Here’s How Much Hulk Hogan Really Got After He Sued Gawker for Releasing His Sex Tape
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Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan has passed away, aged 71. Hogan, whose real name was Terry Gene Bollea, gained notoriety as a wrestler and helped elevate the sport to what it is today. He was a WWE ambassador at the time of his death, and he even recently returned to the ring for a very controversial appearance that also included other big names like The Rock, The Undertaker, and John Cena.
Hogan was big and recognizable. He described himself once as “six foot eight and 24-inch pythons, brother,” and he made a name for himself as he won six WWF championships, was the main-event at several WrestleManias, helped launch rival WCW, and was involved in numerous films and animated TV shows. Hogan also launched toys, clothes, and other products all based on his name and likeness.
But how much of that paid financial dividends to Hogan? How much was Hulk Hogan worth at the time of his death? And where is that money going now?
Related: See the Alleged Explicit Texts Between Vince McMahon & a Former WWE Employee After She Accused Him of Sexual Abuse & Trafficking
What was Hulk Hogan’s net worth in 2025?
Hogan was worth approximately $25 million in 2025, according to Celebrity Net Worth. This net worth includes the massive settlement he got from Gawker.com for releasing his sex tape. That settlement was initially $140 million but was ultimately reduced to $31 million before taxes. Hogan was worth more earlier in his career, but he lost a big deal of his fortune during his divorce from ex-wife Linda Hogan.
In fact, Hogan himself has admitted he blew “hundreds of millions” of dollars in the 90s due to his lavish lifestyle, though there’s no record of exactly how much it was. In 2007, when his first wife, Linda, filed for divorce, the filings indicated Hogan’s net worth was $30 million, approximately $45 million adjusted for inflation today. But he lost a great deal of it in the divorce, being ordered to pay her 70% of their liquid assets, $3 million in cash to cover real estate settlements, plus an ongoing 40% ownership stake in his various businesses.
During a radio interview in 2011, Hogan admitted the divorce brought him to the brink of bankruptcy. But then came Gawker. In 2012, Hogan had sex with the wife of radio personality Bubba the Love Sponge. Without his knowledge, the encounter was filmed. Later, Gawker.com came into possession of the tape and posted a two-minute edited version on their homepage. Hogan asked for the video to be taken down they refused. So he sued them, claiming invasion of privacy and “long-lasting humiliation.”
Gawker was sentenced to pay Hogan 140 million. The website was then forced into a fire sale, owner Nick Denton filed for bankruptcy, and finally, in 2016, the company settled with Hogan and paid him $31 million. Not close to the original number, but considering the time that had passed and the money troubles everyone involved with the company was having, it’s easy to see why it was settled.
The settlement helped Hogan make a financial recovery which explains the most recent numbers. He also rejoined the WWE in 2014 and landed a job as the host of WrestleMania. He was fired in 2015 for racist comments, but reinstated into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2018. In 2023, he appeared alongside Jimmy Hart to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Raw at WWE Raw is XXX.
