Brock Lesnar and John Cena are handsomely paid for their roles in WWE.
It is no secret that WWE creates multi-millionaires.
Professional wrestlers in WWE are known as “superstars” because the company produces some of the biggest icons in sports entertainment. The biggest WWE athletes also tend to attract massive net worths.
Just look at Hollywood movie star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. A former eight-time WWF/WWE champion, The Rock has become one of the most powerful celebrities in the world according to Forbes. He is also worth $65 million (£46.5 million).
But what about the current crop of WWE superstars?
Forbes has released a list of the 10 highest-earners in WWE based on estimated earnings for 2017, including salary, cuts from WWE revenues, and each wrestler’s own merchandise sales throughout that year.
Here are the 10 highest-paid WWE stars in 2018, ranked by earnings in ascending order.
10. Kevin Owens — $2 million (£1.43 million). This is Kevin Owens’ first ever appearance on the Forbes list of top-earning WWE stars, but the 33-year-old’s activity in the ring and reign as Universal Champion helped him crack the top 10 in 2018.
10. Kevin Owens — $2 million (£1.43 million). This is Kevin Owens’ first ever appearance on the Forbes list of top-earning WWE stars, but the 33-year-old’s activity in the ring and reign as Universal Champion helped him crack the top 10 in 2018.
9. Dean Ambrose — $2.2 million (£1.57 million). Dean Ambrose is one of the most charismatic wrestlers. He is also one of the busiest WWE athletes and was the second most active wrestler last year.
9. Dean Ambrose — $2.2 million (£1.57 million). Dean Ambrose is one of the most charismatic wrestlers. He is also one of the busiest WWE athletes and was the second most active wrestler last year.
8. The Undertaker — $2.5 million (£1.79 million). The Undertaker has been around for almost three decades and is beloved for his spine-tingling ring entrances. He is a smash hit with WWE fans, which means he hardly has to wrestle to feature in the top 10 as his merchandise sales still earn him a pretty penny.
8. The Undertaker — $2.5 million (£1.79 million). The Undertaker has been around for almost three decades and is beloved for his spine-tingling ring entrances. He is a smash hit with WWE fans, which means he hardly has to wrestle to feature in the top 10 as his merchandise sales still earn him a pretty penny.
7. Seth Rollins — $2.7 million (£1.93 million). Seth Rollins is a staple of WWE main events and overcame knee injuries to return to the big matches last year. Forbes says Rollins’ popularity with fans means he gets a good salary from merchandise sales.
7. Seth Rollins — $2.7 million (£1.93 million). Seth Rollins is a staple of WWE main events and overcame knee injuries to return to the big matches last year. Forbes says Rollins’ popularity with fans means he gets a good salary from merchandise sales.
6. Randy Orton — $2.9 million (£2.07 million). Sports entertainment is clearly in the family blood as Randy Orton is a third generation professional wrestler. A nine-time WWE champion, Orton has one of the most iconic in-ring poses and made 11 pay-per-view appearances in 2017.
6. Randy Orton — $2.9 million (£2.07 million). Sports entertainment is clearly in the family blood as Randy Orton is a third generation professional wrestler. A nine-time WWE champion, Orton has one of the most iconic in-ring poses and made 11 pay-per-view appearances in 2017.
5. Triple H — $3.2 million (£2.29 million). Triple H now wrestles less frequently than he has in previous years, but the 48-year-old, an executive vice president since 2013, receives a base wrestling salary as well as a $1.7 million executive salary, including bonuses and stock awards.
5. Triple H — $3.2 million (£2.29 million). Triple H now wrestles less frequently than he has in previous years, but the 48-year-old, an executive vice president since 2013, receives a base wrestling salary as well as a $1.7 million executive salary, including bonuses and stock awards.
4. AJ Styles — $3.5 million (£2.5 million). AJ Styles has featured for many professional wrestling brands like Ring of Honor, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, and New Japan Pro-Wrestling. He moved to WWE in 2016, worked more WWE dates than any other wrestler in 2017, and is the current WWE champion in his second reign.
playAJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura versus Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens match at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on January 30, 2018.
3. Roman Reigns — $4.3 million (£3.08 million). Roman Reigns is one of the biggest names in WWE and this alone means he polarises fans. Some loathe him, some love him, and others love to loathe him. Regardless, he has headlined four WrestleMania events in a row — an impressive feat.
3. Roman Reigns — $4.3 million (£3.08 million). Roman Reigns is one of the biggest names in WWE and this alone means he polarises fans. Some loathe him, some love him, and others love to loathe him. Regardless, he has headlined four WrestleMania events in a row — an impressive feat.
2. Brock Lesnar — $6.5 million (£4.65 million). After a stint in UFC where he became world heavyweight champion, Brock Lesnar returned to WWE in 2012. Lesnar is a five-time WWE world champion and has headlined some of the biggest events WWE has staged, including the most recent — WrestleMania 34.
2. Brock Lesnar — $6.5 million (£4.65 million). After a stint in UFC where he became world heavyweight champion, Brock Lesnar returned to WWE in 2012. Lesnar is a five-time WWE world champion and has headlined some of the biggest events WWE has staged, including the most recent — WrestleMania 34.
1. John Cena — $10 million (£7.15 million). A 16-time world champion with WWE, Cena has followed The Rock to Hollywood. He still competes in the Raw and SmackDown brands for WWE, but has featured in movies like ‘The Marine,’ ‘Trainwreck,’ and ‘Ferdinand.’
1. John Cena — $10 million (£7.15 million). A 16-time world champion with WWE, Cena has followed The Rock to Hollywood. He still competes in the Raw and SmackDown brands for WWE, but has featured in movies like ‘The Marine,’ ‘Trainwreck,’ and ‘Ferdinand.’
