johnson’s share of merchandise sales or his pay for WrestleMania and other live events, which could tack on several million more to his already impressive total.

The Smashing Machine: A Box Office Letdown

While Johnson’s WWE contract is raking in the big bucks, his latest film, The Smashing Machine, didn’t deliver the same financial punch. Reports indicate that Johnson accepted a $4 million fee for the movie —a significant drop from his usual $20 million-plus per film. Sources say he even shared part of his paycheck with co-stars Emily Blunt and Kerr.

The film itself had a production budget of $50 million, offset by tax credits from Vancouver and New Mexico. However, it only managed to pull in $21 million worldwide, falling far short of expectations. Despite the disappointing box office numbers, critics have been kind: The Smashing Machine holds a 71% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 74% audience score, with a 6.4/10 on IMDb.

Johnson’s Hollywood Salaries and Net Worth

As of now, Johnson’s net worth is estimated at a jaw-dropping $800 million. This figure includes his 30-40% stake in Teremana Tequila, which is valued at around $2 billion, as well as his earnings from film and television.

Here’s a look at some of Johnson’s most notable Hollywood paydays:

• The Scorpion King (2001): $5.5 million
• The Rundown (2003): $12.5 million
• Walking Tall (2004): $15 million
• Skyscraper (2018): $20 million
• Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019): $20 million
• Jumanji: The Next Level (2019): $23.5 million
• Red Notice (2019): $23.5 million
• Jungle Cruise (2021): $22 million
• Black Adam (2022): $22.5 million
• Red One (2023): $50 million

With such impressive numbers, it’s clear that Johnson’s earning power extends far beyond the wrestling ring and the silver screen.