Hulk Hogan is the most famous, most successful, and let’s face it, the most badass wrestler in history. Whether you love him or love to hate him, the Hulkster has lived an eventful life that’s full of surprises.
Sure, we all know of his epic victories over the likes of Sergeant Slaughter and the Iron Sheikh, but there are lots of things you probably don’t know about Hulk Hogan. Read on to find out some of the most obscure facts from the life of everyone favorite blonde mustached legend.
1. Hulkamania’s Original
Hulk Hogan was born in 1953 in Augusta, Georgia. His given name, Terry Gene Bollea, did not hint at his amazing future. Terry’s father was a construction foreman, and his mother was a dance teacher.
His unique physical characteristics are due to a combination of French, Italian, Scottish and Panamanian heritage. When he was less than two years old, his family moved to Florida, where his legend continued to unfold.
2. He Was a Huge, Talented Teen Pitcher
As a teenager, he was a pitcher in Little Leagues Baseball. His exceptional performance attracted scouts from the Cincinnati Reds scouts and the New York Yankees.
Sadly for young Terry, but thankfully for future Hulk, he was injured when he was 16 years old. This cut his baseball career short. He picked up wrestling short after.
During his teen years, Hulk ate a lot more than your typical boy. He could eat 10 eggs, a pound-heavy burger, and a quart of juice each morning.
3. College Dropout and Band Bassist
In addition to all the skills we know him for, Hulk was actually also a skilled bassist!
Hulk Hogan (still Terry back then) dropped out of his major in Business Management to follow his dreams. He left college to form a band known as Ruckus in 1976. He spent ten years playing the bass guitar with Ruckus and other rock bands.
As a musician, he played at many bars where wrestlers were performing, and this helped him get noticed. During his spare time as a bassist, he worked out at a local Tampa Bay gym where he made even more connections and got started on his wrestling career.
4. Hogan the Movie Star
Soon after he stepped into the ring, Hulkamania’s popularity skyrocketed. In addition to his wrestling legend, Hulk starred in several movies and TV shows in the 80ies and the 90ies.
In 1982, Sylvester Stallone cast him in Rocky III as Thunderlips the Ultimate Male. During the shooting of the movie, Hulk supposedly sent three stunt doubles to the hospital.
From Rocky III, Hulk went on to star in movies, including Suburban Commando, Mr. Nanny, Muppets in Space, Gremlins 2, and many others. He also starred in three TV shows, namely: Thunder in Paradise, Hogan Knows Best and China, IL.
Hulk was also the director’s choice to play Mr. Freeze in Batman and Robin. He was shortlisted alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone because the Mr. Freeze suit weighed 75 pounds, so it needed a strong guy to wear it. Schwarzenegger eventually took the role and saved the Hulkster the embarrassment of having played in that movie!
5. Hulk Hogan’s Actual Brother
You might now know it, brother, but Hulk Hogan had an actual brother nobody knows anything about. Hulk’s brother, Allan Bollea, was born in 1947 and died in 1986 after receiving multiple gunshots in the back.
Sad? Mysterious? Weird? You decide, but that’s another obscure fact from Hulk Hogan’s colorful life!
6. Net Worth
Hulk Hogan is currently worth $25 million dollars. He used to worth a lot more before his divorce in 2009 which cost him 70% of his total assets back then was estimated at more than $34 million dollars!
He made most of his money after being discovered by WWF in 1979. Winning his debut match against Andre the Giant, Hulk quickly became the richest and most famous wrestler of all time. By 1985 his career had reached its full height. Hulk starred in movies, sold his own products, hosted TV shows and more!
7. The Hulkster Lost 3 Inches Due to Spine Surgeries
Back in the 1980s, Hulk Hogan’s billed height was 6 feet and 7 inches. If you were to measure him again today you would find him three inches shorter!
How? Well, Hulk Hogan had to undergo several spinal and back surgeries over the years, which cost him some of his legendary height. He was supposedly in great pain after retiring as a wrestler, which took many surgeries to correct.
8. Charity
Hogan is the most requested celebrity of the Make-a-Wish Foundation children’s charity! Kids love him, and he has given back a lot to the community that made him into the legend he is.
Hogan has supported tons of charities through the years, including The Special Olympics, the American Diabetes Association, and various veteran associations. You can find more about his commitment to our brave heroes at his official website.
9. Hulk Hogan Saved WWF Chairman Vince McMahon from Jail
The steroid scandal of the 90ies didn’t leave the Hulkster unaffected. He admitted to taking steroids for 14 years, from 1980 to 1994. However, WWF Chairman Vince McMahon was in an even more dire position as he was accused of giving steroids to the wrestlers.
Hogan came out and admitted that Vince McMahon never gave him or any other wrestler any steroids. This saved McMahon from serving jail time after the prosecution accepted Hogan’s statement.
10. Hulk Hogan’s Life Difficulties
Finally, you should know that heroes like Hulk Hogan can have it rough too. His wife embarrassed him publicly before filing for divorce, something he found out during an interview. His son served jail time, and his wife took off with the majority of the fortune he earned in the ring.
Hulk even contemplated suicide on some point, but his co-hostess, Laila Ali helped him change his mind and keep on going strong!
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