How much do WWE stars get paid?

Aiel

Just a question i was curious about as to how much would the top WWE stars be getting paid?Are they paid by Salary or by each show they do?Would they be earning 6 or even 7 figure amounts per year?

Stereomaniac

Both.

Mick Murdock

I'm not an expert on this, but afaik..

The very top stars like Cena and Punk earn the majority of their money through show appearances, position on PPV cards (depending on how many buy rates it does and if they are main eventing etc.) and merchandise sales. They are guaranteed a minimum base salary, but there's a major incentive for them to get over with the crowd and sell merch and ppv's etc. For Punk/Cena that would equate to well into seven figure salaries.

However, on the lower end of the scale they can earn a LOT less.

Aiel

I was thinking alot of their earnings was to do with getting a cut from their own merchandise sales etc.I'd say the minimum basic pay they get is'nt too bad though.

deisedude

I wonder if Zack Ryder was one of the top earning stars last year. He was shifting a serious amount of merch before WWE buried him

gnfnrhead

You get a small cut of merchandise unless you are someone like Cena. He'd get a big chunk of it.

There was a salary list floating around a few years ago that didn't get many objections from what I saw. I'll see if I can find it when on a computer later.

Mick Murdock

Aiel wrote: »

I was thinking alot of their earnings was to do with getting a cut from their own merchandise sales etc.I'd say the minimum basic pay they get is'nt too bad though.

I think they keep guaranteed money to a minimum in order to keep the incentives in place. Makes sense in the wrestling industry.

Mick Murdock

gnfnrhead wrote: »

You get a small cut of merchandise unless you are someone like Cena. He'd get a big chunk of it.

There was a salary list floating around a few years ago that didn't get many objections from what I saw. I'll see if I can find it when on a computer later.

This is an old list.. Not sure if there's a more recent one, but gives you an idea about earnings structure..




Below is the World Wrestling Entertainment talent roster payroll that was taken
from October of 2004 until February of 2006. The shown dollar amount beside each
wrestler is the grand total that they earned from World Wrestling Entertainment
in a one year period (downside guarantees, bonuses, and merchandise shares).
Some wrestler's were given special privileges and bonuses in their contracts
which can also be seen beside their total pay. All wrestler's contracts begin
and end at different months of the year, there for each shown amount is what
that particular wrestler earned in a 365 day time period between October 2004
and February 2006 (or however long they have been with the company). All dollar
amounts were rounded up/down (Example: $244,766 would be $245,000)

-
Ashley Massaro: $131,000
- Batista: $813,000 (First class flight tickets paid
for every week)
- Big Show: $1,000,000 (Base salary)
- Bob Holly:
$217,000
- Booker T: $375,000
- Candice Michelle: $64,000
- Carlito:
$319,000
- Chavo Guerrero: $206,000
- Chris Benoit: $488,000 (First class
flight tickets paid for every week)
- Chris Masters: $253,000
- Christian
- $396,000
- Danny Basham: $130,000
- Doug Basham: $126,000
- Eddie
Guerrero: $372,000
- Edge: $704,000
- Eugene: $189,000
- Funaki:
$124,000
- Gene Snitsky: $292,000
- Gregory Helms: $277,000
- John
Cena: $1,743,000 (First class flight tickets, hotel accommodations, and ground
transportation paid for every week)
- John Layfield: $786,000 (Five star
hotel accommodations paid for every week)
- Jerry Lawler: $204,000 (First
class flight tickets, hotel accommodations, and ground transportation paid for
every week)
- Jillian Hall: $52,000
- Joey Mercury: $134,000
- Johnny
Nitro: $143,000
- Jonathan Coachman: $175,000
- Kane: $ 851,000 (First
class flight tickets paid for every week)
- Ken Kennedy: $133,000
- Kid
Kash: $62,000
- Kurt Angle: $1,023,000 (First class flight tickets paid for
every week)
- Lance Cade: $118,000
- Lilian Garcia: $90,000
- Lita:
$286,000 (Mostly downside paid due to lack of wrestling)
- Maria:
$41,000
- Mark Henry: $300,000 (Base pay)
- Matt Hardy: $322,000 (Missed
over $70,000 of pay due to firing)
- Matt Striker: $43,000
- Melina:
$155,000
- Mickie James: $72,000
- Nunzio: $186,000
- Orlando Jordan:
$145,000
- Paul London: $177,000
- Psicosis: $122,000
- Randy Orton:
$711,000 (First class flight tickets paid for every week)
- Rene Dupree:
$289,000
- Rey Mysterio: $414,000
- Ric Flair: $508,000 (First class
flight tickets paid for every week)
- Rob Conway: $186,000
- Rob Van Dam:
$220,000 (Only received downside and royalties due to injury)
- Rosey:
$105,000
- Shawn Michaels: $1,045,000 (First class flight tickets, hotel
accommodations, and ground transportation paid for every week)
- Shelton
Benjamin: $366,000
- Simon Dean: $132,000
- Stacy Keibler: $178,000 (Only
downside paid during absence)
- Steven Richards: $94,000
- Torrie Wilson:
$260,000
- Trevor Murdoch: $48,000
- Triple H: $2,013,000 (Allowed the
personal use of company jet (10) times per year. First class flight tickets,
hotel accommodations, and ground transportation paid for every week)
- Trish
Stratus: $618,000 (Receives 20% of all Trish Stratus merchandise sold)
-
Tyson Tomko: $127,000
- Undertaker: $1,811,000 (First class flight tickets,
hotel accommodations, and ground transportation paid for every week)
- Val
Venis: $210,000
- Victoria: $275,000
- Viscera: $130,000
- William
Regal: $225,000

Cianan2

Why did Danny Basham get more then Doug Basham?

jaykhunter

There was a specious one that came out this year - if I can find it I'll post

Aiel

Thanks for that list Mick Murdock.Its interesting reading,im surprised Randy Orton didnt make more.Triple H had a sweet contract but then thats what happens when you marry the bosses daughter:).

rossie1977

this was the one floating around last month

these figures are rounded up from the original figures we received. These figures do not include, PPV or appearance bonuses, nor do they include the merchandise cut that each performer receives. Some performers receive an additional percentage added to their merchandise cut, if they are a high merchandise seller, and these are noted.

Note 1: It would appear that WWE’s standard contract lengths are 1 year, 3 year, 5 year, 7 year and 10 year.
Note 2: Some performers are offered a higher merchandise royalties percentage for taking a smaller downside. These figures were not made available to us.
Note 3: The executive office and “legends” contracts were not made available to us. These contracts operate on a different system entirely.
Note 4: The Undertaker is believed to be on a per-appearance contract, in which he is paid an agreed upon rate (a long with the typical PPV bonus if he wrestlers) for each appearance he makes for the company. Undertaker of course, still receives his merchandise royalites, etc, but isn’t on a downside contract. Undertaker is not on a legends contact, which means he cannot make appearances for independent promotions.

Alberto Del Rio: $675,000 downside/first class travel - 3 year contract
Big Show: $1,050,000 downside/allocated a personal touring bus/first class travel arrangements paid for, when bus travel is not an option - 10 year contract
Brodus Clay: $170,000 downside - 2 year contract
Christian: $595,000 downside/first class travel - 3 year contract
CM Punk: $1,220,500 downside/allocated a personal touring bus/first class travel arrangements paid for, when bus travel is not an option/receives an additional 3.25% bonus for high merchandise sales - 7 year contract
Cody Rhodes: $494,500 downside - 3 year contract
Daniel Bryan: $620,470 downside - 3 year contract
Darren Young: $80,145 downside - 3 year contract
Dolph Ziggler: $540,230 downside - 3 year contract
Jack Swagger: $319,000 downside - 3 year contract
Jinder Mahal: $75,000 downside - 3 year contract
John Cena: $2,750,000 downside/first class travel and accommodation/receives an additional 6.25% bonus for high merchandise sales - 10 year contract
Kane: $905,000 downside/first class travel and accommodation - 5 year contract
Kofi Kingston: $254,200 downside - 3 year contract
Mark Henry: $877,000 downside/first class travel - 10 year contract
Randy Orton: $1,600,500 downside/allocated a personal touring bus/first class travel arrangements paid for, when bus travel is not an option/receives an additional 2.2% bonus for high merchandise sales - 10 year contract
Rey Mysterio: $985,000 downside/first class travel arrangements/receives an additional 4% bonus for high merchandise sales - 5 year contract
Sheamus: $1,000,000 downside/first class travel arrangements - 7 year contract
Tensai: $520,000 downside - 3 year contract
The Great Khali: $974,000 downside - 5 year contract
The Miz: $712,000 downside/first class travel - 5 year contract
Zack Ryder: $135,050 downside/receives an additional 1.5% bonus for high merchandise sales - 3 year contract

Alicia Fox: $72,520 downside - 3 year contract
AJ Lee: $104,300 downside - 3 year contract
Beth Phoenix: $112,500 downside/first class travel - 3 year contract
Eve: $109,475 downside/first class travel - 5 year contract
Layla: $86,450 downside - 3 year contract
Natalya: $74,410 downside - 3 year contract

Booker T: $477,375 downside/first class travel and accommodation - 3 year contract
Jerry Lawler: $500,000 downside/first class travel and accommodation/allowed to make independent appearances - 5 year contract
Matt Striker: $164,000 downside - 3 year contract
Michael Cole: $549,000 downside/first class travel and accommodation - 5 year contract

Mick Murdock

Thanks for that, Rossie. Much higher than I was expecting in a lot of cases.

Khali is certainly doing well for himself!!

Cool that Sheamo is on a nice round million. Surprised he's not on the high merch sales list - would have thought he moves a lot of stuff?

gnfnrhead

Mick posted the one I was thinking of. Knew it was an old one but didnt know there was a newer one. Surprised Layla gets so little. She is one of the most popular and usually one of the most used.

Cole has a pretty sweet deal considering he is only a commentator and has almost no wrestling experience.

the groutch

Mick Murdock wrote: »

Khali is certainly doing well for himself!!

he would pull in alot of merchandise sales, and international buys when he's on a PPV card, remember India has a population 4 times the US

ceegee

Seems they were a bit over optimistic about Tensai's return, getting a decent amount of wedge considering where he's ended up on the card

B.A._Baracus

Its mental when you see the figures of what the talent is on ... because then you still have all the office staff working in titan towers, the riggers/technicians, the production staff etc etc.

How much does it actually cost WWE to run each year? :eek: A few hundred million a year?


They have to be making money hand over fist.

jaykhunter

Some of those numbers are fine, some are way off, Sheamus is not making near that much! Sure he was in FCW/ECW until a few years ago. Haven't found the article on it yet

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

How much does it actually cost WWE to run each year? :eek: A few hundred million a year?

The only make about 11% of their spending back as profit but it still ends up about $50million each year. For example :

Fiscal year 2011
WWE spent $432 million
brought in $484 million
leaving a profit of $52million
incurring losses (from WWE films & WWE Network costs they're left with) : $24.8 million

Hashtag_HEEL

CM Punk is making some amount of money!

rossie1977

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

Its mental when you see the figures of what the talent is on ... because then you still have all the office staff working in titan towers, the riggers/technicians, the production staff etc etc.

selling and admin costs last year were $117m, for year 1999-2000 when wwe were reportedly paying their top stars alot more than today selling and admin costs were $71m for those 12 months

DEFTLEFTHAND

Didn't Sheamus only sign a new deal last year so the million downside might be accurate, he is one of the top guys after all and I'm sure Triple H would pull for him in contract talks.

B.A._Baracus

jaykhunter wrote: »

The only make about 11% of their spending back as profit but it still ends up about $50million each year. For example :

Fiscal year 2011
WWE spent $432 million
brought in $484 million
leaving a profit of $52million
incurring losses (from WWE films & WWE Network costs they're left with) : $24.8 million

Yeah I heard WWE makes around 50 million profit a year.
Its crazy when you think of it tho ... they brought in $484 million last year. But had to spend $432 million. Gotta spend money to make money huh? :pac:

gnfnrhead

How much did Linda waste last year? Assume the cost was split evenly each year? If it is, they'd have ended up losing money but I reckon this year cost more than last year for Linda.

I know they aren't one in the same, but it all goes down to McMahon at the end of it.

areyawell

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2P40r78lrE

This might give ye an idea.
I'd say Punk, Cena, Sheamus, Orton, del rio are all on 2 or 3 million a year. Less wrestlers like the miz or rey mysterio probably on 500k a year and the ****e wrestlers on 100 or 200k a year

B.A._Baracus

areyawell wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2P40r78lrE

This might give ye an idea.
I'd say Punk, Cena, Sheamus, Orton, del rio are all on 2 or 3 million a year. Less wrestlers like the miz or rey mysterio probably on 500k a year and the ****e wrestlers on 100 or 200k a year

Rey Mysterio is on alot more than 500k Its reported that he is a merchandise machine.

But thats the thing about that list. Is it accurate? Would WWE release information about every doller talent makes. But interestingly enough I remember watching the Chris Candido Shoot Interview (think it was made in 2003?) And in it he states how he then recently got a royalty check from WWE. Even tho he wasnt with the company since, what, 1996? ... he was still getting checks for the dvd sales of the ppv's he was on ...

makes you think how much such guys as triple H and the untertaker make from them alone. as they've been on so many over the years.
Candido said it was only a few grand and once in a while he'd get them. But seeing as how he was only on a few ppvs... makes you think about the others who have been.

A Primal Nut

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

Yeah I heard WWE makes around 50 million profit a year.
Its crazy when you think of it tho ... they brought in $484 million last year. But had to spend $432 million. Gotta spend money to make money huh? :pac:

In fairness Vince has never cut corners with production, although he does with the wrestlers' travel costs. For some of those guys, after paying hotels and flights, they wouldn't have that much left after.

Most of the wrestlers are doing ok for themselves though considering there is no competition. The threat of WCW meant the big stars earnt a lot more back in the day.

DEFTLEFTHAND

A Primal Nut wrote: »

In fairness Vince has never cut corners with production, although he does with the wrestlers' travel costs. For some of those guys, after paying hotels and flights, they wouldn't have that much left after.

Most of the wrestlers are doing ok for themselves though considering there is no competition. The threat of WCW meant the big stars earnt a lot more back in the day.

That's true WCW certainly inflated wages in the business at the time. Vince offers an opportunity, if things go well you can make a serious amount of money in WWE , I've heard many top guys both past and present say that Vince likes to share the spoils with people who get over and make the company money.

airmax87

Anyone know what a mid-carder / lower carder would have gotten payed in 2000 ?
In a shoot interview Dlo-Brown talks about Steve Blackman's gaff being a kip with cockroaches in it and the likes?
Maybe he just wasn't a spender.

Charisteas

airmax87 wrote: »

Anyone know what a mid-carder / lower carder would have gotten payed in 2000 ?

Probably more than today because of more competition back in 2000.