Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s journey to becoming a beloved pro wrestler and a top actor wasn’t easy. He faced many challenges and brought a few women along for the ride. Behind his impressive muscles, six-pack abs, and charming smile, he has secrets that have caused a lot of trouble in his life. But despite the chaos, he turned things around, and we’re here to share his story with you.
He earned himself a football scholarship to the University of Miami. Once he joined the team, things got intense when he clashed with his teammate Kevin Patrick. The altercation, as detailed by Rolling Stone magazine, almost turned physical, with him trying to do some serious damage. Reflecting on the incident in his memoir, he admitted, “If they hadn’t intervened, I might have really hurt him.”
In 1991, at just 18 years old, he found himself agreeing to take part in a pretty wild nine-person experience. But just before diving into that adventure, he and his buddies hit up a bar. There, he crossed paths with Dany Garcia, a 22-year-old Cuban American college senior. He was so taken by her that he ditched the group event. Recounting the moment later in his biography, he confessed, “I just knew she was the one for me, sounds cheesy, but it’s the truth.” Their relationship took off from there, but Dany quickly realized he had his fair share of issues. According to her interview with the Washington Post, he was good-looking but had a major ego. They once had a massive argument over the phone, complete with shouting, before abruptly hanging up on each other. Dany expected him to call back like he usually did, but he couldn’t—because he’d smashed his phone in a fit of rage. She urged him to get a grip on his temper, and he promised he’d work on it.
While attending a family wedding, Dwayne, towering at six-foot-five and weighing 275 pounds, found himself in an unfortunate altercation. Mistakenly believing a woman had disrespected his father, he acted impulsively, attempting to strangle her. Reflecting on the incident in his biography, he vividly recounted how he manhandled the petite woman, inadvertently using her to clear the table amidst her gasps and struggles. However, anger wasn’t Dwayne’s only challenge; his relationship with Dany faced significant hurdles too. Dany’s Cuban immigrant parents rejected him upon discovering his African-American heritage, believing that assimilation and success required a different kind of partner.
Their struggles persisted during college when they decided to move in together, relying on Dany’s modest income from an entry-level job at a real estate firm. Meanwhile, Dwayne’s focus waned, his GPA plummeting to a dismal 0.7 at one point. Despite graduating with a degree in criminology, his dreams of joining the Secret Service faded as injuries thwarted NFL interest, leading him to the Canadian Football League for a meager income of $175 a week and dismal living conditions.
Realizing football wasn’t his path, Dwayne returned to Miami with little more than seven dollars. Dany, burdened with debt, faced further challenges. Dwayne’s attempt at contributing by painting houses fell short, and their relationship suffered, plunging him into depression. Eventually, inspired by male role models, he pursued a career in professional wrestling, relocating to Los Angeles despite guilt over leaving Dany with mounting bills. Her supportive words—”I love you, go pursue your dreams”—rekindled their bond amidst adversity.
In 1996, he joined the WWF, kicking off a journey that would forever intertwine with Dany’s. It wasn’t until 1997, after six years of dating, that he and Dany took the plunge into marriage, marking the start of their shared adventure as husband and wife. It’s funny how things seemed to fall into place once he rose to fame as a wrestler, isn’t it? But regardless, he gave Dany all the credit for transforming his life with her unwavering love. In his biography, he wrote, “Through thick and thin, Dany was by my side. Now, we’re basking in our success, knowing that our love is the driving force.”
With his wrestling career keeping him on the road for up to 200 days a year, their relationship faced its challenges. When asked about the strain of a long-distance marriage by Rolling Stone, Dany admitted it was tough but remained hopeful. He assured her, emphasizing his lack of interest in the party scene. Yet, he couldn’t deny the difficulty of being away from her, especially when they dreamed of starting a family. “Apart from that,” he said, “it’s like we’re living in different worlds.”
Their family grew with the birth of their daughter, Simone, in August 2001. As his career soared, Dany played a crucial role behind the scenes, offering guidance and a business perspective. In an interview with Marie Claire, she described herself as the engine driving his success. However, rumors of his infidelity surfaced, with actress Robin Young claiming an encounter with him in Las Vegas in May 2004. According to Robin, their rendezvous left much to be desired, with allegations of peculiar preferences on his part. Robin hinted at having audio evidence to back up her claims.
In the fall of 2006, he headed to Boston to shoot “The Game Plan.” It was there that 34-year-old Dwayne crossed paths with 22-year-old Lauren Hashian, a budding singer and reality TV star from “Are You the Girl.” Witnesses often spotted them at Davio’s, a local restaurant, during Dwayne’s filming stint, even though he was still legally married to Dany at the time. Reflecting on it later, Dwayne shared with the Wall Street Journal that Lauren had just come out of a relationship, and although neither of them were actively seeking romance, something seemed to click, driven by what he called the “power of the universe.”
Fast forward to June 2007, after 16 years together and a decade of marriage, he and Dany decided to go their separate ways. According to Dwayne’s own account shared with Esquire magazine, Lauren moved in with him that same year. In a joint statement to People magazine, they announced their intention to continue collaborating on business ventures and expressed their commitment to remain lifelong friends and business partners. Their divorce was officially granted in May 2008, with Dany refusing any financial assistance from Dwayne. She continued her career as a financial advisor, earning a steady $700,000 per year. As reported by TMZ, they agreed to contribute $5,000 monthly to a trust fund for their daughter’s future educational and living expenses, with Dwayne also agreeing to pay Dany a little over $22,000 per month in child support. Despite the end of their romantic relationship, they honored their promise to stay close friends and business associates. Dany made it clear to Marie Claire that while their personal journey had ended, she remained dedicated to her role as Dwayne’s full-time manager.
Dwayne and Lauren’s relationship continued to blossom, with Dwayne sharing his gratitude with People magazine, expressing, “I feel incredibly lucky to have found love once. Finding it again is a rare blessing, especially given my circumstances.” Despite this sentiment, Dwayne remained hesitant about remarriage, citing the emotional toll of his previous divorce in an interview with the Wall Street Journal.
Meanwhile, Dany found love anew when she married Dwayne’s personal trainer, Dave Rienzi, in 2014. Their joy multiplied with the birth of their daughter, Jasmine, just before Christmas in 2015. Plans for Dwayne and Lauren’s wedding took a backseat when they discovered they were expecting their second child. With the arrival of their daughter Tia in April 2018, their focus shifted to nurturing their growing family. However, by August 2019, after over a decade together and two children, Dwayne felt ready to take the leap. They wasted no time in deciding to tie the knot just 72 hours after their engagement. Their intimate ceremony, held at 8 a.m., was attended by their two youngest children, although Dwayne’s eldest daughter was absent. Even the timing of the wedding was influenced by Dwayne’s dedication to his fitness routine, as he wanted to ensure he didn’t miss his 8:30 a.m. workout.
After the news of their wedding spread online, Robin Young, rumored to be his former mistress, took to Twitter to congratulate them. She gently reminded Dwayne to cherish his commitment to Lauren, drawing a comparison to his past. Despite recent flings with Megan Thee Stallion, he’s now wholeheartedly devoted to Lauren and their children. We sincerely wish him all the happiness. If you enjoyed this video, make sure to follow us on TikTok for more daily news updates and mini documentaries. Thank you for watching RRG, as always.