Hulk Hogan, one of the most popular professional wrestlers in history who helped turn WWE into a global phenomenon, has died, WWE confirmed. He was 71.
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TMZ reported that a "cardiac arrest" call was placed and medics were sent to Hogan's home in Clearwater, Florida. He was taken away on a stretcher.
"WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away," the company said in a statement on X. "One of pop culture's most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s. WWE extends its condolences to Hogan's family, friends, and fans."
Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, rose to superstardom in the 1980s with his "Hulkamania" persona, a patriotic, larger-than-life character that made him the face of professional wrestling. His charisma and massive frame turned WWE — then known as the WWF — into a household name.
Born in Augusta, Georgia, in 1953, Hogan had two children, Brooke and Nick, with his first wife, Linda. The couple divorced in 2007. He later married Jennifer McDaniel in 2010, a marriage that ended in 2022. He wed Sky Daily the following year.
Hogan remained active in the public eye in recent years, appearing at the Republican National Convention in July 2024 to support Donald Trump's presidential campaign. His final appearance on WWE programming came during "Raw's" Netflix debut on Jan. 6, where he served as commissioner for Real American Freestyle and worked as a WWE brand ambassador.
WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away.
One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s.
WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans.
— WWE (@WWE) July 24, 2025
Known for his blond handlebar mustache, bandanas and signature flex, Hogan was widely regarded as the biggest wrestling star of the 1980s and one of the greatest of all time. He began wrestling professionally in 1977 but became a global name after signing with WWF in 1983. Hogan's hero persona and unmatched popularity helped fuel the 1980s wrestling boom. He headlined eight of the first nine WrestleMania events and held the WWF Championship five times, including a 1,474-day reign that remains the longest of the WrestleMania era.
Hogan was also the first wrestler to win back-to-back Royal Rumble matches, in 1990 and 1991. His 1988 match against André the Giant on NBC's "The Main Event" drew a record-setting 33 million viewers.
In 1993, Hogan left WWF for film and television before joining rival WCW in 1994, where he became a six-time world champion. His career took a sharp turn in 1996 when he adopted the villainous "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan persona and led the famed New World Order stable during wrestling's "Monday Night War" era.
Hogan returned to WWE in 2002, winning the Undisputed Championship for a sixth time. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 and again in 2020 as part of the nWo.
Outside wrestling, Hogan built a career in entertainment, beginning with his role as Thunderlips in "Rocky III" in 1982. He starred in movies such as "No Holds Barred," "Suburban Commando" and "Mr. Nanny," and appeared in television series including "Hogan Knows Best" and "Thunder in Paradise." He also dabbled in music with The Wrestling Boot Band, whose album Hulk Rules charted in 1995.
