Dave Bautista is a former WWE wrestler turned Hollywood actor. He has seen a remarkable rise in his net worth thanks to the latter, which stands at $16 million. His journey from a challenging childhood to professional wrestling and eventually to Hollywood is nothing short of inspirational.
His transition from a six-time WWE world champion to acting led to his breakout role as Drax the Destroyer in Marvel’sGuardians of the Galaxy. This role would end up not only launching him to mainstream fame but also significantly contributing to his net worth. Not unlike the rest of the cast, Bautista’s involvement in the Marvel Cinematic Universe expanded beyond Guardians to include appearances in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, two of the highest-grossing films of all time. Keep reading as we break down the finer points of Dave Bautista’s net worth and his career since Guardians.
9 Dave Bautista’s Wrestling Career
In 2002, Dave Bautista joined World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). He used the name “Batista” in the ring and quickly moved up the ranks. According to WWE, this was primarily due to his 6’6″ frame and 290 lbs of rock-solid muscle body. Fans loved him because of how huge, super strong, and good in the ring he was. Batista went on to win six world titles in WWE. Batista was reported to have made $813,000 per year in 2004, says Sportsmanor, and after getting a raise or two, he was earning approximately $1 million per year until 2010, which ultimately launched Dave Bautista’s net worth.
8 Dave Bautista’s Transition To Acting
Dave Bautista’s transition from the wrestling ring to the big screen was not without its challenges. In the mid-2000s, he began exploring acting opportunities while still wrestling. He made his acting debut in small roles, including appearances on television shows like Smallville and Chuck. However, it wasn’t until he joined the Marvel Universe that acting really made a dent in his bank account.
7 Dave Bautista’s Net Worth Grew Once He Was Cast As Drax In Guardians Of The Galaxy
In 2014, Dave Bautista landed the role of Drax in what would turn out to be a massive Marvel franchise, Guardians of the Galaxy. Drax, a character known for his literal-mindedness and lack of understanding of metaphors, was not a traditional superhero. Of course, none of the Guardians are really traditional superheroes, but that’s what makes it so great.
Bautista’s performance was a standout, blending humor, action, and emotional depth into his character. He was truly meant to play that part. The first film was not only a success, but an unanticipated one at that. Grossing over $770 million worldwide, it introduced Bautista to a global audience and opened the doors to more significant acting opportunities. He added $1.4 million to his net worth with this movie.
6 Dave Bautista Post Guardians Of The Galaxy
Following the success of ‘Guardians of the Galaxy,’ Dave Bautista’s acting career gained momentum. He reprised his role as Drax in the film’s sequels, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023).
As mentioned above, Bautista’s involvement in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) didn’t end with the Guardians franchise. He appeared in Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019), two of the highest-grossing films of all time. According to Screen Rant, when all is said and done, Bautista earned upwards of $20 million from the MCU. Yes, you read that right, ‘done.’ Dave Bautista has made it very clear that he will not be returning to his role of Drax in any future movies.
5 Dave Bautista As Glossu Rabban In Dune
Dave Bautista plays Glossu Rabban in the 2021 movie Dune. Dune is another sci-fi space movie where the audience can see Bautista all painted up once again. Both Dave and his Guardians cast mates were excited about this film for him. The movie made about $397 million around the world, according to Numbers.
This makes Dune the third-highest grossing film of Bautista’s if you lump all of his Marvel work together. The sequel, Dune: Part Two, is set to come out in 2024. While there is no information on what he was paid for the upcoming film, reports suggest Dave Bautista’s net worth gained $2 million for the first.
4 Dave Bautista As Mr. Hinx In Spectre
Dave Bautista plays Mr. Hinx, a hitman who works for a terrorist group, in the 2015 James Bond movie Spectre. In total, the movie made about $879 million around the world. That is an incredible amount, and while there is no exact figure on what he was paid, it is thought to be around $1 million. If all of his Marvel movies are added together, this is the second highest grossing film of Dave Bautista’s.
3 Dave Bautista’s Net Worth Increased With Business Ventures
Dave Batista is the co-proprietor of DC Society Ink, which is a tattoo and piercing brand. In an interview with Fox 13 in Tampa, Bautista said, “It has a double meaning. I’m from Washington DC, but Dream Chaser is my moniker… to a lot of people, it might sound hokey, but I live by it, but you chase your dreams no matter what, no matter what people tell you, you chase your dreams.” He also added that one of the biggest rewards from it is helping others follow their passions as well.
2 Dave Bautista’s Endorsements
Yes, Dave Bautista has made a lot of money from his time in WWE and in movies, but he has also made a lot of money from endorsing different brands. His campaign for the brand Smirnoff is one of the best-known. While it’s unknown what the contract between Baustista and Smirnoff is worth, given how famous he is, it is thought to be worth millions going toward Dave Bautista’s net worth. He has also been seen frequently in GQ and Men’s Health magazines.
1 Dave Bautista’s Car Collection
Dave Bautista has a collection of cars worth nearly $1 million. While this may not directly add to his net worth in the traditional sense, these cars are good investments. Some of them include, but are not limited to, a Lamborghini Murciélago worth $220,000, a Rolls-Royce Wraith worth $280,000, and a Bentley Continental GT worth $120,000.
Source: NewsFinale