4 superstars who went broke after leaving WWE

WWE Superstars are mainly known to be financially successful in the eyes of fans and the general public due to the mainstream fame and overall popularity of the Stamford-based promotion. However, some of these stars failed to replicate the financial success after they left the company.

The minimum amount a WWE Superstar reportedly makes in a year is around $350,000. While this is certainly an impressive number, it still falls short of the salaries of other current stars, who make millions a year, like Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, Drew McIntyre, and more. While this money a year can set most of them up for life and guarantee a comfortable retirement, some wrestlers found it difficult to do so, especially when the pay was much smaller.

For this list, we will look at four superstars who went broke after leaving WWE.

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#4. 6-time World Champion Batista

Batista is one of the most well-known and accomplished wrestlers in WWE history, and his success followed him in Hollywood, as The Animal landed roles in Marvel, Dune, Knives Out Universe, and more. While he is successful now, that wasn't the case when the four-time World Heavyweight Champion initially left the company.

In 2010, The Animal quit the Stamford-based promotion. Later, Batista revealed that he "starved for three years," as he went broke. The two-time WWE Champion noted that he couldn't get a job and vowed not to return to the promotion until he could prove himself as an actor.

Although he landed a few movies after exiting the company in 2010, it was his role as Drax The Destroyer in Guardians of The Galaxy that skyrocketed his career as an actor.

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#3. Late wrestling legend Virgil

Wrestling legend Virgil was in the erstwhile WWF from 1986 to 1994. He briefly returned in 1995 and then proceeded to appear in WCW for the next four years. Virgil had another short stint in the Stamford-based company in 2010 alongside Ted DiBiase Jr. He also appeared in AEW from 2019 to 2020.

Despite all of his appearances, the late star struggled financially before passing away earlier this year.

He taught mathematics at a Catholic high school, and fans noted how his tables were mostly empty during meet-and-greets. Before Virgil passed away, he set up a GoFundMe to help raise money for toiletries, clothing, and other basic needs.

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#2. 1994 Royal Rumble winner Lex Luger

Lex Luger was one of the rising stars in WWE in the 1990s, with some even comparing his popularity to Hulk Hogan. Luger won the Royal Rumble Match in 1994. However, his move to WCW in 1995 changed the trajectory of his career.

Luger experienced some serious setbacks in his personal life, including incarceration, drug use, and being paralyzed after a spinal injury. Due to medical expenses and legal problems, his financial status has taken a toll.

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#1. WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair

It's hard to imagine the jet-flying, limousine-riding Ric Flair ever being broke in his life, thanks to his flashy robes and stylish wardrobe. However, that was what happened after The Nature Boy initially retired in 2008.

It was said that Flair would spend a lot of money on materialistic things like cars, robes, suits, jewelry, and more. In the 1980s, he didn't pay his taxes, which continues to land him in trouble with the IRS up to this day. Despite the loans and debts, The Nature Boy continues to live lavishly. Fortunately for the Hall of Famer, Vince McMahon helped him with some of his finances by giving him a loan of $800,000.