Dwayne Johnson

The Rock: From Rejection and Depression to Hollywood’s Billion-Dollar Superstar

At 48 years old, Dwayne Johnson has built an empire—an iconic wrestling career, a blockbuster-filled Hollywood legacy, and a life that many would envy.

But behind his global success lies a journey of hardship, rejection, and resilience that few truly know.

A Difficult Childhood: Bullied and Battling Depression

Born into a legendary wrestling family, Johnson seemed destined for greatness.

His father, Rocky Johnson, was the first Black wrestling champion, while his grandfather, Peter Maivia, was a Samoan wrestling pioneer.

However, being part of a wrestling dynasty didn’t make life easy.

Standing at 1.

9 meters (6’3”) and over 90 kg (200 lbs) by age 15, Johnson’s massive physique made him an outsider in school.

Instead of admiration, he was often feared and rejected.

Teachers and classmates even avoided him, mistaking him for an undercover cop due to his intimidating presence.

But social rejection was only part of his struggle.

At just 14 years old, his family was evicted from their home in Hawaii, leaving them with nowhere to go.

Johnson recalled moments of desperation, even admitting that he once stole steaks from a supermarket just to have food on the table.

His darkest moment came at 15 years old, when he witnessed his mother attempt to take her own life.

This traumatic experience deeply affected him, pushing him into a long battle with depression—one that nearly broke him.

The Death of a Dream: A Football Career Cut Short

Despite his wrestling heritage, Johnson’s true passion was football.

He became a standout player, earning a spot on the University of Miami’s football team and even making the national squad at just 19.

However, injuries derailed his career.

His dream of playing in the NFL never materialized.

He attempted to play in smaller leagues but faced constant rejection and failure.

His dream was dead.

“Everything I had worked for was gone.

I had no future in football.

It was the lowest point in my life,” Johnson later admitted.

Plunged into depression and uncertainty, he had $7 to his name and no direction.

But one decision changed everything.

Turning to Wrestling: From Rocky Maivia to “The Rock”

With nowhere else to go, his father convinced him to step into the wrestling ring.

Though reluctant at first, Johnson quickly realized he had a natural talent for it.

In 1995, he made his WWE debut as Rocky Maivia, a tribute to his father and grandfather.

But success didn’t come easy.

Fans mocked him, chanting “Die, Rocky, Die!”

Instead of quitting, he reinvented himself—and The Rock was born.

With electrifying charisma, lightning-fast comebacks, and brutal in-ring skills, he became one of the most dominant wrestlers in history.

Winning multiple championship titles, The Rock cemented his status as one of the greatest WWE legends of all time.

Even after retiring from full-time wrestling in 2004, he continued making special appearances, not for money, but because of his deep love for the sport.

Hollywood’s Billion-Dollar Superstar

By the early 2000s, The Rock had already conquered the wrestling world.

His next challenge? Hollywood.

His first major acting role in The Mummy Returns (2001) led to a breakout role in The Scorpion King (2002).

Despite being a Hollywood newcomer, Johnson earned $5.

5 million—the highest salary ever for a first-time lead actor.

From there, his career skyrocketed.

Starring in The Rundown (2003), Walking Tall (2004), Doom (2005), and Gridiron Gang (2006), he proved he was more than just a wrestler—he was a box office force.

His true breakthrough came when he joined the Fast & Furious franchise as Luke Hobbs, a role that catapulted him to superstardom.

His spin-off movie, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019), grossed $760.

4 million worldwide.

Other blockbusters followed:

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) – $962.1 million

Jumanji: The Next Level (2019) – $674.4 million

Rampage (2018) – $428 million

San Andreas (2015) – $474 million

By 2020, Johnson had become one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actors, earning $20-25 million per movie, and was named Forbes’ highest-paid actor of the year.

His total box office earnings surpass $10.

5 billion worldwide, making him one of the most bankable stars in film history.