How Much Do WWE Wrestlers Make?

How much do WWE wrestlers make? It’s a question that’s been asked a lot, and we’ve got the answer. Read on to find out how much WWE wrestlers make on average.

WWE Salaries

WWE salaries range from a few thousand dollars to a few million dollars per year. The average WWE wrestler makes $500,000 per year while the top wrestlers can make over $5 million per year. The WWE also offers wrestlers a variety of benefits, including health insurance and retirement plans.

Base Salaries

Base salaries for WWE wrestlers are not publicly disclosed, but it is widely believed that most superstars make between $500,000 and $1 million per year. However, this does not include bonuses or income from merchandise sales.

WWE has a tiered system for its contracts, with the main event stars at the top tier earning the most money. The base salary decreases as you move down the card, with lower-card wrestlers making as little as $50,000 per year. However, many wrestlers supplement their income with revenue from merchandise sales and outside appearances.

Bonuses

In addition to their base salary, WWE wrestlers also receive bonuses for appearing on television and pay-per-view events, as well as for winning matches. The amounts of these bonuses vary depending on the Wrestler’s position on the card (i.e., the main event or a preliminary match) and whether the match was televised or not.

WWE also offers wrestlers additional income by way of merchandising royalties and appearance fees. For example, top-tier wrestlers like John Cena and Brock Lesnar can earn up to $500,000 per year in merchandising royalties, while lower-card wrestlers may only receive a few thousand dollars. In addition, wrestlers are often paid extra for making personal appearances on behalf of WWE, such as meeting with fans or appearing at promotional events.

Merchandise Sales

In addition to their base salary, WWE wrestlers also receive a percentage of the merchandise sales that their characters generate. The company does not release accurate numbers, but it is estimated that the top wrestlers receive around 5% of the total merchandise revenue. This can amount to a significant sum, as merchandise is a major source of WWE’s income.

The most popular wrestlers are usually given preferential treatment in terms of merchandising. For example, John Cena has his own line of t-shirts, action figures, and other merchandise. This creates a virtuous circle whereby the most popular wrestlers generate more income and are then rewarded with more exposure. This helps to ensure that the top names remain at the forefront of WWE’s public image.

Pay-Per-View Bonuses

WWE wrestlers are paid a base salary and bonuses for every pay-per-view event that they participate in. Base salaries for WWE performers range from $250,000 to $2 million annually, according to public filings by the company. The median annual salary for all WWE wrestlers was $500,000 as of 2019, according to the website Forbes.

In addition to their base salary, wrestlers receive a bonus for every pay-per-view event that they participate in. The size of the bonus varies based on the wrestler’s position on the card, with main event wrestlers typically earning more than those in the midcard or lowercard matches. Bonuses can range from $5,000 to $500,000 per pay-per-view event, according to public filings by the company.

WWE also pays its wrestlers a portion of the revenue generated by pay-per-view events, merchandise sales, and live event ticket sales. This revenue sharing arrangement is known as “upfront compensation,” and it can add millions of dollars to a wrestler’s annual income.

WWE Contracts

All WWE Wrestlers are contracted, WWE does not have any independent contractors. The typical WWE Contract will have a Wrestler being paid $500,000 a year. This is just a base salary and does not include any of the other income a wrestler will make.

Length of Contracts

The average WWE contract is for three years and pays wrestlers $500,000 per year, reports Forbes. The top-paid WWE wrestlers make more than $5 million per year. The best-paid WWE wrestler is Brock Lesnar, who made $12 million in 2020.

Contract Renewals

WWE contracts are usually multi-year deals that are renewed on a regular basis. The wrestlers are paid a base salary, as well as bonuses and royalties for their appearances. Base salaries range from $500,000 per year for the top WWE superstars to $50,000 or less for wrestlers on the lower rungs of the ladder. Bonuses and royalties can add up to an additional $500,000 or more per year for the top earners.

Contract Termination

WWE contracts typically range from 3-5 years, although some wrestlers have shorter or longer contracts. All WWE contracts are guaranteed, meaning that the company has to pay the wrestler the full amount of their contract regardless of whether or not they are used on television or released.

Wrestlers are also entitled to royalties based on merchandise sales, as well as a percentage of ticket sales for live events. In addition, they receive bonuses for appearing on main event shows like WrestleMania and Royal Rumble, as well as for winning titles.

WWE Earnings

WWE does not release the salaries of their wrestlers to the public, but it is known that wrestlers make a base salary of $500,000 per year. However, this is just a base salary and does not include other forms of income such as royalties, merchandise sales, and bonuses. The top wrestlers in the WWE can make over $1 million per year.

Main Event Wrestlers

WWE does not reveal how much it pays wrestlers, but various reports suggest that main event wrestlers earn between $500,000 and $3 million per year. The company does not release any information about wrestler salaries, but reports from credible sources suggest that main event wrestlers are among the highest-paid athletes in WWE.

Mid-Card Wrestlers

While the main event stars of WWE are certainly pulling in the big bucks, there are still a number of mid-card wrestlers who are doing quite well for themselves.

According to a report from The Sportster, mid-card wrestlers in WWE make an average salary of $500,000 per year. This puts them well above the average wrestler in other promotions, who make an average of just $50,000 per year.

So, if you’re looking to make a good living as a wrestler, WWE is certainly the place to be. Of course, it should be noted that these numbers are just averages and there are always going to be wrestlers who make more or less than these figures.

Lower Card Wrestlers

In general, lower card wrestlers make less money than those who are regularly featured on WWE programming. According to a report by Pro Wrestling Sheet, the average salary for a WWE wrestler is $500,000 per year. However, wrestlers who are considered to be lower on the card can make as little as $100,000 per year.

WWE Expenses

WWE is a publicly traded company and as such, is required to release their annual report which details their expenses. In 2016, the company reported $658.8 million in total expenses. Of that, $309.6 million was spent on live event production, $109.9 million was spent on talent expenses, and $62.5 million was spent on travel.

Training Expenses

One of the biggest expenses that WWE wrestlers have to deal with is the cost of training. While some wrestlers are able to train at a low cost or even for free, others have to spend a lot of money on training. The cost of training can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars.

Travel Expenses

WWE Wrestlers are responsible for their own travel expenses when they are on the road. WWE does not reimburse wrestlers for travel expenses, unless they are part of a group that is sent on a specific trip. For example, if WWE sends a group of wrestlers to promote a show in another city, they will often pay for the airfare and hotel accommodations.

Medical Expenses

One of the most common questions people ask about WWE is how much the wrestlers make. While WWE does not publicly disclose this information, there are a few ways to estimate earnings.

WWE superstars make a base salary of $250,000 per year, although this number can vary based on factors such as experience, popularity, and WWE’s overall financial health. Bonuses and other forms of compensation (such as pay-per-view bonuses and merchandise sales) can also add to a wrestler’s annual earnings.

In addition to their salaries, WWE superstars also receive medical benefits. These benefits cover the cost of any injuries that occur while wrestling, as well as any necessary treatments or surgeries. WWE pays for all medical expenses related to wrestling injuries, even if the injury occurs outside of WWE’s control (such as during a personal training session).

While the exact amount that WWE spends on wrestler medical expenses is unknown, it is likely that the company spends millions of dollars each year on this benefit alone. In 2009, for example, it was reported that WWE had paid $1 million to retired wrestler Bret Hart for treatment of his post-concussion syndrome.