Overview

Jerry O’Neil Lawler (born November 29, 1949), better known as Jerry “The King” Lawler, is an American semi-retired professional wrestler, color commentator, and actor. He is signed with WWE under a legends contract. Lawler began his wrestling career in the 1970s, achieving significant success in the Memphis wrestling scene and the American Wrestling Association (AWA). He is a one-time AWA World Heavyweight Champion and a three-time WCWA World Heavyweight Champion. Lawler gained mainstream attention for his feud with comedian Andy Kaufman in the early 1980s. He joined the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) in 1992, initially as a wrestler and later as a color commentator on Raw. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007. Beyond wrestling, Lawler has appeared in films such as “Man on the Moon” (1999), a biopic about Andy Kaufman. He is also an artist and businessman, having opened a wrestling-themed bar and a BBQ restaurant in Memphis.

What Is Jerry Lawler’s Net Worth?

Jerry Lawler, the iconic American semi-retired professional wrestler and WWE commentator, has accumulated a net worth of approximately $1.5 million. This figure reflects his decades-long career in professional wrestling, commentating, and various ventures outside the ring. While precise breakdowns of his income streams are not publicly available, we can infer the significant contributing factors to his net worth based on his career trajectory.

Career Earnings and Ventures

Lawler’s wrestling career, which began in 1977 with the Continental Wrestling Association, spanned several decades and included stints with various organizations, including the American Wrestling Association and the United States Wrestling Association. While specific earnings from these organizations are not disclosed, professional wrestlers’ income is typically derived from match fees, merchandise sales, and appearance fees. His tenure with the WWF/WWE, starting in 1992, likely contributed significantly to his overall earnings.

During his time with the WWF/WWE, Lawler transitioned from being an active wrestler to a commentator. Commentary roles in WWE generally command substantial salaries, especially for established personalities like Lawler. While his specific commentary salary is not publicly available, it’s reasonable to assume it’s a major component of his annual income. He has been a commentator for World Wrestling Entertainment for almost 20 years.

Beyond wrestling and commentating, Lawler has pursued various ventures that have likely contributed to his net worth. In the late 1970s, he released several musical singles, and he had his own talk show, “The Jerry Lawler Show,” on a Memphis television channel in the 1980s. These ventures, while not his primary source of income, would have added to his overall earnings. He appeared as himself in the 1999 film “Man on the Moon,” starring Jim Carrey.

Lawler’s entrepreneurial spirit is evident in his ventures outside the entertainment industry. In 1999, Lawler attempted to become the new mayor of Memphis, Tennessee. In 2016, he and a business partner opened a wrestling-themed bar in Memphis, Tennessee. He followed this with a BBQ restaurant in Cordova, Tennessee, in 2017. He launched the podcast “Dinner with the King” in 2017. In 2019, Jerry started a new podcast along with Scott Reedy called “The Jerry Lawler Show.” These business ventures, while subject to the inherent risks of entrepreneurship, would have the potential to generate substantial income.

Jerry Lawler’s family is quite active in the wrestling world as well. His cousin is none other than The Honky Tonk Man, who is another professional wrestler. His son from his first wife went on to become a professional wrestler as well, performing under names like “Brian Christopher” and “Grandmaster Sexay.” Brian ultimately committed suicide in 2018. He was found hanging in a jail cell, and Jerry later sued the County Sheriff responsible for his supervision. Jerry’s other son, Kevin, also became a wrestler and worked as a referee. Kevin was later arrested for trespassing and aggravated burglary.

Assets and Investments

Details regarding Lawler’s specific assets and investments are not publicly available. However, individuals with a net worth of $1.5 million typically have a diversified portfolio that may include real estate, stocks, bonds, and other investments. The extent to which Lawler has invested in these asset classes is unknown. While we don’t have details on specific properties, real estate holdings could be a significant component of his assets.

Health Issues

In 2012, Lawler suffered a heart attack after performing at “Raw” alongside Randy Orton, CM Punk, and Dolph Ziggler. He collapsed at the announcers’ table, leaving Cole to Michael Cole to commentate alone while the WWE sought medical assistance for Jerry. He received CPR and started breathing independently. However, he was clinically dead for close to 30 minutes. Shortly thereafter, Lawler underwent an angioplasty to improve his heart’s blood flow and slowly began to recover. Fortunately, doctors confirmed that he was exhibiting no signs of brain damage despite being legally dead for so long. After an investigation, it was discovered that the heart attack was caused by an “unexplained cardiac arrest” rather than a blocked artery. He was then cleared to return to the WWE.

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