What is Dave Bautista's Net Worth and Salary?
Dave Bautista is an American actor, professional mixed martial artist, and professional wrestler with a net worth of $16 million. Bautista began his career in professional fighting, later transitioning to acting with considerable success, earning a devoted fan base in both arenas.
Early Life
David Michael Bautista Jr. was born on January 18, 1969, in a suburb of Washington, D.C. His parents are of Greek and Filipino descent. Bautista has described his upbringing in a rough neighborhood where violence was common. He also faced financial struggles growing up, which led him into a life of crime at an early age, including car theft by the age of 13.
Bautista later found work as a nightclub bouncer but was arrested after injuring two patrons in a fight. He moved on to roles such as a lifeguard before finding his passion in bodybuilding.
Fighting Career
In 1999, Bautista began training at the Wild Samoan Training Center wrestling school. After signing with WWF in 2000, he initially performed in Ohio Valley Wrestling as "Leviathan," going undefeated until he faced Kane and Steve Austin. He won the OVW Heavyweight Championship before being promoted to WWE's main lineup.
Bautista debuted in WWE television in 2002 as "Deacon Batista," initially teaming with D-Von. A betrayal led to a feud and eventually, in 2003, Bautista joined the Evolution team with Ric Flair, a unit that achieved significant success. Feuding within the team, specifically with Triple H, saw Bautista emerge victorious at WrestleMania 21, winning the World Heavyweight Championship for 282 days, the longest reign in history by that point.
In 2010, he won a mixed martial arts fight against Vince Lucero. He continued wrestling, despite recurring injuries, winning and losing titles multiple times. A notable moment was his tactical win over Randy Orton using a fake arm vice.
By 2013, fan reactions turned negative, leading Bautista to eventually quit WWE, citing creative differences. He returned in 2018 for a final match against Triple H, officially retiring in 2019.
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Acting
Dave Bautista transitioned to acting with roles in Smallville and a cameo in Neighbours in 2009. He appeared in Chuck and films like Relative Strangers and Wrong Side of Town. In 2012, his role in The Man with the Iron Fists showcased his martial arts skills.
His breakthrough came in 2014 as Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy, proving his acting prowess. He portrayed the assassin Mr. Hinx in Spectre (2015), teamed with Georges St-Pierre in Kickboxer, and appeared in Blade Runner 2049 (2017).
Bautista reprised his role as Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) and joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe with roles in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. In 2019, it was announced he would star in the film Dune. His acting portfolio includes numerous other films and TV series.
Personal Life
Dave Bautista has had three marriages. He first married in 1990, having two daughters, before divorcing in 1998. His second marriage was in 1998, resulting in a son before divorcing in 2006. In 2015, he married a professional pole dancer, divorcing in 2019. Bautista's autobiography, Batista Unleashed, released in 2007, delves into his wrestling career and personal experiences.
