One of the biggest personalities in entertainment and professional wrestling, The Rock debuted for the WWE at Survivor Series in 1996 as a much-anticipated prospect. Although fans weren’t into his first babyface character, Rocky Maivia, he gained success when he changed to “The Rock” and teamed up with The Nation of Domination. As one of the biggest talents in the world of professional wrestling by 1999, The Rock was ranked with “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.
The Rock recently talked about his first contract negotiation with Vince McMahon and the crucial events that moulded his career path in an interview with Patrick Bet-David.
The Rock was full of praise for his relationship with McMahon, which was based on mutual respect and a shared work ethic. Recalling the past, he said, “My willingness to work for every dollar made Vince and I have a great relationship.” I have an enormous amount of respect for the pro wrestling industry, which is really important to him, and our connection was built on hard work and willingness to put in the necessary effort. That’s how he lives. That is his reality. It is derived from him.
The Rock talked about how, following his ascent to fame as “The Rock,” he felt destined to lead WWE to new heights. After his career started to take off, McMahon asked The Rock, “What’s next?” to which The Rock responded boldly, saying, “I feel what’s next is to take this brass ring and take it to places it’s never been.” The beginning of The Rock’s rise to superstardom was that common vision.
The Rock’s humble beginnings with his first WWE contract
Few people anticipated The Rock’s first WWE deal to be that of a future megastar. The Rock revealed, “My very first contract with WWE was a five-year contract for $150,000 a year with Vince.”
While $150,000 a year may seem like a solid sum, The Rock noted that with the costs associated with being on the road—such as hotels, food, and transportation—he had to stretch his earnings. “When you’re wrestling 250 dates a year, do the math with what you’re getting per match,” he explained, making it clear that he had to grind to make ends meet.
Striking a Million-Dollar Agreement
It was time to renegotiate The Rock’s contract as his fame grew. McMahon suggested that The Rock might need an agent, but the wrestler declined, opting instead to negotiate directly. “I answered, ‘I would want to have direct negotiations with you. The Handshake was how we first met, and I think that’s how we’re going to end this too,” The Rock said.
When asked what he wanted, The Rock boldly inquired about the highest-paid wrestler on the roster. At the time, it was “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, who was earning a guaranteed $1 million. Without pausing, The Rock said, “I want two.” While McMahon was initially surprised, he respected The Rock’s logic and ambition.
However, he had a condition: The Rock needed to learn the business side of wrestling.
Over the next few weeks, The Rock immersed himself in learning the economics of WWE, including venue costs, wrestler payouts, and state taxes. After that crash course, The Rock renegotiated his contract, asking to match Austin’s $1 million guarantee, understanding now how the business worked. But McMahon had another surprise in store.
“He said, ‘How much do you think you’re going to make this year?’ I said, ‘Maybe $1.5 million?’ He said, ‘You’re going to make $15 million.’” By the late ’90s and early 2000s, WWE was booming, and The Rock’s career was about to hit new heights.
The Rock’s Legacy: From Wrestling to Hollywood
From those early contract negotiations to becoming one of WWE’s biggest stars, The Rock’s career only continued to soar. By the time the wrestling world entered a boom period in 1999-2000, The Rock had made well over $15 million, not just in wrestling but in his ventures in Hollywood and business.
The rest is history. The Rock has since become a global icon, transcending professional wrestling and achieving massive success in film, business, and beyond.