WWE legend Dave Bautista surprised many fans after he successfully made the jump from professional wrestling to the world of Hollywood and became one of the most popular actors in the industry. The former WWE Champion hit the jackpot in his acting career after landing the iconic “Drax The Destroyer” role in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy.
The 54-year-old reportedly got paid well by the MCU for playing one of the fan-favorite characters in their films. For the first Guardians of the Galaxy film, the actor received $1.4 million which is just $100,000 less than what the lead actor Chris Pratt made in the film. After gaining popularity in the first film, Bautista was able to take home $3 million in the sequel of the film according to Sportskeeda.
For his work in the Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: End Game, the WWE veteran earned an estimated sum of over $4 million. Which could mean that the wrestler, who went by the nickname “The Animal” in Vince McMahon’s wrestling promotion, made over $8 million for his contributions to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The actor will now be stepping away from his role as Drax after the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 movie. In an interview with Jimmy Fallon, he revealed that director James Gunn has given a “perfect exit” to him in the film and he is completely happy with the “storybook ending” for his character.
How Much Money Dave Bautista Earned in His WWE Career?
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Batista has a net worth of $16 million thanks to his success in pro wrestling and Hollywood. Batista during his days in the WWE was one of the highest-paid superstars on the roster. The Evolution member reportedly received $813,000 per annum back in 2004. The multiple-time World Champion, during his time with the Stamford-based promotion, earned approximately $1 million until 2010.
The “Glass Onion” actor had his last match in the WWE in 2019. He faced his former mentor and rival Triple H at WrestleMania 35 in a “No Holds Barred” match. Batista lost the match and was forced to retire from wrestling as he put his career on the line in the match.
While many fans requested the veteran WWE star to return to the ring for another match, he refused to do so. According to multiple reports, the WWE will be inducting Batista into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2023 heading into WrestleMania season.
