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Hulk Hogan, the iconic professional wrestler whose real name was Terry Bollea, has died at the age of 71. Officials and WWE confirmed that he passed away on Thursday morning following a cardiac arrest at his home in Clearwater Beach, Florida. Emergency crews from Clearwater Fire & Rescue responded quickly after receiving the call around 9:50 a.m. Hogan was rushed to Morton Plant Hospital, where he was later declared dead.
WWE shared its condolences in a public statement saying, "One of pop culture's most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s. WWE extends its condolences to Hogan's family, friends, and fans."
In the weeks leading up to his death, Hogan's wife, Sky, dismissed claims that he had fallen into a coma, reassuring the public that his heart remained "strong" while he healed from recent operations.
Hulk Hogan's career, spanning over four decades, redefined professional wrestling. Bursting into mainstream fame after defeating the Iron Sheik in 1984 for the World Heavyweight Championship, Hogan created the phenomenon known as "Hulkamania." His magnetic personality and theatrical style made wrestling appealing to families and transformed the sport into a pop culture staple.
Hogan changed direction in 1996 when he took on a villain role and helped form the New World Order (NWO), moving away from his well-known heroic persona to become "Hollywood" Hogan. Over the years, he took part in some of wrestling's biggest moments, including iconic matches against Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III and The Rock at WrestleMania X8. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 but was later removed in 2015 after a scandal involving racist comments. In 2020, he was brought back into the Hall as part of the NWO group.
Wrestling peer Ric Flair paid tribute, saying he was "absolutely shocked" and described Hogan as "an incredible athlete, talent, friend and father."
Outside the ring, Hogan pursued acting and entrepreneurship. Hogan also found success in entertainment and business appearing in movies like Rocky III, No Holds Barred, and Mr. Nanny. He later starred in the VH1 reality series Hogan Knows Best, which followed his family life. He also launched several ventures, including Hogan's Beach Shop and a short-lived food brand called Hulk Hogan's Pastamania.
Though he faced personal and financial challenges such as a widely publicized divorce and a lawsuit against Gawker that reportedly earned him $31 million. At the time of his passing, his net worth was estimated at around $25 million.
Hogan made his final public splash at the 2024 Republican National Convention and was last seen promoting a new amateur wrestling league, Real American Freestyle, set to debut in August.
