Key findings
- Cena’s journey from a $12,500-a-year contract to a net worth of $80 million is a testament to his incredible rise to success in wrestling.
- Despite initial doubts and financial difficulties, Cena trusted himself and took the step of devoting himself to wrestling full-time – a risk that ultimately paid off.
- As he prepares for his impending retirement from WWE, his financial freedom allows him to work on projects of his choosing and exit on his own terms.
John Cena was recently a guest on the Club Shay Shay Podcast and the 16-time world champion talked about his past, his entry into wrestling and how he became a household name. Cena is now a Hollywood success story and makes much more money than most professional wrestlers ever made. But it wasn’t always this way, as Cena explained when looking back on his historic rise.
Cena’s road to fame began quite modestly and he recently revealed how shockingly low his salary was when he signed with WWE. He noted:
“My contract was $12,500 a year and my rent was $1,200 a month. I immediately quit my job to go pro. I was already operating at a loss, but the good thing about credit cards is that they give you more opportunities to get more credit cards. So I just thought, ‘Yeah, I’ll just take more of the plastic things that get me free food and all that. This is going to be great.’ So I bet on myself.”
The fact that his salary was barely enough to cover his monthly rent shows how much his career has changed. He said his future in WWE was far from certain when he made his main roster debut in 2002. Famously, a rap audition for Stephanie McMahon gave him one last chance, but at the time many in the company doubted his potential, especially because his character lacked depth.
Despite these challenges, Cena took a leap of faith by quitting his previous job to pursue wrestling full-time, despite losing money in the process. He has spoken of being homeless by choice and taking risks before joining WWE. Those risks ultimately paid off as Cena became one of the most iconic figures in professional wrestling.
Related
Should John Cena break Ric Flair’s world championship record?
John Cena and Ric Flair have won 16 World Championships, which puts them tied for the most. Should Cena break Flair’s long-standing record?
Is it worth letting Cena break the record and then retire shortly thereafter, potentially blocking a younger star’s path to defending his title?
Cena has come a long way and ends his contract on his terms
His success and financial freedom allow him to work on the projects he wants, including a farewell tour in 2025. As Cena now focuses on his upcoming retirement from WWE, fans are getting ready to say goodbye to his in-ring career. He will be working over 30 events for WWE and all major shows. He has also shared that he has signed a contract with the company for when he retires from wrestling.
Cena’s net worth increased from $12,500 per year to about $80 million in 2024. Not bad.
