Like other big names working for WWE, Cena takes home extra cash via merchandise sales, and has released shirts and a number of neck chains and medallions. Massachusetts-born Cena is now even a bestselling author after releasing a series of children’s books.

His film career

Wrestling inevitably helped Cena get his start on the big screen – WWE Studios was even behind his movie debut in 2006’s The Marine, which earned him a handsome US$280,000 for the lead role.

However he enjoyed a notably slimmer pay packet for Nickelodeon’s Fred franchise – earning just US$25,000 for playing the lead character’s dad in Fred: The Movie and its sequel, and US$30,000 for Fred 3, according to Money Nation.

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But Cena finally went mainstream Hollywood when he portrayed the love interest of Amy Schumer’s character in Trainwreck – his salary on the 2015 film was US$2.5million – and soon went on to feature in a number of high-grossing flicks, including as a voice actor for animations Ferdinand and Doolittle.

Most recently, he has starred in this year’s F9 and comic book caper Suicide Squad, and even hosted new American quiz show Wipeout.

His moneymaking endorsements

Cena has maximised his earnings off the back of his superstar wrestler status with big-money brand deals. The star is believed to earn about US$1.5 million per year from partnerships with the likes of Subway, Honda and Gillette. It’s also reported that Cena could have earned anywhere between US$500,000 and US$1 million for his Experian commercial alone in 2020, and he worked with the company again for a project that debuted during the much-coveted 2021 Super Bowl ad slot.

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And then there are his property investments

The star has also been smart about how he invests those earnings, being the proud owner of at least two plush homes in the US. One is a five-bedroom, four-bathroom mansion in Land O’Lakes, Florida, with indoor and outdoor pools. Fans of reality show Total Bellas, starring his then-girlfriend WWE diva Nikki Bella, would have seen that he renovated the US$3.6 million pad, and so has likely boosted the value.

Cena also has a property in San Diego, California. While we don’t know the value, we do know it comes complete with a wine cellar and a games room. 

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Need for speed

The F9 star is an ideal addition to the rubber-burning film franchise, as he’s known to own more than 20 high-performance motors, some of which are one-of-a-kind. The vehicles include a custom-made Corvette “InCenaRator” and a Rolls-Royce costing more than US$400,000.

Cena made headlines in 2018 when he was sued by Ford for selling his GT – a model so rare buyers must sign a contract agreeing not to sell within two years of delivery. Cena apparently broke the agreement and settled out of court.

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