The Rock named to Forbes ‘Greatest Self-Made Americans’ list
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was recognized by Forbes this week as the outlet put out its list of the 250 greatest currently living self-made Americans.
The list was made in celebration of this year being the 250th birthday of the United States. Johnson ranked at number 70, placing between musician Stevie Wonder and businessman Norm Asbjornson (founder of the HVAC company AAON). In explaining his inclusion on the list, Forbes referenced the now-famous story where the son of Rocky Johnson once only had seven dollars to his name before finding success in WWE:
The Rock named his production company Seven Bucks as a reminder of a bleak time: cut from the Canadian Football League, he arrived broke in Tampa with ‘a five, a one and change.‘
Forbes’ criteria for the list included financial success, obstacles overcome, and enduring impact, with a particular focus on where each candidate started in their life and how far they’ve risen. Talk show host and billionaire Oprah Winfrey topped the list, and NBA star LeBron James, musician Dolly Parton, former President Bill Clinton, and Vice President JD Vance were some of the other names in the top 10.
A member of the Khan family was also recognized by Forbes. Shahid Khan, an investor in AEW and the father of Tony Khan, ranked at number 21:
The Pakistani immigrant arrived with $500 in his pocket and worked nights as a dishwasher while studying at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He later designed a one-piece truck bumper, the basis of his $15 billion fortune.
Johnson, who most recently competed in the ring at WWE WrestleMania 40, is a member of the TKO board of directors. In his acting career, he was nominated at the 2026 Golden Globes for his performance in “The Smashing Machine.” Johnson’s upcoming projects include new movies in the “Moana” and “Jumanji” franchises, along with teaming up with director Martin Scorsese for a Hawaiian crime drama that is in development.
Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.
In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.