Dwayne Johnson, popularly known as ‘The Rock,’ has played many roles. Not just in movies, but also in life. From being a pro-wrestler to bringing his element to Hollywood films, ‘The Rock’ is also an entrepreneur with his own tequila brand under his name. Making headlines yet again, his film ‘The Smashing Machine,’ received a 15-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival, ending in a rather sentimental moment.
It started with $7
In 1995, Johnson was playing for the Calgary Stampeders, a Canadian pro football team. However, his dreams were crushed after he was cut from the team. With just $7 in his bank account, his tragedy didn’t end there after he nearly lost his mother to an 18-wheeler on a highway.
Carrying this fear for the rest of his pubescent years, Johnson eventually went into an emotionally dark place. In 1996, he debuted as ‘Rocky Maivia’ in WWE, taking after his father, Rocky Johnson, who was a professional Canadian wrestler. While that could have been his turning point, fans did not cheer but booed him. But soon, he embodied ‘The Rock’.
The Rock’s Hollywood career
From media appearances to promos, he slowly built a brand – himself. Leaving his wrestling days behind, he was offered $5.5 million for the role of the Scorpion King in the film ‘The Mummy Returns’ in 2001. Over the years, he secured his own spin-off, titled ‘The Scorpion King’ in 2002, he then appeared in ‘The Rundown’ (2003), ‘Walking Tall’ (2004), ‘Be Cool’ (2005), ‘Doom’ (2005), ‘Gridiron Gang’ (2006), ‘Reno 911! Miami’ and ‘The Game Plan’ (2007), and ‘Get Smart’ in 2008.
Finally, in 2012, he launched his own production house, ‘Seven Buck Productions’, a call back to his humble beginnings. Launched by Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, and his manager and ex-wife, Dany Garcia, the company grossed over $4 million on the US box office in 2024. The media house also has subsidiaries such as Seven Bucks Digital Studios and Seven Bucks Creative.
They have produced several popular films like Baywatch, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, and upcoming projects like The Smashing Machine, Moana, Fast X: Part 2, and an unnamed part of the Jumanji series.
Johnson’s Tequila Tango
He took his ‘Rock’ image and practically rocked critics out of the park. People not only bought his beverage but also invested in his brand. Launching his Tequila brand, Teremana Tequila, in 2020, he kick-started the launch during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Priced among the lower segment, the bottles start at $21, appealing to the broader market. Criticising the launch time and price-point, several remarked about The Rock’s poor decision. However, with a $3.5 billion valuation, with over 1 million sales in a year, Teremana quickly gained popularity among celebrities and global consumers alike.
Johnson’s latest launch, ‘Papatui’, is a men’s personal care brand with several skincare products like tattoo care and other hygiene products. He has often been seeing on Instagram, a page with over 300 million followers, showcasing the love for his daughters and honouring his role as a father.