Wrestling Legend Hulk Hogan Dies at 71
According to CinemaDrame news agency, Hulk Hogan, one of the most iconic figures in professional wrestling, has died at the age of 71. TMZ reports that he passed away on Thursday morning following a heart attack. Hogan was rushed to the hospital moments after the cardiac event, but doctors were unable to revive him. The wrestler had recently undergone neck surgery, and his wife had denied rumors that he had fallen into a coma.
Hogan was among the first WWE superstars to transition into Hollywood. He made his feature film debut in Rocky III (1982) and went on to appear in a number of action and comedy films over the following decades. Notable titles include No Holds Barred (1989), Suburban Commando (1991), and Santa with Muscles (1996).
Over the course of his career, Hogan became a six-time WWE Champion, a six-time WCW Champion, and won the Royal Rumble twice—in 1990 and 1991. Sports Illustrated ranked him second among the greatest WWE wrestlers of all time.
He married his current wife, Sky, two years ago. Previously, from 1983 to 2009, he was married to Linda Claridge, with whom he had two children. His daughter, Brooke Hogan, born in 1988, is a singer and TV personality who rose to fame through the reality show Hogan Knows Best.
At the time of his death, Hogan’s net worth was estimated at around $25 million—accumulated over decades of wrestling fame, legal battles, and a highly public personal life. He famously sued Gawker over the release of a sex tape and was awarded $31 million in damages. Between 1996 and 2000, he earned nearly $13 million from WrestleMania appearances. A biopic titled Killing Gawker, starring Ben Affleck as Hogan, was reportedly in development.
Last year, Hogan publicly endorsed Donald Trump, ripping his shirt open during a speech at the Republican National Convention. He called Trump a “gladiator,” saying: “I’ve known this man for over 35 years, and he’s always been the greatest patriot. No matter the circumstances, he always finds a way to win.”
