Cody Rhodes Net Worth

What is Cody Rhodes' net worth?

Cody Rhodes is an American professional wrestler and actor who has a net worth of $2 million. Cody Rhodes is an American professional wrestler and executive whose career trajectory became one of the most compelling narratives in modern sports entertainment. He is famous both for his deep connection to wrestling royalty—the son of the legendary Dusty Rhodes—and for his revolutionary role as a co-founder of All Elite Wrestling (AEW). Frustrated by creative stagnation in his first WWE tenure, Rhodes embarked on a journey of self-determination, reinventing his persona as "The American Nightmare." This independence and success in launching a rival major promotion allowed him to forge a unique legacy that culminated in a triumphant return to WWE. His fame is now centered on his self-proclaimed mission to "finish the story" by achieving the world championship his father, "The American Dream," never could.

Early Life and Family Legacy

Cody Garrett Runnels was born on June 30, 1985, in Marietta, Georgia. He was immersed in the world of professional wrestling from birth, as the son of Virgil Runnels Jr., better known as the iconic WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes, and the half-brother of veteran wrestler Dustin Rhodes (Goldust). Despite growing up in the industry, Cody initially focused on amateur wrestling, achieving considerable success by winning the Georgia state tournament in his weight class in both 2003 and 2004. Though he planned to wrestle collegiately at Penn State University, he chose to enter professional wrestling instead, beginning his training in 2006.

The First WWE Stint and Creative Frustration (2007–2016)

Rhodes signed with WWE in 2006, quickly debuting on the main roster in 2007, where he was immediately positioned in storylines involving his father and Randy Orton. Throughout his initial decade with the company, he was a consistent performer, capturing multiple titles, including the Intercontinental Championship twice and several World Tag Team Championships. He adopted various gimmicks, notably starring as a member of the faction "The Legacy" alongside Randy Orton and Ted DiBiase Jr., and later gaining popularity as the narcissistic "Dashing" Cody Rhodes. However, his run concluded with the cosmic-themed persona "Stardust," which he publicly voiced great frustration with, feeling creatively limited. In 2016, Rhodes requested and was granted his release from WWE, choosing to bet on himself outside the system that had groomed him.

The Independent and Founding Era (2016–2022)

Following his departure, Rhodes spent three transformative years on the independent circuit, competing as simply "Cody" (as WWE still owned the "Cody Rhodes" name). During this period, he wrestled for major promotions like Ring of Honor (ROH) and New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he won the ROH World Championship and established himself as a marquee attraction. This independent success led to a pivotal moment in 2018 when, alongside The Young Bucks, he self-funded and promoted "All In." The show sold over 10,000 tickets, proving the massive demand for a major wrestling alternative outside of WWE. This success directly led to the formation of All Elite Wrestling (AEW) in 2019, where Rhodes became a co-founder and Executive Vice President (EVP). In AEW, he served as a central in-ring performer and three-time TNT Champion, pioneering the new company's infrastructure before surprisingly announcing his departure in early 2022.

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Contracts, Salaries & Business Ventures

Cody Rhodes' career has involved a unique blend of wrestling contracts and executive roles, leading to significant financial success. In AEW, he was one of the four EVPs, meaning his compensation structure included executive salary, a percentage of merchandising, and his in-ring performer contract. This made him a key business partner as well as a performer.

His financial stature increased significantly upon his return to WWE in 2022. While specific contract details remain undisclosed, Rhodes publicly confirmed that his initial WWE return contract offered him a salary that was approximately 15 times what he had been making during his final run in the company in 2016. Furthermore, in early 2024, he confirmed signing a multi-year contract extension with WWE, ensuring his tenure continues past his 40th birthday. These main-event contracts, combined with significant merchandising income and royalties from his EVP tenure in AEW, place his career earnings and current compensation among the highest tiers in professional wrestling.

The Return and The Final Chapter

Rhodes made his stunning return to WWE at "WrestleMania 38" in April 2022, immediately establishing himself as a top star and embarking on his mission to "finish the story"—a public goal of winning the WWE Championship, the one major title his father famously never held. Despite suffering a torn pectoral muscle that required surgery, he returned in 2023 to win the Royal Rumble match, earning him a main event spot at "WrestleMania 39." Although he lost that initial attempt to Roman Reigns, he doubled down on his mission, winning the 2024 Royal Rumble match to challenge Reigns again at "WrestleMania XL." At that event, Rhodes successfully defeated Roman Reigns, finally achieving his lifelong goal and capturing the undisputed WWE Championship. This victory marked not only a personal triumph but arguably the most emotionally resonant and successful conclusion to a long-term storyline in modern wrestling history.

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