Dwayne ‘the Rock’ Johnson reflects on move that catapulted him to stardom: ‘Hell of a risk’



[ad_1]

Before Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson became the highest-paid actor in the world, he was making $ 40 per wrestling match at flea markets and state fairs.

“Back then, I was 24 or 25, sadly had $ 7 in my pocket many moons before the life I have now. I used to shed around 300 pounds for a living. To be honest, in terms of wealth management or money management, at that time I just didn’t want to be broke, and that was my only thing, ”Johnson told FOX Business in an interview with Zoom.

“I always look back with a lot of fondness on that time at the start of my career when I was not making money. How do you make ends meet? It was not easy. I spent a lot of time at Waffle House. This is where I ate two or three times a day. I really look at that time with a lot of respect because it helped shape this dollar ideology, ”says Johnson.

Johnson topped Forbes’ highest-paid actors list for the second year in a row in 2020, earning $ 87.5 million, including $ 23.5 million just for his role in the upcoming Netflix comedy thriller “Red Notice ”alongside Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot.

Off the big screen, Johnson runs Seven Bucks productions, named after the $ 7 he once brought to his name in the ’90s. Under Seven Bucks, Johnson has produced films like “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” by Sony and Disney’s “Jungle Cruise”.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson reflects on his early days and how they have shaped his current success. (Jesse Grant / Getty Images for Disney)

And he’s carved out a number of business opportunities, including a successful Project Rock clothing line with Under Armor, as well as his tequila brand Teremana and a new energy drink called ZOA, which will be distributed in partnership with Molson Coors. in March.

HOW DWAYNE ‘THE ROCK’ JOHNSON DEVELOPED AN ENERGY BEVERAGE BUSINESS DURING THE PANDEMIC

Johnson says taking major risks in business gave him the opportunity to grow his brand in an authentic way, which helped catapult his career to the big screen and ultimately attract large numbers of fans for his various product launches. . In the late ’90s, when WWE capitalized on “good versus bad” storylines, Johnson went from “good guy” to bad guy – a risk he said was vital to his career.

“When I was a good guy in the professional wrestling world I was a rookie. It was not in my opinion. I wasn’t connecting, and in this professional wrestling world, you have to connect with an audience. I took a risk by becoming a bad guy … and that’s a hell of a risk to take when you think about this world, and this consumer base, largely made up of young children … which is interesting about this risk is if you don’t work, if you don’t work like a good guy and you don’t work like a bad guy, well you just don’t work then you are looking another job.

“So the risk was great then, but it allowed me to be authentic and to be myself in this world,” Johnson recalls.

THEY ARE THE HIGHEST PAID ACTORS AND HOW MUCH MONEY THEY EARN

Johnson became the face of WWE, which became a launching pad for its success in Hollywood.

“Now the risk was this: if you didn’t make it in Hollywood – and there was a good chance that I wouldn’t have a career that would last, say more than three to five years – then I would have to make it. [to wrestling]. It ended up paying off, but for the first five or six years it was easy. and I was worried because I wasn’t sure how everything was going to turn out for me. I had accomplished all I could accomplish in the wrestling world, I was so grateful and still am today. I also wanted to try an elegant transition, and these are two very loud worlds, the wrestling world and the Hollywood world. I’m happy to say that many, many, many moons later I can say it paid off in a very good way.

Johnson’s journey to superstar will be highlighted in NBC’s “Young Rock,” an autobiographical sitcom on February 16. He told fans in a recent Instagram post that the show would highlight “some life lessons that I’ve learned along the way.”

One of those lessons, Johnson says, is the hustle and bustle of hard work and being nice to people (he’s been called the nicest guy in Hollywood). Good vibes and positive energy are also the philosophy behind his latest Zoa brand launch, which he co-founded with business partners Dany Garcia, strength coach Dave Rienzi and John Shulman, founder of the capital firm. Juggernaut Capital Partners investment.

“I strongly believe in kindness. I firmly believe in being positive and kind, I think it’s important anyway. There is a quote I always love to share, I heard it when I was 15, I never forget: “It’s good to be important, but it’s more important to be kind.” “

Johnson has shown this in an important way to his fans who are going through difficult times during the pandemic and old friends. He bought a car for an old friend who took him in after he and his mother were deported to Hawaii and moved to Nashville when he was 15.

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE ROAD BY CLICKING HERE

“I always say that the hungry human being can sometimes be unstoppable. Once this human being starts making some money, don’t be surprised if this starving human being becomes even hungrier and more protective of the wealth he builds and the moves he takes, ”says Johnson.



[ad_2]

Source link