Tag Archives: Taylor Swift

Stock CEO

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Merriam-Webster definition: Rockstar: a famous and successful singer or performer of rock music.

Greenbacks Magnet definition: Stockstar: a successful investor of stocks and index funds.

I knew there were only six ways to get rich rich: marry money, inherit money, build a successful business, exploit a talent, get lucky i.e. win the lottery, and spend less than you make and invest your savings wisely over a long period of time. That is basically it. The rest are details.

There are many roads and paths to wealth, but all of them come down to six once you weed out all the details. Wealth has to be pursued. It will not just fall into your lap. You have to work for it. The result of hard work is success. The success is measured in dollars. Even though money is just a tool and one barometer for measuring success it is the yardstick that lets you keep tabs on how far you can come in a job done well.

But as we all know building wealth is easier said than done.

It can be as elusive as getting those Taylor Swift Eras tour concert tickets! And like her, I have a blank space and I’ll plan to write millionaire after my name. Ha!

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After reading books like The Automatic Millionaire, The Simple Path to Wealth, Your Money or Your Life and a ton of celebrity autobiographies, it occurred to me that even on a modest income, you can rise out of the poverty ashes and rise like the phoenix to wealth.

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You just need a plan. If you tried your hand at the first five ways to wealth and failed, you could always be working on the sixth path of saving and investing your way there simultaneously.

If I could not be a ballplayer, rapper, or business owner, I could always invest my money and be the CEO of my stock portfolio. I could be a stock CEO. I could be a stockstar. No college diploma required.

There are 5.3 million millionaires and 770 billionaires living in the United States. Millionaires make up about 2% of the U.S. adult population. Therefore, if you make it to $1 million in investable assets, you are wealthier than 98% of the U.S. population.

Statistics show that the top 2% of the United States population has a net worth of about $2.4 million. On the other hand, the top 5% wealthiest Americans have a net worth of just over $1 million. Therefore, about 2% of the population possesses enough wealth to meet the current definition of being rich. Having $1 million will put you in a very exclusive club. The double comma club.

Although, the top 1% can earn as much as $955,000. Those annual earnings can seem far out of reach in a country where less than 10% of all households earn more than $200,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Working toward $1 million is still a lofty and worthy goal. Forbes reported in 2022 that the bracket’s minimum net worth is much higher — a cool $11.1 million. That would mean to be in the top 10% would be a minimum net worth of $1.1 million. This is an achievable goal. See some of my investments below.

My index funds are shown in dollar and my individual stocks are shown in shares.

Stock Portfolio

Investments2012201820202022/23
VTSAX$20,000$100,000$158,000$220,000
Amazon102
Apple2050100
Google330

Over time, I have increased my exposure in individual stocks while also investing in my index funds. I also decided to open up four different retirement accounts: Traditional IRA (Rollover from a previous job), Roth IRA, 401k and Roth 401k. I was able to get both the Roth and regular 401k from my employer(s) over the years. The IRA’s are what just happened over time.

Each retirement vehicle offers different benefits. In order to have more flexibility with my money I have two of each IRA and 401k. See below for definitions and pros and cons or the Roth 401k and IRA and more her from Empower.

What is a Roth 401k?
A Roth 401k is an employer-sponsored retirement plan. But unlike a traditional 401k, contributions are made with after-tax dollars.

The Roth 401k was introduced in 2006 to give Americans a new type of retirement savings vehicle to complement the popular Roth IRA, which was introduced in 1997. Roth IRAs and Roth 401ks are similar, but there are some pretty significant differences you should understand when deciding which one is right for you.

Pros and cons of a Roth 401k
A big advantage that the Roth 401k has over the Roth IRA is the possibility of an employer matching your contributions up to a certain percentage. Employer matches are the closest thing there is to “free money,” so if you’re deciding between a Roth 401k vs. a Roth IRA — keep this in mind. It’s also important to note here, though, that if you receive an employer Roth 401k match, the matching funds could also go into a traditional 401k.

A con, however, is that a Roth 401k account can sometimes have fewer investment options than a Roth IRA.

Pros and cons of a Roth IRA
On the flip side, Roth IRAs generally offer more investment options than Roth 401ks. With a Roth IRA, you generally have a large number of investments to choose from, including stocks, bonds, cash alternatives, and alternative investments. With a Roth 401k, you are limited to the investment options offered by your employer’s 401k plan.

However, one con of a Roth IRA is the income limit associated with this type of account. If you earn too much money, you won’t be able to contribute to this option. Roth IRAs also aren’t sponsored by an employer, which means that there is no employee contribution match.

The most distinguishing characteristic of 401(k)s, whether Roth or traditional, is the high contribution limit, allowing employees to save up to $22,500 per year in 2023. For workers over age 50, the ceiling is $30,000.

Meanwhile, annual IRA contribution limits are $6,500, while workers over 50 years old may contribute up to $7,500 per year.

A Roth 401(k) has a required minimum distribution beginning at age 73, but starting in 2024, the minimum distribution requirement will be eliminated entirely for Roth 401(k)s thanks to the SECURE Act 2.0, which was passed at the end of 2022. Previously, Roth 401(k) account holders could roll their plans into a Roth IRA and avoid the requirement entirely.

That means if you are one of the lucky ones with access to the Roth 401k, then you can essentially put money away for retirement with after-tax dollars and pay nothing on the earnings when you begin your withdrawals and no tax period in your retirement.

I knew that if I could make sure to always focus on investing a portion of my income that I could build wealth no matter what.

My definition of a stockstar is listed above. However, I have a barometer to measure my goal as well.

In order to be a Stock CEO and be one of the big boys, I looked at the compensation packages of CEOs in America. And CEOs are paid! The average salary of a Fortune 500 CEO is $15.9 million per year. The highest-paid Fortune 500 CEO is Elon Musk. In 2021, Musk saw compensation worth around $23.5 billion. He achieved this by exercising Tesla stock options given in a 2018 multiyear moonshot grant.

CEO pay has skyrocketed 1,460% since 1978.

CEOs were paid 399 times as much as a typical worker in 2021; that is up from 366-to-1 in 2020 and a big increase from 20-to-1 in 1965 and 59-to-1 in 1989.

The average CEO salary in the United States is $821,100 as of May 25, 2023, but the range typically falls between $620,600 and $1,057,900.

However, some CEOs like Warren Buffet accept a salary of $100,000. Some have gone so far as to take a salary of $1. For example, in 2010–11 Oracle’s founder and CEO Larry Ellison made only $1 in salary, but earned over $77 million in other forms of compensation. In some cases, in lieu of a salary, the executives receive stock options. Top CEOs like Elon Musk & Mark Zuckerberg take 1 dollar salary. and know the history of a $1 salary & perks that comes with a one-dollar salary.

Why do CEOs make $1?

The CEOs can afford to earn $1 as they make money through other ways like stocks and equity. This also helps them in avoiding taxes.

Who are the CEOs in the $1 salary club?

Some of the CEOs who take a $1 dollar salary are: Elon Musk (Tesla), Mark Zuckerberg (Meta formerly Facebook), Meg Whitman (Quibi), Larry Page Sergey Brin (Google).

Once I did my homework, I decided that I was going to be a stock CEO.

I may not be running a billion-dollar Fortune 500 company, but could manage a million-dollar stock portfolio.

Every dollar I invest would be my employee.

I would unleash these little worker bees to do their thing and help me build wealth with the power of compounding. That would be my equity pay package and golden parachute when I left work behind.

For example, Presidents / CEOs at companies that have raised Over 30M typically get between 250K and 5M+ shares. However, smaller companies that have raised Under 1M are more generous with their stock compensation as it ranges between 2 and 40%+ for Presidents / CEOs.

Therefore, I could reckon that a CEO of a small firm could get around 100K and between 10K-200K shares. Let’s say a small cap company like Ethan Allen, which has a share rice of $26.40 and a market cap of $667M, then a CEO would have between $263K and $5.28M in stock.

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Therefore, if I had bewteen1K and 10K in stocks or index funds such as GOOGL at $125 a share or the VTSAX at $101 a share, I would have $100K to 1.25M in investments. This is a CEO stock equity level right there. Having 10K in shares or $100K-1M in investments means you are a stockstar.

At 550K in investable assets, you are in the top 20% in net worth. At $1.1M, you are in the top 10% of net worth individuals. Think of it like this, if you can’t be a rap star, baller, or Rockstar, you can be a financial Rockstar. Just keep investing.

Like Rihanna, said:

To be what you wish
You gotta be what you are
Only thing I’m missin’
Is a black guitar index fund

hey baby I’m a Rockstar stockstar!

Get Rich Using The Tortoise And Not The Hare Method: An Interview With Get Rich Slowly

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There are some stories in life that truly move and inspire you. To be an inspiring storyteller, is a gift.

However, all talent must be continually used and worked on if you are to turn talent into something great.

That is when you become a professional. What is a professional? Someone who is paid to do a job.

God gives talent. Work turns talent into genius. Anna Pavlova, Russian Prima Ballerina (1882-1931)

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I’ll share with you over time some stories real and fictional that have inspired me on this blog such as Oprah and Jay Leno.

Just to name a few stories, you know off the top of my head, the following:

  • Hearing about strangers helping strangers.
  • People paying it forward by becoming part of an organization as Denzel Washington and Steve McQueen did with their efforts with the Boys and Girls Club.
  • *Just FYI: The actor Steve McQueen grew up poor. The Boys and Girls Club gave him a clean and safe place to be in his youth. He paid it forward after he become a famous actor by asking movie studios to give him thousands of white t-shirts, socks, and personal hygiene products as part of his compensation package for starring in their films. He secretly turned around and donated all this material to the Boys and Girls Club to give out to the young men there. Just melts your heart doesn’t it.
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Steve McQueen also known as “The King of Cool”
  • How the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles always looked out for the little guy.
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TMNT film circa 1990
  • The friendship between Shaggy and Scooby-Doo. Those two they just warm my heart.
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Some of my favorite singers that have turned their talent into success are Whitney Houston, Pat Benatar and Toni Braxton.

One of the things I remember Ms. Braxton saying, “music is not about you just saying what you think, but how you make people feel.” Her music and voice have always made me feel good.

Seeing her up on that stage performing recently at the American Music Awards, reminded me of all the reasons I liked her; she has a gift for making you feel good with the words she sings that transcends whatever hard times you are going through in that moment. She makes you feel happy.

Toni Braxton performs onstage during the 2019 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on November 24, 2019, in Los Angeles, California. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images for dcp)

And speaking of people that inspire you with their words, I would like to introduce you today to someone who has not only done that for me, but for millions of people around the world through his writing on personal finance. The one and only Mr. JD Roth.

He has turned his passion and talent into success as a successful writer and blogger. I had the pleasure of meeting him in person.

He was kind enough to agree to this interview on Greenbacks Magnet (GBM).

Here at GBM we are all about rejecting buying brand new fresh off the factory floor made cars in order to become Financially Independent (FI).

We pull back the curtains and blow the top off the math, and not the Mercedes, behind how not buying new cars can make you rich.

GBM is the place where we like to get down and dirty into the math behind building wealth, but we keep the jokes clean. Our jokes here are like a Hallmark card, GBM cares enough to send the very best! Even my tweets are called Lipstick Confessions!!! haha 💋Smooches

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Below is just a taste of what GBM has to offer. This blog ages like fine wine; it only gets better with time. No topic is off limits!!! Not even French Fries!!

I’m like Space Ghost Coast to Coast. Booking celebrity guests for my audiences reading and fiscally literate pleasure.

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Fun Fact: The original pilot of Space Ghost C2C was produced in a closet, and the guest was Denzel Washington (second mention in this post cause Denzel is just everywhere). It was green-lit as a series on the Cartoon Network in 1994 and went on to huge success.

Therefore, if you are looking to start a podcast, let this be inspiration to know it is okay to start it on a shoestring budget and in your closet.

Let’s get down to the interview.

Topic du jour: The tortoise wins the get rich race every time. Who is the man behind the tortoise shell?

Subject: Men who talk money. How to Get Rich Slow?

GRS JD Roth: YES, I would be happy to do your interview.

Ladies and Gentlemen, please put your hands together for Mister JD Roth!!! The founder of Get Rich Slowly.

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ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF

GBM Miriam: It was great meeting JD Roth of Get Rich Slowly at FinCon 18 in Orlando.  I had seen his picture on the blog-sphere so many times that I knew who he was on sight. I tried to keep a calm and cool composure, but on the inside I was screaming, “IT’S JD ROTH!!!!!” Over and over in my head.

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Imagine my surprise when I got to ride shotgun with him on our way to a restaurant for a fellow bloggers birthday.

Here I am a total stranger and he was as cool as a cucumber. Totally down-to-earth and fun too. Check out one of his tweets. Hilarious!!!

You can check out more of this story on my post about my very first FinCon called FinCon The Recap from your Friendly Neighborhood Greenbacks Magnet Part I and Part II.

We are in the car with Liz of Chief Mom Officer, Military Dollar, and Erin of Reaching for FI. In a car full of women, he was totally cool driving while listening to Taylor Swift. Yes, I found out that JD is a T. Swift fan. I am too. It’s like john jacob jingleheimer schmidt up in here!!!

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Here is proof here!! I just so happen to think Taylor Swift is pretty awesome too! 😉 Great minds think alike. I literally just posted tweets on Taylor Swift and Lizzo last week. 😂👍

Let’s dive into the interview.

MEET JD ROTH

This is how it feels to meet JD.

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Yes, he was just that friendly and down-to-earth.

This is how I felt getting to interview JD. Over the moon and on top of the world. After three years of blogging, I made it. I’m still here. Anything is possible if you work hard enough for it. 😉So Grateful.

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JD STARTS A BLOG ABOUT GETTING RICH

1. What prompted you to start a blog about money? How much makes you feel rich? Would you say $500k, $1M, $2M, or more? 

I started Get Rich Slowly for three reasons. First, I wanted to document my own journey out of debt. Second, I thought maybe I could help other people learn to manage money as I improved my own financial skills. Finally, I hoped maybe I could make a few hundred bucks per month to supplement my income.

I had NO idea that starting Get Rich Slowly would change the trajectory of my life, financial and otherwise. It wasn’t even something I could have conceived at the time. Yet it changed everything.

How much makes me feel rich? That’s a great question. It doesn’t take much. I grew up poor. My family lived in a run-down trailer house in rural Oregon. My father was often out of work. Sometimes we had to take assistance from our church in order to get by. Today, I have far more money than my parents ever did. I feel very rich. But I don’t know what dollar amount leads to that…

GBM Miriam: Well ok. Thank you for your honesty. It is always appreciated. I fell into learning about money by accident. I was at my boyfriend’s place when I saw a Kiplinger magazine lying around. I just so happened to pick it up…

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2. Any favorite finance books? How come?

I’ve read and enjoyed many finance books, but my favorite books about money usually aren’t actually books about money. What I mean is that often the books that I believe will most help people with their finances aren’t financial books. They’re only tangentially related to finances.

For instance, I think The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People is probably one of the most helpful book anyone can read if they’re struggling to improve their finances. The ideas and philosophy it conveys are so valuable in developing a successful financial mindset.

GBM Miriam: One of my top favorites is The Millionaire Next Door. That and the one you named are some good reading. 👍

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3. What are you reading right now? What’s on your night stand?

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Haha. I always have several books going at once. Right now, I’m reading:

* Wake Up and Live! by Dorothea Brande

* House of Suns by Alistair Reynolds

* Y: The Last Man by Brian K. Vaughan

* Deep Work by Cal Newport

This “many books at once” habit kind of goes against the whole Deep Work philosophy… 

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4. One thing people may not know about you?

When I left for college in 1987, I thought I was going to be a religion major. My aim was to get a religion degree, then become a Christian missionary. I thought I’d ultimately end up as a church pastor.

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GBM Miriam: I did see you mention something about that on your blog. I put a link to that story in your response for readers to be transported there faster than Marty hitting 88 mph by clicking on college in 1987.

5. What’s in your wallet? How did you start building wealth?

These two questions don’t seem related.

I carry a minimalist wallet: https://www.tombihn.com/products/minimalist-wallets?variant=13762302378047

It contains my debit card, my business credit card, my personal credit card, my Apple card, maybe $40 cash, and my insurance info (health and vehicle). That’s it.

I started building wealth through a two-pronged attack. First, I reduced how much I was spending. Second, I worked to build my income. Basically, I did my best to work both sides of the wealth equation (income and spending) in an attempt to grow my saving rate as high as possible.

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GBM Miriam: Awesome. I started by saving $1 a day. Then gradually started increasing my savings and investing rates from 5% to over 40% of my income over like 10 years. I cut out buying crap and clothes to bank that money for my future baby!!

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Well said. So that’s what I did. Unlike that episode of King Meets Queens, when Carrie buys thousands of dollars worth of expensive clothes, keeps the tags on them to return them for a refund (get this because she could afford them *ahem* $2,000 Chanel suits) and said this to her husband…

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If this sounds like you, please stop reading THIS and go read the Get Rich Slowly archives right now! If you want to get rich, cut the excuses and get fiscally educated!!!

If you are truly fiscally clumsy, then try the lazy method of investing. I would use Swensen’s model that he crafted for Yale University. With over $27 billion dollars under management, the Yale endowment is the second largest college endowment in the world (Harvard is #1). Just watch the video. Now you and Rory Gilmore will have something in common.

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And if this is too much, just park your investments into a total stock market fund like the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTSAX) or Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI).

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BONUS ROUND

Bonus Questions (pick any of the questions from the top or below that you want to answer) 

6. Any life or money lessons from a favorite movie or TV show you would like to share?

I’m partial to Mr. Roger’s philosophy of loving others and encouraging others to love. He believed in accepting people for who they were, regardless of who they were. I subscribe to that ideal too.

GBM Miriam: Good stuff. I ❤ Mr. Rogers I wanted to take a ride on that train soooo bad! It looked like so much fun.

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7. If you found a lottery ticket that ends up winning $1.5 million. What would you do?

I would buy new cars for me and my girlfriend. I’d get her a Tesla Model 3. I’d buy myself a Mini Cooper — the electric model, if it ever gets released. I’d stick the rest of the money in the bank.

GBM Miriam: A mini Cooper eh? I can dig it.

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But that Tesla looks sexy.

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And love those falcon wing doors.

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Car Magazine UK Tesla photo
Tesla Model X doors


8. Who is your favorite X-men,  Justice League, Avengers or comic book character? Why?

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I’ve always been partial to nerds from the Marvel universe, characters like Cyclops from the X-Men or Mr. Fantastic from the Fantastic Four.

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GBM Miriam: You are probably wondering why I asked this question. Beside being a huge cartoon and Mavel fan, I actually named this blog after a Marvel comic book character; Magneto. 😉

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Just FYI: We skipped a few numbers and moved on to question 11.

11. If both a taxi and a limo were priced the exact same, which one would you choose?

Neither. I would probably walk, if I could.

GBM Miriam: Yeah, that’s me. I love to walk. I’m like Elizabeth Bennett in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

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12. What song or songs best describes your work ethic?

“Don’t Worry, Be Happy” 🙂

13. What would you do if you just inherited a pizzeria from your uncle?

I would sell it, if it were profitable. Hell, I’d sell it even if it weren’t profitable. That sounds like too much work!

GBM Miriam: You may be right. I know it’s just a cartoon but they worked the crap out of Doyle in that pizza place in Galaxy High!! 🤣

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14. What was your best MacGyver moment?

This question is so NOT me. I’m not a MacGyver type. That said, my best MacGyver moment was probably installing a new tape deck in the 1993 Toyota pickup I bought last January. Admittedly, I had instructions for this project, but it was still pretty MacGyver-y for me. Now I can listen to cassette tapes as my dog and I cruise around Portland. 😉

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15. If I gave you $40,000 to start a business, what would you start?

I know the answer to this! I’d start a blog. In fact, I’ve spent a similar amount to launch blogs in the past — and they’ve become businesses.

GBM Miriam: Why am I not surprised. 😆 I love blogging too.

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How I feel about blogging: “Tonight, darling, we are going to right a lot of wrongs. And we are going to wrong some rights. The first shall be last; the last shall be first; the meek shall do some earth-inheriting.” -Margo Roth Spiegelman, Paper Towns by John Green

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Cara Delevingne as Margo Roth Spiegelman in Paper Towns
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16. If you had $2,000, how would you double it in 24 hours?

Hm. I’m not sure. There’s no reliable way to do this, of course. My inclination would be to pick a game of pure chance, such as roulette, then to make a single bet that would either double the money or lose it in one go. Using that roulette example, if I bet all $2000 on, say, even numbers or odd numbers, I’d have about a 48% chance of doubling my money and a 52% chance of losing it all.

Really, though, there’s no sure way to do this.

GBM Miriam: That’s JD. He always gives it t you straight and keeps it 💯just how we like it.

For example, he just put this out there for our fiscal viewing. Check out his post on Our first annual family meeting. Bringing people and finances together. As a financial blogger, that just melts my heart ❤right there.

Notes for family meeting

THE END

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GBM Miriam: Thank you JD!!! It was an absolute dream come true and a pleasure to have you stop by Greenbacks Magnet.

It was my honor to be your host this evening. See you at FinCon 2020. The year of perfect vision!!! Until we meet again!!! I bid you farewell.

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Want more fiscal nuggets of wisdom, from the JD Roth?

Find him on his website and connect with him on Twitter at @getrichslowly.

Dwayne Johnson: The Rock Solid and The Fast and The Furious Way To Make Millions

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“Success isn’t always about ‘Greatness’, it’s about consistency. Consistent, hard work gains success. Greatness will come.” – Dwayne Johnson

Well unless you have been living under a Rock, then you have heard of the name Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

One of the most successful wrestlers to come out of the WWE of all time.

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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 film’s director, Jon M. Chu, in the 2013 sci-fi action film “G.I. Joe: Retaliation,” with Bruce Willis.

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Regardless, The Rock isn’t 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.

I’m about to open up The Rock’s wallet and give you a peek inside.  

Let’s smell what The Rock is cookin’ 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 father’s work as a professional wrestler, the family was constantly in flux and bouncing around from place to place.

Wrestling is in The Rock’s 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 doesn’t 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, “What can I do with these two hands?” That is when he decided to start working out.

“The successful men I knew were 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 “all the time.”

KICK ROCKS

“I’ll never, ever be full. I’ll always be hungry. Obviously, I’m not talking about food.

Growing up, I had nothing for such a long time.” – 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 wrasslin’.

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 hadn’t 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, you’re going to go into wrestling, right?’

“And he’d 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

“1995. $7 Bucks In My Pocket. I Knew Two Things: I’m Broke As Hell and One Day I Won’t Be” – 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 😉

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!

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“When You Walk Up To Opportunity’s Door: Don’t Knock It. Kick That Bitch In, Smile and Introduce Yourself” – 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 people’s 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.

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Keep in mind, Writing isn’t generally a high-paying gig—unless 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.

 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.

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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 Greatness” – The Rock

Dwayne “The Rock” 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 2001’s “The Mummy Returns.”

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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.

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CAA, short for Creative Artists Agency, is also one of the biggest entertainment agencies in the world.

GIVING BACK

“I Like To Use The Hard Times in The Past, To Motivate Me Today” – 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!!!

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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 TRUCKING…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-comedy…. even though (spoiler alert!) his character gets killed off just 15 minutes into the movie.

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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 he’s 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!!!

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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

“Let Actions Do Your Talkin For You, (Unless You’re Telling A Good Dirty Joke)”

In an Essence magazine article, he was asked what he was wearing while talking over the phone. His answer: A thong. Backwards. 🤣Your boy has got jokes!!!

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The Rock is now taking life a quarter mile at a time.

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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.

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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 “Wake Up Call.”

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson: At 23, I Had Only $7 In My Pocket — Then I Turned My Life Around

According to Business Insider, “In 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.”

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!!!💰 Cha ching! 😂

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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. He’s been cancelled more times than checks!

BLOOD, SWEAT, AND RESPECT

“Blood, Sweat and Respect. First Two You Give, Last One You Earn” – 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).

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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!

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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.

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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 Bolsø 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 Universe’s 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.

“With Drive And A Bit Of Talent, You Can Move Mountains” – 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.

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Alas, as of this writing, it doesn’t 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.

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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

“Success at anything will always come down to this: Focus & Effort, and we control both.” – The Rock

The Rock’s iconic tattoo.

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The tattoos are beliefs of his ancestors from his father’s 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.

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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? That’s ok. Here’s the link 😉

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.

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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!!! 😂And 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.)

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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.

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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.

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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!!

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 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.

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Here is his formula: Blood, Sweat, and Respect + Hard work and Consistency = Success.   

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And that’s how it’s done.

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