Highest-Paid WWE Superstar?

[hoganhallnash]

John Cena BY FAR is the highest paid in the company. Easily.

He's probably restructured his downside guarantee to at least 2 million and gets a higher % in merchandise since 2004/2005, but off of all the things he does within WWE, he's got to be making probably double compared to the second highest paid, which is either Triple H or Undertaker.

If I had to take a very longshot guess as to what he makes, I'm guessing Cena makes, in the WWE, 6-8 million a year total net worth (includes everything...wrestling payoffs, movies, merch, etc.). Triple H/Taker prob makes 3-5 million net worth, maybe more, maybe less (considering they don't go full time like Cena.)

[Cvslfc123]

Apr 21, 2011 9:22:55 GMT -5 @jrcz said:

Wasn't MVP like he highest paid guy on SD! at one point?

I'm sure that was just part of his character

[anglarite]

Hornswoggle's probably in the top ten, being Vince's illegitimate son and all.

[Shy Guy]

i remember reading\hearing somewhere that trish took a big pay cut to receive a bigger percentage of her merch sales, and she made way more thanks to merch.

[deadstock]

I wonder how much the E paid for Sin Cara .

[randomranter]

It would be interesting to know how much in expenses they have to pay. A lot of those salaries look like a lot of money, but once you deduct rental cars, gas, health insurance, hotels, and whatever other costs are associated with being on the road, a lot of those paychecks probably don't look nearly as good. Heck, once you deduct expenses, I wouldn't be surprised to find out that many of them probably don't clear all that much more than I do.

(Keep in mind, I'm talking about the rank-and-file guys, not the top guys who have some or all of their expenses paid for them.)

[A Platypus Rave]

Apr 21, 2011 17:27:55 GMT -5 anglarite said:

Hornswoggle's probably in the top ten, being Vince's illegitimate son and all.

He's not Vince's son... he's Finlay's son! -JBL

hmm.. I suppose now that Fit's gone we have to change that... who should be the Hardcore Holly stand-in for Finlay?

[Chuckie Finster]

Apr 21, 2011 23:58:39 GMT -5 randomranter said:

It would be interesting to know how much in expenses they have to pay. A lot of those salaries look like a lot of money, but once you deduct rental cars, gas, health insurance, hotels, and whatever other costs are associated with being on the road, a lot of those paychecks probably don't look nearly as good. Heck, once you deduct expenses, I wouldn't be surprised to find out that many of them probably don't clear all that much more than I do.

(Keep in mind, I'm talking about the rank-and-file guys, not the top guys who have some or all of their expenses paid for them.)

Most all the undercard guys (if not all of them) do buddy up for trips to save costs.

Many of the higher paid guys like Big Show, Orton, HHH, Cena, etc do use tour buses now because 1) they can bring their families on the road with them 2) it provides a level of privacy and comfort 3) it's considered a business expense and thus a tax write-off.

It's interesting to note that when WWE is in America or Canada, all the talent do all the legwork to get to cities however when they're in Mexico or overseas, they all travel passenger buses when they don't have to fly and thus save more money. However with the frat-house atmosphere that had become legendary, especially on the post-Wrestlemania European Tours, it's often considered passing initiation if you make it past the tour and didn't screw up royally.

[Just Jay]

It shocks me that some of those superstars make a salary in the mid double digit ranges.

[Dr. T is an alien]

Apr 21, 2011 23:58:39 GMT -5 randomranter said:

It would be interesting to know how much in expenses they have to pay. A lot of those salaries look like a lot of money, but once you deduct rental cars, gas, health insurance, hotels, and whatever other costs are associated with being on the road, a lot of those paychecks probably don't look nearly as good. Heck, once you deduct expenses, I wouldn't be surprised to find out that many of them probably don't clear all that much more than I do.

(Keep in mind, I'm talking about the rank-and-file guys, not the top guys who have some or all of their expenses paid for them.)

Hell, you don't even have to be a top star to make good money according to that list. Both Christian and Matt Hardy were supposed to get paid around $400K that year (Matt was a little short due to his 90 days of downside only around WM that year). That was just slightly under Rey's pay and more than Booker's and Eddie's. Shelton and Mark Henry also got paid decently. The one thing that I don't get is how Rene Dupree got paid that much more than Hardcore Holly.

[randomranter]

Apr 22, 2011 0:56:17 GMT -5 Chuckie Finster said:

Apr 21, 2011 23:58:39 GMT -5 randomranter said:

It would be interesting to know how much in expenses they have to pay. A lot of those salaries look like a lot of money, but once you deduct rental cars, gas, health insurance, hotels, and whatever other costs are associated with being on the road, a lot of those paychecks probably don't look nearly as good. Heck, once you deduct expenses, I wouldn't be surprised to find out that many of them probably don't clear all that much more than I do.

(Keep in mind, I'm talking about the rank-and-file guys, not the top guys who have some or all of their expenses paid for them.)

Most all the undercard guys (if not all of them) do buddy up for trips to save costs.

Many of the higher paid guys like Big Show, Orton, HHH, Cena, etc do use tour buses now because 1) they can bring their families on the road with them 2) it provides a level of privacy and comfort 3) it's considered a business expense and thus a tax write-off.

It's interesting to note that when WWE is in America or Canada, all the talent do all the legwork to get to cities however when they're in Mexico or overseas, they all travel passenger buses when they don't have to fly and thus save more money. However with the frat-house atmosphere that had become legendary, especially on the post-Wrestlemania European Tours, it's often considered passing initiation if you make it past the tour and didn't screw up royally.

Oh, I'm sure they use every trick in the book to save whatever money they can. But still.....

Even if you split a hotel room, I can't picture them staying in anything that would cost them less than $50/night for their share. Multiply that by 300 nights, and there's $15,000

Let's say their share of gas and rental car fees is $30/day. Again, multiplied by 300 days is $9,000

Health insurance for themselves and the family.....I'd be VERY surprised if that's anything less than $200/wk, and even then I think that's extremely conservative. Another $10,000 right there.

Granted, I'm pulling these numbers directly out of my ass, but I'd figure they'd be on the low end of the scale. That's $34,000 alone in just what I can think of off the top of my head. This doesn't include things like the increased cost of food, since eating out is significantly more expensive than eating at home. Lob 34k off of a 100k salary, and it doesn't look anywhere near as impressive.

[joebob27]

The crazy thing about that list is how little Eddie made. That heel turn must have destroyed his salary. Rey's is pretty low too, but that's before they pushed him to the moon, he probably makes a bajillion dollars a year now.

[kyromax]

Salaries are up, and all get a percentage of the merchandise they sell, different wrestlers, different percentages. And all get bonuses, being world champion, on the Wrestlemania card, main eventing certain card, ect.

[The Deadly Snake]

Apr 22, 2011 0:57:29 GMT -5 Just Jay said:

It shocks me that some of those superstars make a salary in the mid double digit ranges.

If you add travel costs, it's not the best pay ever. I bet a lot of the top stars have their travel paid for, probably hotel too. That probably saves up a lot of personal costs.

Apr 21, 2011 11:42:25 GMT -5 hoganhallnash said:

John Cena BY FAR is the highest paid in the company. Easily.

He's probably restructured his downside guarantee to at least 2 million and gets a higher % in merchandise since 2004/2005, but off of all the things he does within WWE, he's got to be making probably double compared to the second highest paid, which is either Triple H or Undertaker.

If I had to take a very longshot guess as to what he makes, I'm guessing Cena makes, in the WWE, 6-8 million a year total net worth (includes everything...wrestling payoffs, movies, merch, etc.). Triple H/Taker prob makes 3-5 million net worth, maybe more, maybe less (considering they don't go full time like Cena.)

Two Million? Doubtful, but who knows? But you are probably right about the merchandise. If he isn't getting at least 10% Merchandise, I'd be shocked.

My guess would be his minimum guarantee is lower than Undertaker's or Triple H's, though.

Apr 21, 2011 23:58:39 GMT -5 randomranter said:

It would be interesting to know how much in expenses they have to pay. A lot of those salaries look like a lot of money, but once you deduct rental cars, gas, health insurance, hotels, and whatever other costs are associated with being on the road, a lot of those paychecks probably don't look nearly as good. Heck, once you deduct expenses, I wouldn't be surprised to find out that many of them probably don't clear all that much more than I do.

(Keep in mind, I'm talking about the rank-and-file guys, not the top guys who have some or all of their expenses paid for them.)

Agreed. If I were working for job that requires a lot of travel, I would want my travel paid for, followed by hotel accommodations.

[Session Moth is over]

I don't know about the legitimacy of that list.

Matt Striker: $43,000

Seriously. When you have to pay for your own expenses and take into consideration time on the road and the huge workload, this is a terrible wage. That works out at less than €30,000. That wouldn't be considered a great wage here and when you take expenses away from that its just terrible. I don't believe it.

[The Deadly Snake]

Apr 22, 2011 4:15:05 GMT -5 Session Moth is over said:

I don't know about the legitimacy of that list.

Matt Striker: $43,000

Seriously. When you have to pay for your own expenses and take into consideration time on the road and the huge workload, this is a terrible wage. That works out at less than €30,000. That wouldn't be considered a great wage here and when you take expenses away from that its just terrible. I don't believe it.

I bet that's why he doesn't work as a wrestler anymore. That being said, the fact that he's rarely on the two major shows is not a good sign for him.