Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is one of those Hollywood superstars who don’t need a special introduction. We all followed his journey from WWE royalty to Hollywood stardom, and his movies already made billions despite the fact it’s only been a decade since he decided to seriously commit to acting.
People who had a chance to work with him had nothing but words of praise for the former wrestler, and his positive approach to life is pretty contagious. It’s almost impossible to imagine he ever went through difficult times, but his road to success was pretty rocky and paved with failure.
Keep on reading to learn more about his incredible journey from failed football player to professional wrestler and the box office sensation we know him as today.
Humble Upbringing
Unlike many young boys who grow up watching over-the-top WWE matches, Dwayne never glamorized this profession. His grandfather, Peter Maivia, was a professional wrestler and so was his father Rocky Johnson.
Johnson’s father had a hard time earning a living and supporting the family by going from one wrestling circuit to another.
And in 1986, when Dwayne was 14, the family found an eviction notice pinned to the door of their home. His mother Ata had a hard time taking it in.
“We were living in an efficiency that cost $120 a week. We come home, and there’s a padlock on the door and an eviction notice. My mom starts bawling. She just started crying and breaking down,” Johnson recalled while discussing his childhood with Hollywood Reporter.