Hulk Hogan
- Byname of:
- Terry Gene Bollea
Who is Hulk Hogan?
Who is Hulk Hogan married to?
What was the outcome of Hulk Hogan’s lawsuit against Gawker?
Hulk Hogan (born August 11, 1953, Augusta, Georgia, U.S.) is one of the most famous performers in the history of professional wrestling. His huge popularity in the 1980s sparked “Hulkamania” and contributed to the rise of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF; now World Wrestling Entertainment [WWE]). Hogan is known for his charisma, immense size—he stands 6 feet 7 inches (2 meters)—and trademark bandana and handlebar mustache.
Early life
He was born Terry Gene Bollea, and while a young child, he and his family—which included an older brother—moved to Tampa, Florida. Bollea played baseball growing up and was a star pitcher in high school, attracting the attention of Major League Baseball scouts. However, an injury at age 16 ended his hopes of a professional career. Bollea also was interested in music and played the bass guitar.
Hogan attended Hillsborough Community College and then the University of South Florida but dropped out to pursue a career in music. He was a member of the rock band Ruckus, which played in Florida bars. During one of these performances in 1976, Bollea was “discovered” by the pro wrestling tag team the Brisco Brothers. Soon after they arranged for Japanese wrestler Hiro Matsuda to train Bollea.
In addition to Hulk Hogan, Bollea competed under the names the Super Destroyer, Sterling Golden, Terry Boulder, and Hollywood Hogan.
“Hulkamania”
Bollea made his independent circuit debut in 1977, when he faced off against Brian Blair in Fort Myers, Florida, under the name the Super Destroyer. His career took off in 1979, when he joined the WWF. He made his WWF debut later that year and adopted the name “Hulk Hogan.” In 1980 he defeated Andre the Giant.
In 1982 Hogan made the transition to movies, appearing in Rocky III as the wrestler Thunderlips. At the time wrestlers were discouraged from performing outside the ring, and Hogan was fired from the WWF. However, he returned in 1983, as the WWF took a new direction under Vince McMahon, Jr., who introduced outrageous storylines and molded wrestlers into child-friendly stars. The following year Hogan defeated the Iron Sheik to win the WWF heavyweight title. Considered the match that “changed wrestling forever,” it brought new viewers to the sport and helped launch “Hulkamania.” Hogan’s reign as champion lasted until 1988, when he lost the title to Andre the Giant. By this time, Hogan had become a household name, and wrestling enjoyed widespread popularity.
In 1993 Hogan left the WWF to distance himself from a steroid scandal involving McMahon. He testified at McMahon’s trial in 1994 and said that he had used steroids for years but that McMahon had not asked him to take the drug. McMahon was found not guilty of conspiring to distribute steroids. During this time Hogan pursued an acting career. After a cameo in Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990), he starred in the poorly received comedies Suburban Commando (1991), Mr. Nanny (1993), and Santa with Muscles (1996).
In 1994 Hogan joined Ted Turner’s World Championship Wrestling (WCW). He sent shock waves through the wrestling world in 1996 when he became the villainous “heel” Hollywood Hogan at the Bash at the Beach, where he formed the New World Order alliance with Scott Hall and Kevin Nash. In 2002 Hogan, along with Hall and Nash, returned to the WWF, which had acquired the WCW. (That year the WWF also changed its name to World Wrestling Entertainment [WWE].) Hogan was embraced by fans, and he dropped the “heel” persona when he aligned with Dwayne (“The Rock”) Johnson and other wrestlers against his former New World Order partners.
Gawker lawsuit
In 2012 Hogan became involved in a legal battle with media outlet Gawker, after it posted a 2007 sex tape featuring Hogan and Heather Clem, the wife of Todd (“Bubba the Love Sponge”) Clem, a friend of Hogan’s who was a talk radio DJ. Hogan sought to have the video taken down, but a federal judge ruled in favor of Gawker. Hogan then filed a civil lawsuit against Gawker and the site’s founder, Nick Denton, and editor A.J. Daulerio, alleging invasion of privacy; Hogan said he was unaware that his encounter with Heather Clem was being filmed. The trial began in 2016, and the jury found in Hogan’s favor, awarding him $140 million. Shortly thereafter Gawker had filed for bankruptcy and sold itself to Univision. Later in 2016 Gawker reached a $31 million settlement with Hogan. That year it was revealed that Hogan’s lawsuit had been financed by Peter Thiel, the cofounder of PayPal. In 2007 Gawker had revealed that Thiel was gay.
Later wrestling career and Trump
During the legal battle with Gawker, the National Enquirer leaked audio of another sex tape (again with Heather Clem) in which Hogan used racial slurs while speaking about his daughter’s Black boyfriend. The WWE terminated Hogan’s contract in 2015. Three years later, however, Hogan returned to the WWE and began making appearances for the company. In 2021 he cohosted WrestleMania 37, though he was booed by fans.
During the 2024 presidential election Hogan supported Donald Trump and spoke at the 2024 Republican National Convention, at one point saying, “Let Trumpmania make America great again!” Trump won the race.
Personal life
In 1983 Hogan married Linda Claridge, and the couple had two children. The family starred in the reality show Hogan Knows Best (2005–07). In 2009 Linda Hogan and Hulk Hogan divorced. From 2010 to 2021 he was married to Jennifer McDaniel. Hogan wed Sky Daily in 2023.