In high school, he was so tall and muscular that classmates thought he was an undercover cop.
He spent part of his childhood living in New Zealand with his mother’s family.
Before wrestling, Johnson played college football at the University of Miami and won a national championship in 1991.
He originally dreamed of becoming a professional football player, but after being cut from the Canadian Football League, he turned to wrestling.
Johnson once had only $7 in his pocket after his football career ended—this inspired the name of his production company, Seven Bucks Productions.
He holds a Guinness World Record for the most selfies taken in three minutes, snapping 105 with fans at a movie premiere.
Despite his tough-guy image, Johnson is known for his philanthropy and has donated millions to children’s hospitals and educational programs.