I want people to remember me as a full on entertainer and a good person. – Aaliyah
In case you have not already heard the news, the late superstar Aaliyah has her very own Madame Tussauds Wax Figure in her likeness from the Try Again Era.
Madame Tussauds for VIBE
Although, Aaliyah is gone she is not forgotten.
Therefore, this next post is titled in her honor. This post is named after her first ever record, Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number which is the debut studio album by American singer Aaliyah. It was released under Jive and Blackground Records on May 24, 1994, in the United States.
I learned a lot from watching Aaliyah work so hard in her youth.
Like her, I want to be remembered as well, although as a full on financial blogger and a good person.
So let’s get right to it and start talking money.
When in doubt: save.
Don’t ever let anyone tell you what you cannot do or accomplish.
People have said to me the following:
You’ve been in school forever. Are you ever going to graduate?
Are you in school finishing your associate degree, because I know the bachelor’s takes a long time so you are probably only halfway done right?
You should write a book or something? Are you ever going to do that?
It is impossible to save any money. Is it possible to save thousands?
Winning the lottery is a great way to get rich. Do you play?
You should go for the Master’s degree. Why a second bachelor’s?
Why get a 2nd Master’s degree? Why not go for the doctorate?
You really have no car payment?
You’ve gained a little weight.
You’ve lost weight.
You have been saving forever, you are not ever going to buy a home.
I laughed at all these questions and comments.
This is my life. I set the pace. No one else. I control my destiny and the outcome of my life. I control the narrative.
And just to set the record straight, I did finish my bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. So take that haters. In addition, I also bought a home, started a daily exercise routine, a health and wellness regimen, started a blog in 2016, wrote an eBook in 2019, paid off my car in 2009, don’t play the lottery, and learned to save thousands by not shopping or taking fancy vacations.
And after I paid off my car, this is how I felt. Just like Katelyn Ohashi at the ESPYs. And like in her acceptance speech that night, I too had made a reference about Cardi B.
Paying off debt and saving. This all took many years. Like over a decade to accomplish. I know folks are out there retiring at like 27. But guess what? Life is full of ups and downs, but I never let my goals be far from my mind and kept them in sight because whether you retire at 22 or 62, fiscal age ain’t nothing but a number.
Safe to say, I set out to conquer every mountain or hill that was put in front of me. Yea baby!! I feel like dancing!!!
Life is complex. No one has all the answers. No one has a crystal ball to see the future. But reading up on the past has let me make some great predictions on what I think will happen.
Financial markets are cyclical. About every 10-20- years the market corrects itself and there is a recession. Plan accordingly.
When stocks go down, buy more.
Save until it hurts. Something like 50% or more of your income.
Things will get more expensive in the future.
You can expect inflation to average at least 2-3% a year.
Investing in real estate tends to yield good results over many years.
If you do nothing else in real estate, at least purchase your primary residence.
Buying franchises is expensive.
Find your talent and exploit it for profit. If you are a good mechanic, then charge a good and fair price for your work.
Never undervalue yourself.
I truly believe optimism is the key to happiness. I am always in a good mood. Laughter is always a part of my day and life.
My mind is always full of ideas, my eyes are clear and my heart is full.
I can’t hear you!!! Say it with me now!! Louder!!! Say it like you are in a stadium full of screaming football fans and Antonio Brown is out there running drills and scoring like he did on an episode of HardKnocks! So say it loud for me! One more time for the cheap seats in the back!!!
When people start complaining, I always feel that they should also provide solutions to their problems. I believe in being solution-based.
One of the greatest joys of my life is speaking my mind. I have done this since I was a little girl. I hold nothing in or back. I am always respectful, but I set clear boundaries on how I let people treat me. I respect others so I expect the same treatment in return. Instead of holding back, I dive in. Speaking your heart is a great way to free yourself from the constraints of life. You have to tell people what you want if you ever expect to get anything. SO SPEAK UP!!
In this life, you have to keep going. There is no time to rest on your laurels. No pity parties here. If you want financial independence, then you must fight for it. You have to work your butt off for it. Even if it takes, 10, 20, 30, or 40 years. My goal is to have at least $2 million in assets before I retire. Over 10 years later, I am still working on that goal. NEVER GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS AND YOUR GOALS!!! If you fall down, get up! You get up, dust yourself off and like Aaliyah said, “try again.”
Best of luck to you all in your fiscal adventures.
āSuccess isnāt always about āGreatnessā, itās about
consistency. Consistent, hard work gains success. Greatness will come.ā ā
Dwayne Johnson
Well unless you have been living under a Rock, then you have
heard of the name Dwayne āThe Rockā Johnson.
One of the most successful wrestlers to come out of the WWE of all time.
The Rock is an inspiration to millions with his good
attitude, humility, and great sense of humor. One of the hardest working men in
show business today.
If there is a movies coming out, then The Rock either
auditioned for, saw the script, produced, or is starring in it. I mean the guy
has a movie coming out like every two weeks!
He recently made headlines in January 2019 for not getting
cast in Crazy Rich Asians?!!
As he worked with the filmās director, Jon M. Chu, in the 2013 sci-fi action film āG.I. Joe: Retaliation,ā with Bruce Willis.
Regardless, The Rock isnāt low on cash by any means.
He has an estimated net worth of over $150 Million.
On my continued journey toward studying the self-made, the
man du jour is Dwayne Johnson.
Full Disclosure: I located numerous interviews, read magazine articles, and reporting on The Rock. One of the best came from Wonderwall.
So here we go.
Get your popcorn ready cause this is a long one.
Iām about to open up The Rockās wallet and give you a peek
inside.
Letās smell what The Rock is cookinā in his bank books shall we?
THE ROCK BEGINS: CAUGHT BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE
Dwayne Johnson, was born in California on May 2, 1972. Although he grew up poor in Hawaii, he is now one of the richest men in Hollywood, but the poverty he faced during his childhood is never far from his mind.
Case in point, On Thanksgiving 2017, The Rock revealed in a lengthy Instagram post that “there was a time back in ’87 when we couldn’t even afford Thanksgiving dinner and [were] praying someone would invite us over their house to eat.”
Due to his fatherās work as a professional wrestler, the
family was constantly in flux and bouncing around from place to place.
Wrestling is in The Rockās blood.
Wrestling is actually the Johnson family business — his
father Rocky Johnson was a star in the 1970s and ’80s, while his Samoan
grandfather Peter Maivia was famous in the 1960s.
As his mother was unable to keep a steady job because of this, they went through hard times.
HARD KNOCK LIFE
In another IG post, in May 2015, the wrestler-actor revealed on Instagram that “when I was 14yrs old we were evicted out of our apartment in Hawaii ’cause we couldn’t afford the $180 per week rent.”
In 2014, he told The Hollywood Reporter that a week before
they were evicted, he watched his mother’s car get repossessed. He reportedly
added to her troubles by joining a theft ring that targeted affluent stores in
Waikiki.
In addition, he stated in another interview that they were
so broke that his mother doesnāt remember walking out into incoming traffic
before he pushed her out of the way.
It was at that moment he decided to make changes in his life. He said to himself, āWhat can I do with these two hands?ā That is when he decided to start working out.
“The successful menĀ I knew wereĀ men who built their bodies.” – The Rock
He also stated while growing up people thought he was a girl and that they referred to him as one āall the time.ā
KICK ROCKS
āIāll never, ever be full. Iāll always be hungry. Obviously,
Iām not talking about food.
Growing up, I had nothing for such a long time.ā ā The Rock
The Rock is now one the biggest movie stars in the world.
But before the A-list super-stardom and even before his WWE debut, Dwayne
Johnson was just a guy that was down on his luck.
He decided that he wanted to play football. He worked
tirelessly and gave everything he had to the sport. His hard work paid off.
Johnson was a promising football prospect and received
offers from many Division I collegiate programs. After finishing high school in
Pennsylvania, he went on to play college football. He decided on a full
scholarship from the University of Miami, playing defensive tackle. In 1991, he
was on the Miami Hurricanes’ national championship team.
The 6-foot-5, 290-pound Johnson started only once, appearing
in 39 games with a total of 77 tackles and 4.25 sacks. With muscles on top of
muscles, he was a sight to behold. He was a physical specimen from Day 1.
It was once quoted about The Rock, “He was a
jack-of-all-trades, but only a master at wrasslinā.
Ed Orgeron, University of Miami defensive line coach
(1989-1992), once had this to say about The Rock.
“His uncle was Jimmy Snuka, he came from a wrestling
family. So we knew about that.
“I remember one-day walking off the field, he hadnāt
had a good day and I said something like, ‘You know, Dwayne, you should just
become a wrestler.'”
Warren Sapp, NFL pro football 2013 Hall of Famer, said this of
playing football with The Rock.
“So we used to joke with him by saying, ‘When you get
done with football, youāre going to go into wrestling, right?’
“And heād say: ‘Damn right, bitch.’
Everyone always had the same thing to say about Johnson, he
was charismatic, humble, and down-to-earth.
The Rock would go on to complete a bachelor of general studies degree. But his football career was coming to an end around the same time his academic career did.
WRESTLING WITH $7 BUCKS
ā1995. $7 Bucks In My Pocket. I Knew Two Things: Iām Broke
As Hell and One Day I Wonāt Beā ā The Rock
In 1995, Dwayne Johnson signed with the Canadian Football
League’s Calgary Stampeders at a yearly salary of $35,000. According to The
Hollywood Reporter, after just two months, he got knocked down to the practice
team, which paid just $250 a week.
That had to hurt!
During that time, he reportedly shared a two-bedroom
apartment with three other players, “eating ramen noodles and spaghetti
and sleeping on a filthy mattress he had found ditched outside a
pay-by-the-hour sex motel,” wrote THR. When he was cut from the team not
long after that, he had just $7 to his name.
This is when he decided to become a wrestler. He begged his
father to show him the ropes. Get it š
Dwayne Johnson made his WWE debut in 1996, becoming the first third-generation wrestler in the league. (His father, Rocky Johnson, and his maternal grandfather, Peter Maivia, were both professional wrestlers.) He quickly became one of the sport’s biggest stars. According to Fortune, during his second year in the WWE, The Rock made enough money to accomplish a childhood dream: He bought his first Rolex. (He smashed the $35,000 timepiece in the ring just a week later.)
I mean, wow!
āWhen You Walk Up To Opportunityās Door: Donāt Knock It.
Kick That Bitch In, Smile and Introduce Yourselfā ā The Rock
Dwayne Johnson officially transitioned to Hollywood in 1999,
the year he played a version of his father, wrestler Rocky Johnson, on
“That ’70s Show,” where he got to act out with Topher Grace as Eric
Forman.
The following year, he channeled his wrestling alter ego
(complete with cocked eyebrow) to portray an alien gladiator on an episode of
“Star Trek: Voyager.” A month later, he hosted “Saturday Night
Live” for the first time. Each of these television appearances — as well
as a few others — helped him prove his acting chops and win fans outside of
the wrestling world.
The peopleās champ was becoming the acting champ.
Things started really moving steadily from there for The
Rock.
In 2000, Dwayne Johnson released his memoir “The Rock Says…,” which debuted at No. 1 on The New York Times bestseller list.
Keep in mind, Writing isn’t generally a high-paying
gigāunless you happen to be the top-selling author.
Fun Fact: While this gains the coveted “NYT BESTSELLER” status for the authors, it doesn’t net a lot of money. There are weeks in the year where you can make the NYT list with as few as a couple of thousand sales.
According to Career Trend, Given the royalties of a standard
contract, an author selling 20,000 books priced at $25 would earn $65,625 the
first week on the “New York Times” best-seller list. This is not
quite the millions superstar authors bank, but if the book continues to sell,
these earnings add up to an impressive income.
Then The Rock hit pay dirt. He booked a starring role in a major Hollywood film.
Ā In 2001, Dwayne Johnson made his feature-film debut as The Scorpion King in “The Mummy Returns.” He reportedly banked $500K for his brief appearance in the action-adventure sequel to 1999’s “The Mummy.” His work in the film was so popular, he scored his own spinoff.
THE BUSINESS OF BEING THE ROCK
The Road To Success and Greatness Is Always Paved With
Consistent Hard Work. Outwork Your Competitors, Be Authentic And Above All
Else. Chase Your Greatnessā ā The Rock
Dwayne āThe Rockā Johnson rose to fame thanks to his exploits in the pro wrestling ring and got his first big break in the movie business as the Scorpion King in 2001ās āThe Mummy Returns.ā
He holds the Guinness World Record for highest paid for a
movie debut, as he received a $5 million-dollar paycheck for his role.
In 2004, Dwayne Johnson left the WWE to focus on his Hollywood acting career. The following year, he earned raves for his performance as a gay cowboy bodyguard and aspiring actor in “Be Cool.” Further signaling his transition from professional wrestler to serious actor, he was credited as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson instead of just “The Rock” for his work in 2006’s “Gridiron Gang.” With 2008’s “Get Smart” — at the urging of his agents at CAA — he officially changed his stage name to Dwayne Johnson.
CAA, short for Creative Artists Agency, is also one of the
biggest entertainment agencies in the world.
GIVING BACK
āI Like To Use The Hard Times in The Past, To Motivate Me
Todayā ā The Rock
In 2006, Dwayne Johnson and then-wife Dany Garcia, who fell
in love while they were students at the University of Miami, donated $2 million
to their alma mater to help fund a renovation to the school’s alumni center. In
2007, they donated $1 million to the college’s Football Facilities Renovation
Fund, which was reportedly the largest donation ever from a former student to
the university’s athletic department. The University of Miami renamed their
football locker room in his honor: It’s now the Dwayne “The Rock”
Johnson Football Locker Room.
If that is not karma coming full circle, then I do not know what is! From getting cut from a football team to having a university athletic department named after you. Totally badass!!!
PERSONAL DIFFERENCES
In 2008, Dwayne Johnson and college sweetheart Dany Garcia
divorced after 10 years of marriage and one daughter, Simone. The same year
they split romantically, Dany became her ex’s manager. “I was already
deeply involved with his agents, I was already commenting on scripts. It was a
very natural conversation, where he just said to me, ‘I would love for you to
do this full-time,'” she told Marie Claire in 2017.
PERSONAL DIFFERENCES ASIDE, KEEP ON TRUCKINGā¦ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK
In 2010, Dwyane Johnson portrayed star police officer Christopher Danson in “The Other Guys.” He reportedly earned $9 million for his role in the action-comedyā¦. even though (spoiler alert!) his character gets killed off just 15 minutes into the movie.
Dwayne Johnson executive produced the 2010 documentary
“Racing Dreams.” The film, which centers around young drivers chasing
the kart racing championship title, marked The Rock’s debut as a producer.
I mean, does this guy ever stop working?!!! Now heās a
producer.
In 2011, Dwayne Johnson parted ways with CAA, whose agents
had urged him to distance himself from the wrestling world. He signed with WME
and legendary agent Ari Emanuel (on whom Jeremy Piven’s “Entourage”
alter ego, Ari Gold, is based), and officially returned to the WWE that
February.
You see that. He trusted his instincts and listed to himself, not just the advice of his management team. Others may help you along your journey, but ultimately you make the final decision. ALWAYS!!!
He appeared in a number of big WWE events over the course of
the next few years and, according to some reports, banked $3.5 million per year
for his efforts. Apparently, he was worth every penny: “We set
pay-per-view buy-rate records and attendance records each time,” he gushed
to Fortune of his big return to the WWE. In April 2016, the league confirmed
that WrestleMania 32 set a new attendance record for the WWE with 101,763 fans
in the crowd at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Would you look at that?
Setting records. Smacking down candy asses. Being eye candy.
Raising eyebrows and rising paychecks.
That is my description of The Rock!!
FAST AND FURIOUS MONEY
āLet Actions Do Your Talkin For You, (Unless Youāre Telling A Good Dirty Joke)ā
In an Essence magazine article, he was asked what he was wearing while talking over the phone. His answer: A thong. Backwards. š¤£Your boy has got jokes!!!
The Rock is now taking life a quarter mile at a time.
In April 2011, Dwayne Johnson made his film-franchise debut as Luke Hobbs in “Fast Five.” At the time, the fifth installment in the “Fast & Furious” franchise had the top opening weekend of any film ever to open in the month of April, though that record has since been beat. He went on to appear in the next three films in the series and has become such a fan favorite that he and Jason Statham scored their very own spin-off movie, “Hobbs and Shaw,” which is scheduled for release in the summer of 2019.
SEVEN BUCKS PRODUCTIONS
In 2012, Dwayne Johnson and ex-wife Dany Garcia co-founded their own production company, Seven Bucks Productions — a nod to that time the wrestler-actor found himself with just $7 to his name after getting the boot from the Canadian Football League. The company has produced several of The Rock’s recent films including “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” “Baywatch,” “Rampage” and “Skyscraper” as well as the TV shows “Ballers,” “The Hero” and “Wake Up Call.”
One of my personal favorite television shows I have ever
seen The Rock do was the show āWake Up Call.ā
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson: At 23, I Had Only $7 In My Pocket
ā Then I Turned My Life Around
According to Business Insider, āIn TNT’s new show “Wake Up Call,” Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson lends a helping hand to everyday people who are facing enormous challenges in their lives. From dysfunctional homes and dead-beat dads to sports teams that don’t gel and businesses struggling to survive.ā
MILK DOES A BODY GOOD
Dwayne Johnson starred in a commercial for the “Got Milk?” campaign that debuted during the Super Bowl on Feb. 3, 2013. He appeared in more advertisements for the campaign later that year.
He’s steady cashing them checks!!!š° Cha ching! š
Dwayne Johnson made his reality TV debut on the TNT
competition series “The Hero” in June 2013. He hosted all eight
episodes of the short-lived show. The following year, The Rock returned to the
network with the eight-episode series “Wake Up Call,” which tracked
his efforts to help average Americans transform their lives. His third stab at
reality TV, “The Titan Games,” is scheduled to debut on NBC in
January 2019. According to an official synopsis, the competition series (which
is in the vein of “American Gladiatiors”) is inspired by the
wrestler-actor’s “desire to motivate global audiences to reach their potential
both mentally and physically.” Hopefully it fares better than its
predecessors!
You can say that again. Heās been cancelled more times than checks!
BLOOD, SWEAT, AND RESPECT
āBlood, Sweat and Respect. First Two You Give, Last One You
Earnā ā The Rock
According to Fortune, movies in which Dwayne Johnson appeared made $1.3 billion at the worldwide box office in 2013 — more than any other actor that year. To be fair, he starred in four movies that debuted in 2013: “Snitch,” “G.I. Joe: Retaliation,” “Pain & Gain” and “Fast & Furious 6” (pictured).
My absolute favorite film in The Fast and The Furious franchise is Fast Five. It earned over $500 million in box office receipts. It set the stage for the billion-dollar franchise. This was a huge record at the time in 2011 for the film and The Rock most certainly helped put butts in those theater seats!
In 2014, The Rock starred in Hercules. It was a big budget film that cost $100 million USD to make. It grossed over $244 million at the box office, but was not the money maker studios would have liked.
To be fair, I saw the film. I thought it was excellent.
Solid performances by The Rock and the whole cast. My absolute favorite was Ingrid
BolsĆø Berdal. She was outstanding in the film. She was the Legolas of the film.
You know the role that made Orlando Bloom famous in The Lord of the Rings
franchise.
You know how it goes: “One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the Darkness bind them.”
Or DC Comic Universeās The Arrow.
Like Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games, she too uses a bow and arrow. You know it is always the coolest party people that use the infamous bow and arrow and that is because it takes REAL skill.
āWith Drive And A Bit Of Talent, You Can Move Mountainsā ā
The Rock
In May 2015, Dwayne Johnson starred as a rescue helicopter pilot in “San Andreas.” He reportedly banked $25 million — the biggest paycheck of his career so far — for his role in the disaster flick. There are reports that the box office hit will get a sequel, though no moves have been made yet on the project.
Alas, as of this writing, it doesnāt look like the movie
pulled in enough dough to make that happen.
“Ballers” debuted on HBO in June 2015. According
to Variety, Dwayne Johnson makes $650K per episode of the series — more than
any other actor makes on TV aside from the five main stars of “The Big
Bang Theory,” who each bank $900K per episode of the CBS sitcom.
As of this writing, The Big Bang Theory (TBBT), will be
ending and going off the air in Spring 2019. This stems from Jim Parsons’
decision to leave the series at the end of the season if the show were to be
renewed for a thirteenth season. The series will conclude with an hour long
finale consisting of two back-to-back episodes on May 16, 2019.
In October 2015, Dwayne Johnson announced that he’d signed on to promote Ford’s service departments. Since then, he’s appeared in several ad campaigns for the motor company.
In November 2015, Dwayne Johnson reportedly donated $1,500 to a shelter puppy who’d been named after him. The 4-month-old pooch required expensive medical treatment for a heart murmur.
THE BRAHMA BULL GETS INK AND INKS A DEAL WITH UNDER ARMOUR
āSuccess at anything will always come down to this: Focus &
Effort, and we control both.ā ā The Rock
The tattoos are beliefs of his ancestors from his fatherās side and mothers sides. His black culture, his Samoan culture, all cumulates in a belief that the spirit of his ancestors is protecting his family. These tattoos represent great struggle and about overcoming them.
The tattoo on his body comes down to 3 things; his family, protection of his family, and about having a true warrior spirit forever.
Dwayne Johnson launched his partnership with Under Armour in January 2016. The first item from his collaboration with the athletic brand, a duffle bag, sold out within 24 hours. Since then, he’s released everything from clothes and wireless headphones to sneakers through his Project Rock collection for Under Armour. On May 28, 2018, The Rock’s Project Rock 1 shoes for Under Armour sold out in 30 minutes.
NO FREE APPLE iPHONES OR APPS
Remember in my last post, when I talked about Taylor Swift putting Apple iTunes on blast about free music? No? Thatās ok. Hereās the link š
Well, now The Rock is working with Apple.
In May 2016, Dwayne Johnson launched an iPhone app, The Rock Clock, that’s essentially an alarm clock that wakes up users with exclusive inspirational video messages from the actor-wrestler. Users can also sync their alarms with The Rock’s so that they too can rise and shine at 4 a.m. every day to start their daily fitness routines. “Our goal was create a free, direct, uncomplicated, cool, motivating app to help us all get after our goals every morning,” the superstar explained on Instagram.
And remember this? iPhone 7 | The Rock x Siri Dominate the Day | Apple. If you look closely, you will see that fannie pack pic of him while he ‘s driving the Lyft car!!! šAnd in the video his manager calls him DJ. I would love an uncle DJ that can treat me to an ice cream anytime!
AND YOUTUBE
In July 2016, Dwayne Johnson launched his own YouTube
channel. Original series on the channel include the cooking show “What The
Rock Is Cooking” and “Millennials: The Musical,” a collaboration
with “Moana” co-star Lin-Manuel Miranda.
In January 2017, Dwayne Johnson launched Seven Bucks Digital
Studios, a branch of his Seven Bucks Productions focusing on developing new
original online content.
In April 2017, Dwayne Johnson returned to the role of Luke Hobbs in “The Fate of the Furious.” The eighth installment in the beloved “Fast & Furious” franchise opened worldwide to more than $541 million. At the time, it was the largest global opening of any film ever. (“Avengers: Infinity War” broke the record the following year.)
In July 2017, Dwayne Johnson starred in an ad campaign for
Apple’s iPhone 7 and Siri titled “The Rock x Siri Dominate The Day.”
In September 2017, Dwayne Johnson and ex-wife Dany Garcia
launched Seven Bucks Creative, a creative ad agency within their production
company, Seven Bucks Productions. In March 2018, the company released its first
campaign: two videos promoting The Rock’s Project Rock collection for Under
Armour, naturally!
In December 2017, Dwayne Johnson headlined “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.” The reboot of the original 1995 family action flick “Jumanji” was a surprise sleeper hit, becoming Sony’s highest grossing film of all time domestically. It trucked along at the box office for months, becoming the first movie since 1998’s “Titanic” to open in December and top the box office in February. All in all, the film was so successful, Sony ordered another installment in the series for late 2019.
RAKING IN THE DOUGH BY THE TRUCKLOADS
In February 2018, before writer-director Rawson Marshall Thurber had even penned a script, Universal and Legendary teamed up to win a bidding war for “Red Notice,” which Rawson describes as “a big international heist picture, that is tonally in the vein of ‘Ocean’s 11’ meets ‘True Lies’ by the way of ‘Thomas Crown Affair.'” The two studios agreed to finance the film at $160 million based on a pitch meeting and the fact that Dwayne Johnson is attached to star. (According to Deadline, the deal is the largest for a studio movie in Hollywood so far this year.) The Rock will reportedly bank $22 million plus backend to play “an Interpol agent who is tasked with catching the most wanted art thief in the world.”
In mid-July 2018, Forbes released its list of the world’s 100 highest paid entertainers. Dwayne Johnson came in at No. 5 behind Floyd Mayweather, George Clooney, Kylie Jenner and Judge Judy. “The former wrestler tallied the highest ever acting take-home in Celebrity 100 history, thanks to giant upfront paychecks and a cut of profits on blockbusters including ‘Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.’ A huge social following allows him to negotiate an extra seven figures atop his standard contract for promotion, helping nearly double his 2017 earnings,” wrote Forbes. So how much exactly he is taking home in 2018? A whopping $124 million.
At this point, he is making money hand over fist. Just genius right there with his negotiations. I have no words.
Dwayne Johnson’s generosity is practically legendary. In
late July 2018, he took to Instagram to share a video of himself surprising his
longtime stunt double (and cousin) Tanoai Reed with a new truck. “Not only
does Tanoai represent our family and my career with relentless commitment and passion.
He also represents an entire Hollywood stunt community that is truly the
backbone of our business,” The Rock wrote in the caption. Giving thanks
where it’s due? That’s good business! Over the years, the wrestler-actor also
bought a Lamborghini Gallardo for one of his cousins, a Cadillac Escalade for
his dad, a Cadillac truck for his mom, a Honda Civic for another cousin, a
Lexus SUV for yet another cousin, a Ford F-150 for an uncle and another Ford
pickup truck for his longtime housekeeper.
As of August 2018, Dwayne Johnson is the most followed male
entertainer on Instagram with 112 million followers.
As of this writing, he now has over 136 million followers on
Instagram. He is the king of Insta!!!! He is the undisputed, follower for
follower, heavyweight champ of IG!
Two snaps for you Dwayne!!! You Rock!!
He’s the seventh-most
followed celebrity behind Selena Gomez, soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo, Ariana
Grande, Beyonce, Kim Kardashian West and Kylie Jenner. According to Forbes, The
Rock “insists on a separate seven-figure social media fee” for every
movie in which he appears.” Basically, his social media accounts are worth
millions in marketing and advertising dollars.
And that ladies and gentleman is how The Rock built his empire.
Here is his formula: Blood, Sweat, and Respect + Hard work and Consistency = Success. Ā Ā
The most sophisticated people I know – inside they are all
children. ā Jim Henson
If you ever saw the film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, then you know how much people love chocolate. And it can be a goldmine business or chocolate mine depending on how you look at it. š People were losing their minds to get that golden ticket.
Chocolate Mania had swept the nation! š
It was pure marketing genius. They even commented on that in
the film. Wonka was making a mint selling those chocolate bars. Itās all about
marketing folks!
Itās sort of like Patron. They donāt have the best tequila;
they just have the best marketing. Get that money.
Just look at all the money the candy business makes! Billions!
Here are some of the top chocolate companies in the world.
They may have even helped spread the letās have candy at every event or holiday cheer. If not, I am sure they somehow found a way to cultivate and capitalize on Halloween and even Christmas.
Who says you need a box of chocolate on Valentines?!!! Most people donāt even eat most of it. That box of chocolates is still bought and paid for!
If you ever saw the film Legally Blond, you actually saw her do what most do with a box of variously filled chocolates. That’s right. She took a bite and put it BACK in the box!
Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blond
Mondelez International Inc. even tried to cash in on this
love of chocolate. However, they have officially abandoned its pursuit of
Hershey Co., which would have created the biggest confectionery conglomerate in
the world.
Now that you have some background on the business of
chocolate, letās get down to money affairs.
Back in 1990, the movie, The Witches, based on the 1983 children’s novel of the same title by Roald Dahl, was released in theaters. The movie premiered on 25 May 1990, in London and was scheduled to open the same day in the United States, but was delayed until August.
Sadly, it would be Muppet and Fraggle Rock creator, Jim Hensonās last film.
As in the original novel, the story features evil witches who masquerade as ordinary women and hurt children. However, a boy and his grandmother need to find a way to foil and destroy them.
The witches decide they will open up, get this, chocolate
shops to lure poor unsuspecting children.
This is where the story begins.
GUARDIANS OF THE MILKY WAY GALAXY
While on vacation in Norway, eight-year-old American boy
Luke Eveshim is warned about the witches, female demons with a boundless hatred
for children and various methods of destroying or transforming them.
Helga, Lukeās Grandmother, becomes his legal guardian after
the passing of his parents. They move to England. His grandmother is advised to
take a vacation for a summer by the sea for fresh air after discovering she has
diabetes.
Also staying at the hotel are a convention of witches, masquerading as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, with the Grand High Witch, the all-powerful leader of the world’s witches, attending their annual meeting under the name Eva Ernst (played by Academy Award Winner Angelica Houston).
Really? They have some nerve naming their coven the
Prevention of Cruelty to children. Hiding in plain sight like that, but open to
interpretation. Yes, indeed.
Let us examine the fact that Luke had a grandmother that not
only decided to raise him, but has the financial means to take a vacation by
the sea.
I have it on good authority that if you try to rent a house
on Virginia Beach for a week it can set you back $5,000!
I wouldnāt mind paying that if I had investments like
interest earned from stocks or royalties to pay for it.
If you have $25,000, you could earn over 2 percent in a high
yield savings account. Thatās the ish Iām talking about right there. Making
money for breathing. That is the equivalent of doing a part-time gig and
earning $500 a year.
Inside a ballroom where the witches hold their meeting, Luke
spies upon them as the Grand High Witch unveils her latest creation: a magic
potion to turn children into mice, which they will use on confectionery
products in sweet shops and candy stores to be opened using money provided by
her.
They know how to make their vision a reality.
You have to chart a course and follow that path to where you want to go. What path? You just point to the top and go! Thatās what I learned from Dwayne āThe Rockā Johnson š
I have also learned that when you own something to hold onto
it.
It doesnāt matter of it is a taco stand, food truck, or blog. If you own 100%, then itās yours to do with as you wish. Hold on to as much equity and ownership in your company as possible. I learned that from Shark Tankās Daymond John. Like McDonald’s does to its hamburgers, keep grinding.
And try to be cash heavy. Meaning stay away from debt. I learned that from Warren Buffet. š They say his company Berkshire Hathaway aims to keep $1 billion or more in cash to snap up businesses and be able to make quick decisions when buying stocks.
In addition, they say Apple does the same. The worldās first
EVER $1 trillion-dollar company keeps billions in cash.
Therefore, you should do the same and follow in their example. ALWAYS have cash reserves. NO EXCUSES!!!
Like Mr. Money Mustache once said, āSalads and barbells every day, no goddamned excuses!!!”
WE ALL WANT TO BE ROYALS
And I donāt mean Prince William and Kate Middleton.
I mean getting royalty checks in the mail.
I saw an article in which Don McLean owns only 2 stocks:
Google and Amazon.
I also recently read that Don McLean continues to receive
royalties off his music he wrote almost 50 years ago. Yes, this artist still
makes $300,000 per year from something he created in 1971.
In the article by Sovereign Man, it retells McLeanās story.
Early spring in 1971 when an obscure American folk singer
wrote a song that would change his life forever.
It began with a radio bulletin that said that Buddy Holly
had died in a plane crash. In 1959, when this happened they called it the day
the music died. The boy was crushed. But the man used this emotion to write a
song that would take the world by storm.
Of course, that song was āAmerican Pie.ā
It stayed atop the Billboard music charts for more than a
year. And it turned this once obscure folk singer into a global sensation.
Ah yes, the power of the pen.
More than that ā McLean was immediately set for life: he
still makes more than $300,000 a year from that song.
Imagine getting paid hundreds of thousands of dollars a year
for something you did in 1971!
This story holds the key to one of the greatest business
models ever invented: the idea that you can create something once and get paid
on it for life.
“The idea is not to live forever, it is to create
something that will.” ā Andy Warhol
Itās the royalty business. Thatās right. I did the work like
20 years ago. Now cut the check!
In case youāre not familiar with the term, a royalty is a
cash payment that you receive over and over again from an asset that you created,
developed, or own.
For example, songwriters collect a royalty every time a song
they write is played, purchased, downloaded or streamed. Some more than others.
That is why Taylor Swift was mad at Apple iTunes for giving away artists music, such as herself, for free for three months!
Thatās why McLean still makes money from American Pie. You
have to pay to play. Music that is. In this case anyway.
Royalties are also common in natural resources. Royalty companies
often provide financing to oil and mining companiesā¦ and those borrowers pay a
royalty on every ounce of gold or gallon of oil that the land produces.
The powerful cashflow of this model can be incredibly
appealing to investors, and there are even some companies that specialize in
acquiring assets that produce royalty income.
Therefore, if you are good at something, donāt give it away
for free.
Even though I am a HUGE Marvel comics fan, I actually got
the last comment mentioned above from DC Comics The Joker. š
Itās still true though. You have to admit.
If I could, I would tap dance on Twitter, if they paid me.
Me and my lipstick confessions charge a premium for the
really good stuff.
I would hand draw or smack lipstick stickers šon Kylie Jennerās lip kits if she paid me $400.
Joan Rivers wrote jokes for days. She once said jokingly, that she would, āwrite for Hitler for $500.ā
Those willing to do more than the bare minimum. We are talking captains or titans of industry and business mavericks, that buck the trend, throw caution to the wind, and are all in.
Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, LeBron James, Phil Knight, and Walt Disney, to name a few, embody the characteristics of what it takes to dominate in oneās field.Ā They are outliers. If you dare to dream and be an outlier yourself, then you are in great company.
WHAT IS AN OUTLIER?
A person or thing that is atypical within a particular group, class, or category. ā Merriam Webster Dictionary
Simply put, you are different than the rest. You stand out. An outlier is the proverbial diamond in the rough or needle in the haystack. The 1 out of a million.
We all know how it worked out for Aladdin in the end.
When everyone else goes right, you go left and turn down the street.
You have tunnel vision. All energy is focused on a single task until it is completed or you are an expert. The rejection of noise and naysayers are a must.
A great definition of focus is this: To follow, without halt, one aim: There’s the secret of success. ā Anna Pavlova (Prima Ballerina)
WHO ARE OUTLIERS?
The more you like yourself, the less you are like anyone else, which makes you unique. – Walt Disney
We will take the examples above and expand on those individuals that have either been born great, achieved greatness, or had greatness thrust upon them. (To revise Humphrey Bogart’s famous words: Hereās looking at you, William. Shakespeare that is.)
So, who are these mavericks you say? Just keep reading.
Steve Jobs
Photo: Forbes.com
Steve Jobs was the CEO and co-founder of the most valuable brand in the world: Apple. The first ever trillion-dollar company in the entire world.Ā He pioneered revolutionary technologies. Thanks to his genius and willingness to dare to be different, we now have a computer in our pockets.
He decided to buck the trend and paid no dividends for Apple shareholders (this changed in 2012), as he thought that money could be better spent to expand the company.
Forbes, in 2011, estimated Jobsā net worth to be around $6 billion to $ 7 billion dollars prior to his passing.
Bill Gates
Photo: Forbes.com
Bill Gates is a business magnate who is the founder of Microsoft. He took the road less traveled by famously dropping out of one of the most elite and prestigious universities in the world: Harvard.
Mr. Gates devoted every minute of his time to computer technology. He would read trade magazines and stay informed on the latest in tech. Becoming an expert in the field and later launching Windows in 1985. It became the top operating system for PCās.
Forbes lists Gatesā net worth at $96B.
LeBron James
Photo: Forbes.com
LeBron James started playing basketball at a very young age. He loved the game so much that he played and practiced non-stop. By the time LeBron was 14, he had ESPN covering his high school basketball games because he was just that good.
He was drafted in 2003, to play professional basketball with the NBA. It is estimated that he spends $1.5 million dollars a year just on his health care and personal training to keep his body in the best athletic shape possible. He would go on to win the first ever championship for Cleveland. Ever. He recently built a school and is offering college scholarships to those students.
Forbes estimates Jamesā net worth at $440 million. Thatās a lot of Mās just for going hard in the paint. It pays well to be the best.
Phil Knight
Photo: Forbes.com
Phil Knight is a business magnate and the co-founder of Nike. He ran track for the University of Oregon under the infamous track coach Bill Bowerman, with whom he co-founded Nike.Ā Bowerman is famous for coaching 31 Olympic athletes including the legendary Steve Prefontaine.
After attending Stanford Graduate School of Business, Knight decided to become an entrepreneur. His business plan paper became the catalyst for his company. He traveled to Japan to see about good running shoes, which would go on to become Nike.
Forbes estimates Knightās net worth at $31B.
Walt Disney
Photo: Forbes.com
Walt Disney was a pioneer in the American animation industry. He always loved to draw. He had a paper route with a grueling and exhausting schedule as a kid, which contributed to his poor grades at school.
None the less, he continued to draw. He had $40 dollars in his pocket when he moved to CA to start his career. After, getting fired from a job in animation at one company, he decided to start his own.
People laughed at him for wanting to draw a talking mouse. An old legend states he was rejected 302 times to get financing to start Disney World. He ended getting the last laugh as Disney is the biggest and most diversified mass media and entertainment conglomerate in the world.
At the time of his death in 1966, he was estimated to have a net worth equal to $1 billion in todayās dollars (adjusting for inflation).
HOW CAN BEING AN OUTLIER MAKE YOU RICH?
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined. ā Henry David Thoreau
People are willing to pay for unique. Something that is one of a kind. The rarer the better.
Do something so good that people canāt wait to see you.
āMake sure it’s mean so them fiends keep on coming backā ā Ā Who Dat (Song by J. Cole)
Keep them wanting for more.
They say the riches are in niches.
Mae West wrote on taboo subjects in the 1920ās. She made a mint in real estate and oil. This is what she thought of all that hoopla she made way back when.
I believe in censorship. I made a fortune out of it. – Mae West
Figure out what you are good at and make it happen.
When you start out you have to take what you can get, but when you blow up, you can name your price.
Remember that song Back Then by Mike Jones. Yeah, it can be something like that.
GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I — I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference. ā Robert Frost
Many people have made a fortune off being different.
Success depends in a very large measure upon individual initiative and exertion, and cannot be achieved except by a dint of hard work.Ā – Anna Pavlova
Letās see some numbers for clarity and perspective.
Only the best can become NFL players. Here is what the best can make.
Rookie Salaries in the NFL
Source: FootballNextLevel.com
Highest Paid Players in NFL
Source: Spotrac.com
These are just salaries for one profession. There are many others.
CEOs are making bank. In addition, so can authors, producers, actors, musicians, professors, doctors, and more can as you can garner success in many other fields.
How hard are you willing to work to make success happen?
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson says success takes no less than everything youāve got. You don’t need directions on the road to success, just point to the top and go! Here are a few more of his words of wisdom for motivation.
I'm always asked "What's the secret to success?". The secret is, there is no secret. Be humble, hungry and the hardest worker in the room.
