Whether you're a fan of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson from his football career, wrestling
days, or on the big screen, you can't deny that this man has had an incredible journey
— and it's only the beginning.
Surprisingly, much of Johnson's life actually takes place out of the spotlight, which is
why we needed to dig deep to learn about his stunning transformation.
Keep it moving
Growing up, Johnson and his parents moved around constantly.
While he was born in California, the family relocated to New Zealand, Hawaii, Pennsylvania,
Texas, and Florida.
He remembers being 15 and coming home to an eviction notice when his mother couldn't cover
the rent for their studio apartment in Honolulu.
Of the experience, he told Fortune,
"It broke my heart.
I remember saying to myself, 'I will do anything and everything I possibly can to make sure
we never get evicted again.'
But what does that mean — what does it mean to be successful?
Well, the successful men I admired all built their bodies."
Bachelor's degree
Johnson received a full scholarship from the University of Miami, where he played as a
defensive tackle until an injury sidelined his career.
He graduated in 1995 with a Bachelor of General Studies with concentrations in criminology
and physiology.
After graduation, he moved to Canada where he played for the Calgary Stampeders for two
months before being cut.
Later, during a WWE Raw telecast, Johnson stunned Canadian fans by saying,
"In 1995, The Rock was cut from the Canadian Football League.
Do you have any idea how much you've gotta suck to get cut from the Canadian Football
League?"
Seven bucks
Johnson would later launch his own production company called Seven Bucks Productions, and
the story behind the company's name has a lot of meaning.
When the Calgary Stampeders cut him, Johnson flew back to Miami and realized that all he
had was seven dollars to his name.
He told Esquire,
"Pulled out my wallet, and yeah, I had a five, a one, and some change…
Warren Sapp had just signed for millions of dollars in the draft.
He was the one that actually beat me out of my position [at Miami] two and a half years
earlier."
"And I was so broke that I couldn't even afford a cab to the airport."
He went on to explain that he's happy for Sapp, with whom he has remained friends, but
that he will never forget why 'seven bucks' has a lot of meaning.
"That's why everything in my life is called seven bucks."
The Rock
With his career in football over, Johnson turned to wrestling next.
His father, "Soulman" Rocky Johnson was at the peak of his fame in the '70s and '80s,
and his maternal grandfather was High Chief Peter Maivia, who won titles in the South
Pacific before settling in the United States.
At first, Johnson's father was against him starting a career in wrestling.
Johnson told Fortune,
"Looking back, I understand that he was thinking, 'Man, I wrestled for 40 years, and this is
what I have to show for it: a tiny apartment in Tampa.
I don't want this for you.'"
First emerging as Rocky Maivia, Johnson made it to the WWE in 1996 where he transformed
into the superstar, "The Rock."
A star is born
Briefly appearing opposite Brendan Fraser in 2001's The Mummy Returns, Johnson was so
well-received by audiences that the studio made him the star of the prequel, The Scorpion
King, the following year.
"Let's take a moment to appreciate, uh, the perfectly plucked eyebrows, just for a second."
Recognizing his bankability, Universal Pictures paid him $5.5 million for the role.
In the years since that movie came and went, Johnson's become a true movie star, starring
in films such as The Other Guys, the Fast & Furious franchise, and 2018's Jumanji reboot,
just to name only a handful.
But he hasn't let his success go to his head — Johnson set a Guinness World Record for
the number of selfies he took with fans at the premiere of his film, San Andreas.
Fitness
It takes quite a commitment to fitness and diet to get a body like Johnson's, and he
hasn't been shy about his efforts in either area.
He explained to Fortune,
"Training is my anchor.
Being on a regimented schedule, setting a goal, failing at a goal.
It's the philosophies of being an athlete that carry me today."
For his diet, he combines protein shakes with five or six carefully crafted meals a day.
While discussing his preparation for a role as a bodybuilder opposite Mark Wahlberg in
Pain and Gain, Johnson explained,
"There's a right way and a wrong way to bulk up for a film.
The wrong way is to eat as much garbage as you can for weeks on end… it's unhealthy
and puts an incredible amount of stress on your body."
Future president?
Regardless of what anyone thinks of President Donald Trump, his election opened doors to
those with an entertainment background who've had little to no experience in politics.
It's no surprise that some have suggested Johnson make a bid for the role of Commander-in-Chief.
The buzz became so loud that, eventually, the actor had to address it in an interview
with GQ, saying,
"A year ago, it started coming up more and more.
There was a real sense of earnestness, which made me go home and think, 'Let me really
rethink my answer and make sure I am giving an answer that is truthful and also respectful.'"
Pressed further about whether this really might happen, the Rock added,
"I think that it's a real possibility."
"Would you, seriously, would you run?"
"I would, I'm seriously considering it, yes."
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