Pro Athletes Who Became More Famous After They Retired


The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Peyton Manning and Lewis Hamilton are unlikely to ever be more successful than they are dominating their respective sporting codes. However, for some sports stars, real success was only achieved once they had already retired from sports.


Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson


Dwayne “The Rock” JohnsonImage Source: muscleandfitness.com
 
From being an American football player, to a pro wrestler, to one the highest paid movie stars of all time, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has had a rollercoaster of a career. The 46-year-old California native began his sporting career playing college football for the University of Miami. However shortly after an injury ended his career early, he turned to the family business: pro wrestling. During the next 8 years, Johnson would become a fan favourite acquiring his pseudonym, “the Rock” that he continues to be associated with despite distancing himself from the WWE.
 
In 2001, Johnson made his big-screen debut in The Mummy Returns (2001). He would go on to secure leading roles in The Scorpion King (2002), The Rundown (2003) and Walking Tall (2004). In 2013, his roles in G.I. Joe: Retaliation and Fast & Furious 6 cemented his place as a Hollywood leading man, a status he continues to build on.
 
Today, Johnson is one of the highest paid actors in Hollywood with Forbes naming him the second highest paid actor of 2018 with a staggering $124 million.
 

Jason Statham


Jason Statham
Image Source: sabah.com.tr 

The smooth-talking Brit who has helped define the action movie canon once had more hair… and a professional sports career. Statham may be better known for his film credits but he was once a professional diver. In fact, the 51-year-old (yup, Jason Statham is 51!) English actor had a 12-year stint as part of England’s National Diving Squad.
 
Statham was, however destined for greater things. Following his exit from the National Diving Squad, he was hired as model for the fashion brand, French Connection. During his time modeling, he was introduced to upstart English director Guy Richie. The director was working on a project (Snatch) and was looking to fill the role of a street-wise con artist. After hearing about Statham’s history as a black market salesman on the streets of London, Richie offered him the part. He was paid just £5,000 ($6,937). The movie, however got rave reviews from critics and audiences alike igniting Statham career.
 
In 2017, it was reported that Statham was worth north of $50 million dollars.
 

Vinnie Jones


Vinnie Jones
Image Source: nme.com 

As a football player, Vinnie Jones appeared in the Premier League 184 times scoring 13 goals. In addition, Jones captained the Welsh national football team and won the 1988 FA Cap Final with Wimbledon. However, Jones is best known for another record. The 53-year-old holds the record for the fastest yellow card in EPL history to this day. He managed to pick up a yellow card just 5 seconds after kickoff. This was not an isolated incident either. Jones was known for his tough sometimes vicious tackles and brutal off the ball attacks. Most famously he has been accused of squeezing opponents’ testicles when the referee wasn’t looking.
 
Jones got his big acting break thanks to a quirky English director, Guy Richie. He played Big Chris in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Bullet-Tooth Tony in Snatch (the same film Statham got his big break in). In 2002, Jones broke into Hollywood staring alongside Nicolas Cage in Gone in 60 Seconds.
 
Worth just over $10 million dollars as of 2018, Vinnie Jones has come a long way from his enforcer days with Wimbledon FC.
 

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Published: 10/10/2018