Net Worth Ranker
What Is Ric Flair’s Net Worth?
Ric Flair, a celebrated American retired professional wrestler and wrestling manager, has amassed a net worth of approximately $500,000. Flair’s wealth is a culmination of earnings from his extensive wrestling career, management roles, Hall of Fame inductions, and various business ventures. His career began in 1972 and spanned four decades, during which he became one of the most iconic figures in professional wrestling. Flair’s net worth reflects the highs and lows of his career, marked by significant earnings and substantial financial challenges.
Ric Flair’s Wrestling Career and Earnings
Flair’s professional wrestling career began on December 10, 1972, when he faced “Scrap Iron” George Gadaski. His initial months were spent with Gagne’s Minneapolis Boxing & Wrestling Club before he transitioned to Charlotte, North Carolina, becoming a regular for Jim Crockett Promotions. In 1981, Flair secured his first NWA World title, marking a significant milestone in his career. He then competed in World Championship Wrestling, TNA Wrestling, and WWE, and headlined Starrcade ten times and WrestleMania in 1992. He also won the Royal Rumble that same year. His accomplishments include being named PWI Wrestler of the Year eight times, which highlights his dominance and longevity in the sport.
Flair’s wrestling career is distinguished by his record-setting 16 world championship reigns, comprising eight NWA World Heavyweight Championships, six WCW World Heavyweight Championships, and two WWF Championships. He also won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship and the WCW International World Heavyweight Championship, becoming the first to achieve WCW’s Triple Crown. He later won the Intercontinental Championship, holding the WWF Championship and the World Tag Team Championship. Flair is the only wrestler to hold all four title versions, underscoring his influence and value in the wrestling industry.
Throughout his career, Flair earned substantial income from wrestling events, pay-per-view appearances, and merchandise sales. While specific figures are not publicly available for each event, it’s estimated that Flair’s earnings from wrestling peaked during the late 1980s and 1990s, coinciding with his most prominent title reigns and high-profile feuds. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2008 for his individual career and in 2012 as part of The Four Horsemen. Flair is also in the NWA Hall of Fame, Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame, and Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame. These accolades not only signify his wrestling legacy but also contributed to his income through various appearances and endorsements.
Ric Flair’s Business Ventures and Partnerships
In July 2022, Flair ventured into the restaurant industry by launching the virtual restaurant chain “Wooooo! Wings” in Nashville, Tennessee. By August 2022, the chain had expanded to six American cities, showcasing Flair’s entrepreneurial spirit. This venture allowed fans to engage with his brand beyond wrestling. While revenue specifics are not publicly available, the expansion suggests a viable business model. In October 2022, Flair partnered with Mike Tyson to create the cannabis line “Ric Flair Drip” under “Tyson 2.0.” This collaboration leveraged Flair’s persona and appeal to tap into the burgeoning cannabis market. The financial details of this partnership, including royalties and investment, remain confidential. However, these ventures highlight Flair’s proactive approach to generating income beyond his wrestling career.
Ric Flair’s Personal Life and Financial Challenges
Born Richard Morgan Fliehr on February 25, 1949, in Memphis, Tennessee, Flair’s personal life has been marked by several marriages and family milestones. He married Leslie Goodman on August 28, 1971, and they had two children, Megan and David, before divorcing in 1983. On August 27, 1983, he married Elizabeth Harrell, with whom he had two more children, Ashley (known as Charlotte Flair in WWE) and Reid. This marriage ended in 2006. Flair married Tiffany VanDemark on May 27, 2006, but they divorced in 2009. He then married Jackie Beems on November 11, 2009, and divorced in 2014. His fifth marriage was to Wendy Barlow on September 12, 2018; they separated in January 2022 but reconciled in May 2022. These personal events have had financial implications, including divorce settlements and family support obligations.
Flair has faced significant financial challenges, including issues with the IRS. In 2000, the IRS placed a lien on him for over $870,000 in unpaid taxes, and garnishments from his WWE earnings began in 2005. He attributed these problems to his second wife’s spending habits. Additional legal filings in 2019 revealed that Flair had not fully paid his taxes for earnings between 2016 and 2018, owing $240,000 to the federal government and $40,000 to the state of Georgia. Furthermore, a medical emergency in 2019, which required heart surgery, left him with $1.8 million in medical bills not covered by insurance. In 2019, Flair disclosed on The Steve Austin Show that he was $500,000 in debt due to his son’s rehab expenses, for which Hulk Hogan provided assistance. These financial setbacks have significantly impacted his net worth, despite his successful career and business ventures.
Flair’s son David worked for WCW from 1999 to 2001, while his other son Reid signed a developmental deal with WWE in 2007. His daughter Ashley, under the stage name Charlotte Flair, signed with WWE in 2012, becoming a prominent figure in the women’s division. In 2004, he became a grandfather when his daughter Megan had her first child, Morgan Lee Ketzner. The tragic death of his son Reid in March 2013 from a drug overdose was a profound personal loss. These family-related events, while not directly impacting his net worth, have influenced his personal and professional life, affecting his overall well-being and financial decisions.
Flair’s spending habits and lifestyle have also played a role in his financial situation. Over the years, he has made outrageous claims, including sleeping with 15,000 women and consuming 15 drinks a day. While these claims may be exaggerated, they reflect a lifestyle that likely contributed to his financial instability. His public persona and extravagant lifestyle have been both a source of appeal and a factor in his financial challenges.
In June 2020, Flair defended his daughter Charlotte from criticism regarding her overexposure in wrestling, stating that she is a millionaire due to the company and can do what she wants. This defense underscores his pride in his daughter’s success and his awareness of financial stability. His comments highlight the financial rewards possible in professional wrestling, albeit with the understanding that such success requires dedication and hard work.
