There are over 11 million skateboarders in the world and Tony Hawk ‘Birdman’ is by far the highest-paid and richest skateboarder with a net worth of $140 million. The American had one of the most successful careers in the history of skateboarding from 1982 when he became a professional in 2003 when he retired. He further added to his achievements by being an entrepreneur who owns the Birdhouse skateboarding company.
How Tony Hawk Made His $140 Million Net Worth
He Made His Wealth From More Than A Decade Of Professional Skating
When calling the most successful skateboarders, Tony Hawk is definitely on the leading stage. It is through his skating career that he made a huge career that amounts to a net worth of $140 million.
He started making his wealth at an early age. As a teenager, he was already making up to $100,000 per year from sponsorship deals including for brands such as Mountain Dew and his prize money. He also got deals with Swatch and Hot Wheels. Thanks to all these, he bought his first house when he was a senior in high school.
In skating, he participated in events such as vert and street skateboarding and was able to invent more than 80 tricks among others.
With the fortune made from his career, he bought his first house at the time that he was a senior in high school.
Tony Hawk Makes Fortune From Video Games, Films, and Series
Apart from earning from professional skating, a video game series was created as regards his skating. The video not only has Tony Hawk’s name but he remains a character in the game. In addition, the video game franchise “Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater” generated over $1.4 billion in sales since 1999 when it began.
The Birdman also became an actor who featured in a number of films and TV series.
He Earns From YouTube
Generally, YouTubers make money from their views and subscribers among other factors. In this regard, Hawk has a channel called the Ride Channel. The channel which was created in 2011 has 1.73 million subscribers with over 495 million views.
According to some sources, a YouTuber makes about $9.90 per 1,000 views. Hence, Hawk may have generated more than millions of dollars from the channel alone.
He Has A Skating Company
Tony Hawk and former professional skateboarder Per Welinder founded Birdhouse Skateboards in 1992. The company generates huge sums for Hawk. Currently, it produces decks, wheels, clothing as well as other accessories.
Biography of Tony Hawk
The American professional skateboarder was born Anthony Frank Hawk on May 12, 1968, in San Diego, California, United States. Nicknamed The Birdman, he was raised in San Diego by his parents Nancy and Frank Peter Rupert Hawk. From 1980 to 1981, he went to Jean Farb Middle School.
While growing up, he had so much energy and was very hyperactive. Because of this, when he found skateboarding, his parents supported him as a way to let out his excessive energy. It was found out very early that he was a gifted child and was suggested that he be placed in advanced classes.
Hawk was 9 when he received a blue fibreglass skateboard from his older brother. This was the first skateboard that he had. Soon afterwards, he learned to maneuver his way around it, leading him to a highly successful career. The first time he did a 900 was in 1999 and from then, he would end up doing some more.
A 2009 inductee into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame, Tony has been the most consistent person in the sport that even in 1991 when the sport was almost completely dead, he still remained and founded his skateboarding company. Before too long, the sport came back to life and soared with Hawk at the top of it.
See Also: Kenny Smith’s Net Worth And Salary
Tony Hawk Has Been Married 4 Times – Who is His Current Wife?
Cindy Dunbar Is Hawk’s High School Love And First Wife
When Hawk was in high school, he dated a woman, Cindy Dunbar whom he later married in 1990. Two years later, they had a child Riley Hawk together and then in 1993, the marriage ended in divorce
Her son Riley Hawk is also a skater who was named Amateur of the Year in 2013 by Skateboarder Magazine.
Erin Lee Is His Second Wife
In 1996, Tony Hawk got married to Erin Lee with whom he had two more children before the couple divorced in 2004.
His Third Wife Lhotse Merriam Is An Actress
Lhotse Merriam became the third wife of Tony Hawk in 2006 and in 2008, she gave birth to a daughter. On her own, she is an actress who is famous for her roles in Peak Experience (2003), and ESPN X-Games (1994).
Apart from her TV career, the University of California, Santa Cruz graduate is into marketing, consulting, networking, research and event production.
Their union lasted less than a decade before coming to a rather shocking end in 2011. Among the reasons stated by Hawk for the divorce, he included travel commitments.
Cathy Goodman Is His Fourth Wife And A Producer
Not long after his divorce, Hawk went public with Cathy who was previously married to his best friend and business partner, Matt Goodman. Needless to say, the marriage caused serious problems between Hawk and Goodman who had been close since childhood and also the best man in all his previous marriages. More so, it almost brought down the over $120 million business empire of Tony.
While it is not clear at what point Hawk and Goodman started dating, there were reports that Hawk was cheating on his former wife with Cathy and she discovered the affair. This was one of the things speculated to be behind the divorce of the pair.
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