The Rock Reveals Early WWE Pay and How He Negotiated $2 Million Deal with Vince McMahon

The Rock, one of the biggest names in professional wrestling and entertainment, made his WWE debut at Survivor Series in 1996 as a highly touted prospect. While his initial babyface persona, Rocky Maivia, didn’t resonate with fans, he found his footing when he transformed into “The Rock” alongside The Nation of Domination. By 1999, The Rock was positioned next to “Stone Cold” Steve Austin as one of the top stars in the wrestling world.

During a recent interview with Patrick Bet-David, The Rock shared insight into his first contract negotiation with Vince McMahon and the pivotal moments that shaped his career trajectory.

The Rock spoke highly of his relationship with McMahon, built on mutual respect and a shared commitment to hard work. He recalled, “The relationship between Vince and I was a great relationship because it was based on my willingness to work for every dollar. Our relationship was about the work, willing to put in the work, and I have a tremendous, boundless respect for the business of pro wrestling that is so deeply important to him. That’s his life. That’s his world. It’s his blood.”

The Rock explained how he felt destined to take WWE to new heights after his rise as “The Rock.” When McMahon asked, “What’s next?” after his career began to take off, The Rock’s response was bold: “I feel what’s next is to take this brass ring and take it to places it’s never been.” That shared vision marked the beginning of The Rock’s ascension to superstardom.

The Rock’s First WWE Contract: Humble Beginnings

The Rock’s initial WWE contract wasn’t what many would expect for a future megastar. “My very first contract with WWE with Vince was a five-year contract for $150,000 a year,” The Rock shared.

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.

Negotiating a Million-Dollar Deal

As The Rock’s popularity soared, it became time to renegotiate his contract. McMahon suggested that The Rock might need an agent, but the wrestler declined, opting instead to negotiate directly. “I said, ‘I’d like to negotiate with you directly. How we met was with a handshake, and I believe how we’re going to do this is with a handshake,’” The Rock explained.

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. The Rock didn’t hesitate: “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.

What are your thoughts on The Rock’s rise to stardom and his approach to negotiating with Vince McMahon? Let us know in the comments below!