Dwayne Douglas Johnson, known worldwide as The Rock, is an American actor, producer, and retired professional wrestler who became the highest-paid actor in Hollywood. His journey from a college football player who was cut from the CFL to an eight-time WWE Champion to one of the biggest movie stars on Earth is one of entertainment's most remarkable reinvention stories. His films have collectively grossed over $12 billion at the worldwide box office, and his business empire includes a tequila brand, an energy drink line, an athletic apparel partnership, and co-ownership of the XFL.
Born on May 2, 1972, in Hayward, California, Johnson grew up in a wrestling family. His father, Rocky Johnson, was a professional wrestler, and his maternal grandfather, Peter Maivia, was a legendary Samoan wrestler. The family moved frequently during his childhood, and Johnson attended 13 different schools before landing a full football scholarship to the University of Miami, where he played defensive tackle on their 1991 national championship team. After being cut from the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL, he famously had only seven dollars in his pocket, an experience that inspired the name of his production company, Seven Bucks Productions.
Johnson debuted in WWE (then WWF) in 1996 as Rocky Maivia, a combination of his father's and grandfather's ring names. After initially struggling as a babyface, he reinvented himself as The Rock, a charismatic, trash-talking heel whose electrifying promos and catchphrases made him the most entertaining performer in wrestling. He became an eight-time WWE Champion and headlined multiple WrestleMania events. His rivalry with Stone Cold Steve Austin during the Attitude Era is considered one of the greatest feuds in wrestling history. [Ryan Reynolds](/quiz/ryan-reynolds/) and [Keanu Reeves](/quiz/keanu-reeves/) would later become his peers in the action movie space.
Johnson transitioned to Hollywood with The Mummy Returns (2001) and his first starring role in The Scorpion King (2002). After a period of mixed results, he found his blockbuster groove with Fast Five (2011), which added his character Luke Hobbs to the Fast & Furious franchise and helped the series cross into billion-dollar territory. He voiced Maui in Disney's Moana (2016), starred in the Jumanji reboot films (combined $1.8 billion gross), and headlined Black Adam (2022). Forbes named him the highest-paid actor in Hollywood multiple times.
Johnson's business ventures extend far beyond film. He co-founded the tequila brand Teremana (which sold over a million cases in its first year), launched ZOA Energy drinks, and created the Project Rock athletic line with Under Armour. He co-purchased the XFL football league in 2020. His social media following exceeds 400 million across platforms, making him one of the most followed people on Earth. Despite his fame and fortune, he frequently speaks about his humble beginnings and the seven dollars that started it all.
