Net Worth Ranker
What Is Kurt Angle’s Net Worth?
Kurt Angle, a celebrated figure in both amateur and professional wrestling, boasts a net worth of $5 million. This financial standing reflects his accomplishments in the ring, coupled with ventures into acting and endorsements. His journey from Olympic gold medalist to WWE and TNA icon has been a major influence for wrestling fans.
Early Life and Amateur Wrestling Career
Born in 1968 in Mt. Lebanon Township, Pennsylvania, to Jackie and David Angle, Kurt Angle’s early life was steeped in athletics. He has four older brothers and a sister who passed away in 2003. Angle’s heritage is a mix of Irish, English, Lithuanian, German, and Italian. He started wrestling at the tender age of seven, demonstrating an early aptitude for the sport. He honed his skills at Mt. Lebanon High School, where he juggled varsity wrestling and football. Angle’s wrestling journey continued at Canon-McMillan High, where he maintained an undefeated record as a freshman wrestler. As a senior in 1987, he clinched the Pennsylvania State Wrestling Championship, setting the stage for a highly successful amateur career.
Angle’s collegiate career at Clarion University of Pennsylvania further solidified his wrestling prowess. He became a two-time NCAA Division I champion and a three-time NCAA Division I All-American, underscoring his dominance in collegiate wrestling. His post-collegiate success is marked by a gold medal in freestyle wrestling at the 1995 FILA World Wrestling Championships held in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1996, he won the freestyle wrestling gold medal at the Olympics, also held in Atlanta, famously achieving this feat with a broken neck. Angle stands as one of only four athletes to achieve an amateur wrestling Grand Slam, with wins at the Junior Nationals, NCAA, World Championships, and Olympics. His amateur wrestling career laid the foundation for his future success in professional wrestling, contributing significantly to his current net worth through enhanced marketability and recognition.
Professional Wrestling Career
Although initially skeptical of professional wrestling, Angle’s perception shifted after watching WWF’s “Monday Night Raw” in 1998. Shortly after, he inked a five-year contract with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). Angle’s professional wrestling debut came after only a few days of training, during a match within the developmental league Power Pro Wrestling. His official in-ring WWF debut occurred at Survivor Series, where he defeated Shawn Stasiak. Angle’s initial WWF contract, while specific financial details are not publicly available, undoubtedly provided a solid base for his earnings, with potential bonuses and incentives tied to performance and appearances. In March 1999, Angle took part in his first televised WWF storyline, marking his transition into the entertainment aspect of professional wrestling.
His breakthrough year came in 2000 when he captured both the European Championship and the Intercontinental Championship. Just four months later, he triumphed in the King of the Ring tournament. Angle capped off the year by winning the WWF Championship in October, solidifying his rookie year as one of the greatest in professional wrestling history. His WWF/WWE career spanned from 1998 to 2006 and saw him win the WWF/WWE Championship title four times, along with the World Heavyweight Championship and WCW Championship titles. This earned him the distinction of being the tenth Triple Crown champion in WWE history. The various championship titles and high-profile matches that Kurt Angle participated in throughout his WWE career contributed significantly to his income through performance bonuses, merchandise sales (such as t-shirts and action figures bearing his likeness), and increased appearance fees. In 2017, Angle was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
After departing from WWE in 2006, Angle transitioned to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). He quickly rose to prominence, becoming the inaugural TNA World Heavyweight Champion, a title he defended a record six times. Additionally, he became the second TNA Triple Crown winner and twice won King of the Mountain. During his time in TNA, Angle also made appearances for both New Japan Pro-Wrestling and the Inoki Genome Federation, where he won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in 2007. While the exact financial figures for his TNA contract aren’t publicly disclosed, it’s plausible that Angle’s deal included incentives such as a base salary plus performance bonuses based on match outcomes, pay-per-view appearances, and merchandise sales. Angle’s success in TNA not only kept him relevant in the wrestling world but also contributed significantly to his financial portfolio. He was inducted into the TNA Hall of Fame in 2013, making him only the second wrestler after Sting to be inducted into both the WWE and TNA Halls of Fame.
Angle has also participated in other wrestling promotions beyond WWF/WWE, TNA, and Japan. In 2012, he debuted for Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide at Triplemania XX, where he teamed up with Jeff Jarrett to face Team Joaquín Roldán. In 2016, on the independent circuit, Angle competed for URFight in a match against former WWE rival Rey Mysterio. Shortly after this, he wrestled for Revolution Pro Wrestling, defeating Zack Sabre Jr. Angle has also competed for Insane Championship Wrestling and Northeast Wrestling, among others. Though financial details of these independent wrestling appearances are not as readily available as those from larger organizations like WWE and TNA, they nonetheless contributed to Angle’s income, especially during periods when he wasn’t under contract with a major promotion.
Film and Television Career
Beyond wrestling, Angle has pursued acting. His film debut was in the 2008 short film “Chains,” where he played a racist prison deputy. The following year, he portrayed a serial killer in “End Game.” In 2011, Angle appeared in “Dylan Dog: Dead of Night” and starred as a town sheriff in the horror film “River of Darkness.” That same year, he played a Russian MMA champion in the sports drama “Warrior.” His other film credits include “Death from Above,” “Pain & Gain,” “Pro Wrestlers vs Zombies,” and “The Last Witch Hunter.” While specific salary details for these roles are not publicly available, actors in similar roles can earn anywhere from a few thousand dollars for smaller independent films to hundreds of thousands for more prominent roles in larger productions. These acting roles not only add to his income but also diversify his career portfolio. Angle has also made several television appearances, mostly on reality programs and competition shows. He has competed on “The Weakest Link” and “Pros vs. Joes” and has been in episodes of “Criss Angel Mindfreak,” “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” and “Duck Dynasty.” He played a wrestling coach in an episode of the short-lived cable series “Those Who Can’t.”
Personal Life and Legal Issues
In 1998, Angle married professional wrestling valet Karen Smedley. The couple had two children before divorcing in 2008. Subsequently, Angle married actress Giovanna Yannotti, with whom he has four children. Their fourth child, a son, was adopted from Bulgaria. While the financial aspects of his divorce from Karen Smedley are not publicly detailed, divorce settlements can often impact an individual’s net worth due to asset division and potential alimony payments. Angle has faced legal issues over his career, including several arrests for DUI. He was also arrested for allegedly stalking his girlfriend, Trenesha Biggers, who had filed a protection from abuse order against him in 2009. Legal troubles can have financial repercussions, including legal fees, fines, and potential reputational damage that might impact future earnings. These events are part of Angle’s life story and contribute to a comprehensive understanding of his journey.
