Though WWE has seen its fair share of professional wrestlers, only a handful have survived its cutthroat developmental system long enough to make a name for themselves beyond professional wrestling. John Felix Anthony Cena, commonly known as John Cena is one of the few pro-wrestlers who not only survived the cutthroat franchise, but dominated it.
After making his in-ring debut in 2002, Cena quickly became one of the most accomplished wrestlers in the franchise, beguiling audiences with his commendable rapping skills and incredible stunts. After climbing to the zenith of the professional wrestling universe, John Cena set his sights on acting, altering the trajectory of his career with roles in major productions like Trainwreck and Suicide Squad. As the 45-year-old world-renowned wrestler prepares to reprise his role as The Peacemaker in season two of the eponymous TV series, Peacemaker, we take a deep dive into his personal life and net worth.
9 John Cena Took An Interest In Professional Wrestling At A Young Age
John Cena was born on April 23, 1977, in West Newbury, Massachusetts, U.S. to John Sr. and Carol Cena. The second-born in a family of five sons, Cena showed a passion for sports from an early age. Unfortunately, young John Cena possessed none of the trappings of a professional wrestler, and was even ruthlessly bullied for being too skinny.
“As a young kid — 11, 12 years old — I was heavily picked on and bullied because of [my] choices of dress and music that I listened to,” he revealed during an appearance on The Tonight Show. “And I was really scrawny — really skinny and scrawny — like, 100 pounds.”
8 John Cena Started Weightlifting At The Tender Age Of 12
To combat the intense bullying, John Cena turned to weightlifting, becoming a bona fide gym rat at just 15. “I started working out when I was 12 years old,” Cena told Jimmy Fallon in 2019. “And by the time I was 15, I was 150 pounds, and by the time I was 17, I was 225 pounds. So needless to say, I wasn’t being picked on.”
Unbeknownst to Cena, this training would lay the foundation for a lifetime career as a professional wrestler. "As horrible as a time as it was for me, it was a catalyst for me to find a passion of my life," he told CBS News in July 2017. "Everyone goes through those moments of self-doubt."
7 John Cena Initially Wanted To Pursue A Career In Bodybuilding
John Cena explored his athletic talents extensively before he finally got on the track to becoming one of the most revered professional wrestlers in history.
After earning his high school diploma at Cushing Academy, Massachusetts, John Cena joined Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts, where he pursued a degree in exercise physiology and body movement, and served as captain of the football team.
After graduating from Springfield College in 1999, Cena moved to California to pursue a career in bodybuilding, a move that would ultimately spur a passion for professional wrestling.
6 John Cena Worked Hard To Earn A Permanent Place On WWE's Core Programming
With his sights set on becoming a professional wrestler, John Cena started training at Ultimate Pro Wrestling's (UPW) Ultimate University, before gaining the Ultimate Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Championship in April 2000.
In 2001, Cena officially signed with WWF (now known as WWE), competing in house shows for over a year before making his SmackDown! debut in June 2002. Cena went on to become the franchise’s most renowned wrestlers, winning a record-breaking 16 world championships, and serving as WWE’s go-to poster boy for most of the 2000s.
5 John Cena Managed To Parlay His WWE Fame Into An Acting Career
Barely a decade after officially signing with WWE, John Cena made his big screen debut as US Marine John Triton in the WWE action film, The Marine.
Following the success of his debut film, Cena went on to star in two other WWE films; 12 Rounds and Legendary. However, it wasn’t until he appeared in the 2015 comedy Trainwreck that he finally gained mainstream recognition as an actor. Half a decade later, Cena landed the role of The Peacemaker in the 2021 film Suicide Squad, which later spawned a starring role in the eponymous TV series, Peacemaker.
4 John Cena Is Also A Published Author And Rapper
Despite his undoubtedly busy schedule as a professional wrestler and actor, John Cena has made time to nurture other artistic talents. Cena featured in several WWE soundtrack albums before releasing his debut album, You Can’t See Me, in 2005, alongside his cousin Tha Trademarc. The album, which featured Cena’s infamous entrance anthem, The Time is Now, secured number 15 on the Billboard 200 chart when it first came out.
John Cena is also the author behind the Elbow Grease series of children’s books as well as the motivational book, Do Your Best Every Day to Do Your Best Every Day. His books are primarily centered around the values he lives by; hustle, respect, and loyalty.
3 Just How Much Is John Cena Worth?
John Cena is rumored to be worth a whopping $80 million, earning about $6.4 million a year, and averaging North of $450,000 per month. A significant chunk of Cena’s massive fortune came from his long and successful career as a professional wrestler.
The 45-year-old’s popularity in the WWE universe opened up a world of lucrative opportunities, including partnerships with brands like Pizza Hut and Gillette. Cena also makes a sizable living from movie, TV, and publishing royalties.
2 How Does John Cena Spend His Money?
John Cena owns a $4.2 million real estate property in Florida, U.S., where he resides. The 45-year-old also has a massive muscle car collection featuring cars like the Ford Mustang, the 1970 Mercury Cougar, and the Cutlass Rallye 350.
In addition, Cena is an avid supporter of several charity organizations, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and Kids Wish Network.
1 Is John Cena Married?
John Cena is currently married to Shay Shariatzadeh, whom he met in 2019 while filming the family film Playing with Fire. Cena and Shariatzadeh tied the knot in an intimate ceremony held in Tampa, Florida in October 2020.
Before Shay Shariatzadeh, Cena was engaged to fellow WWE superstar, Nikki Bella, whom he started dating in 2012. The two were engaged for a year before calling it quits in 2018, just one month before their highly anticipated nuptials.
