Dwayne The Rock Johnson was born in Hayward, California on May 2, 1972. While he is the grandson of professional wrestler Peter “High Chief” Fanene Maivia and son of wrestler Rocky Johnson. In his early life he was constantly moving due to his father’s wrestling career. When he was 14, his mother’s car was repossessed and soon after he and his mother were evicted from his childhood home. “We come home, and there’s a padlock on the door and an eviction notice. My mom starts bawling. She just started crying and breaking down. ‘Where are we going to live? What are we going to do?’”
While he burden her mother by getting into fights and joining a theft ring that preyed on the most affluent stores in Waikiki. That often landed him in the hands of the police. Dwayne has been in and out of the police custody 8-9 times before he turned 17. Meanwhile, the wrestler turned actor was angry at his father for being absent. And for forcing him to move some 13 times during his childhood, staying in some places for just a few months at a time.
Picture: Dwayne The Rock Johnson with his father Rocky Johnson
As his mother scrambled for the work that would land them a new home, he resolved never to go through this again. “That was the tipping point,” he says. “It was about, ‘What can I control with these two hands?’ The only thing I could do was train and build my body. The successful men I knew were men who built their bodies.”
And that’s what Dwayne The Rock Johnson did, pounded his muscles with weights, pushing himself until he went from being a kid to an athlete. He knew that athlete could legitimately envision a career in the NFL. At 18, he landed a full football scholarship to the University of Miami and was amazed when he got to know that he was the only freshman chosen to play which was a rarity in college football. And in the same university, he met his future wife Andy Garcia.
Picture: Dwayne The Rock Johnson at Miami University
After he started practicing with the Football team, he sustained many injuries and was in and out of the team. Also because of his shoulder injury, he dropped out of school. And that too without even taking his midterms and was in deep depression. His coach tried to get him back in the team, but many injuries followed. In 1995, from being signed by the Canadian Football League Calgary Stampedes at a yearly salary of $35,000, he was moved to practice team, which paid a mere $250 a week. “In 1995 I had $7 bucks in my pocket and knew two things: I’m broke as hell and one day I won’t be. You Can Achieve Anything!”, he said.
Picture: Dwayne The Rock Johnson in WWE
Being in and out of the depression because of his career, Dwayne hit a low with his relationship too. Finally, one day he decided to follow his father and grandfather into wrestling. After few bouts and being rejected by the fans, the young Rocky turned ‘The Rock‘, the biggest entertainer in the sports industry. From a clumsy guy to people absolute favorite, the boy was now known as Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. With a massive fan following, the Rock made millions for himself and the WWE. He still turns for counsel with WWE chairman, Vince McMahon.
Also check out: Rock tops the chart of Highest Paid Actors In The World – 2016
After his huge success in Wrestling, in 2000, he landed a role in The Mummy Returns. While the role was followed by more than a dozen films including 2005’s Be Cool, 2007’s The Game Plan and 2008’s Get Smart. With these movies, Dwayne The Rock Johnson knew there is still something missing and started pumping in the Gym. After that, with new and improved actor working his ass out, he landed in many movies namely Fast & Furious series, which made him a phenomenon.
When not filming, Johnson gets up at 4 a.m and goes to his personal Gym. While he is still working with WWE on some special occasions. Also, he oversees a fledgling production company named 7 Bucks Entertainment. In addition, he is working for many big franchises, a few endorsement brands. While, you will also see the wrestler as a Superhero in his upcoming movies.
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