CLEARWATER, Fla. — Hulk Hogan, the mustachioed, headscarf-wearing, bicep-busting icon of professional wrestling who turned the sport into a massive business and stretched his cultural influence far beyond the ring, died Thursday in Florida at age 71.

Hogan was pronounced dead at a hospital less than 90 minutes after medics in Clearwater arrived at his home to answer a morning call about a cardiac arrest, police said.

“There were no signs of foul play or suspicious activity,” Maj. Nate Burnside told reporters.

Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, was perhaps the biggest star in WWE’s long history. He was the main draw for the first WrestleMania in 1985 and was a fixture for years, facing everyone from Andre The Giant and Randy Savage to The Rock and even WWE co-founder Vince McMahon.

Hogan won at least six WWE championships and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. WWE matches are now held in professional sports stadiums, and millions of fans have watched the company’s weekly live television program, “Raw,” which debuted in January on Netflix.

“He was a trailblazer, the first performer who transitioned from being a wrestling star into a global phenomenon,” McMahon said of Hogan.

Hogan’s own brand of passion

“Hulkamania,” as the energy he created was called, started running wild in the mid-1980s and pushed professional wrestling into the mainstream. He was a flag-waving American hero with the horseshoe mustache, red and yellow gear and massive arms he called his “24-inch pythons.” Crowds were hysterical when he ripped off his T-shirt in the ring — a trademark move — revealing a tan, sculpted body.

Hogan was also a celebrity outside the wrestling world, appearing in numerous movies and television shows, including a reality show about his life on VH1, “Hogan Knows Best.”

In recent years, Hogan added his celebrity to politics. At the 2024 Republican National Convention, he merged classic WWE maneuvers with then-candidate Donald Trump’s rhetoric to passionately endorse him for president.

“Let Trumpamania run wild brother! Let Trumpamania rule again! Let Trumpamania make America great again!” Hogan shouted into the raucous crowd.

He ripped off a T-shirt emblazoned with a picture of himself on a motorcycle to reveal a bright red Trump-Vance campaign shirt underneath. Trump stood to applaud the move.

“We lost a great friend today, the “Hulkster,”” Trump said Thursday on Truth Social. “Hulk Hogan was MAGA all the way — Strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart.”

Hogan lately began to invest in alternatives to theatrical, professional wrestling, announcing plans in April to serve as the first commissioner for the Real American Freestyle organization, which describes itself as “the first unscripted pro wrestling” leagues in the world. The first event is Aug. 30 at Cleveland State University.

“The idea was so exciting that I get a chance to be involved with all these young people and help guide them in any way, especially to make them huge stars and create a future for them,” Hogan said. “People might be surprised, but wrestling is wrestling, brother.”

Broken leg and a new attitude

Hogan was born in Georgia but lived much of his life in the Tampa, Florida, area. He recalled skipping school to watch wrestlers at the Sportatorium, a professional wrestling studio in Tampa.

“I had been running my mouth, telling everybody I’m going to be a wrestler, and in a small town, the word gets out,” Hogan told the Tampa Bay Times in 2021. “And so when I went down there, they were laying low for me. They exercised me till I was ready to faint.”

The result: a broken leg and a subsequent warning from his dad.

“Don’t you ever let anybody hurt you again,” Hogan recalled his father saying. “So I went back four or five months later with a whole new attitude. The rest is history.”

Hogan first became champion in what was then the World Wrestling Federation in 1984, and pro wrestling took off from there. His popularity helped lead to the creation of the annual WrestleMania event in 1985, when he teamed up with Mr. T to beat “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff in the main event.

He slammed and beat Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III in 1987, and the WWF gained momentum. His feud with the late “Macho Man” Randy Savage – perhaps his greatest rival — carried pro wrestling even further.

Hogan was a central figure in what is known as the Monday Night Wars. The WWE and World Championship Wrestling were battling for ratings supremacy in 1996. Hogan tilted things in WCW’s favour with the birth of the Hollywood Hogan character and the formation of the New World Order, a villainous stable that put WCW ahead in the ratings.

He returned to the WWE in 2002 and became a champion again. His match with The Rock at WrestleMania X8, a loss during which fans cheered for his “bad guy” character, was seen as a passing of the torch.

Hogan was perhaps as well known for his larger-than-life personality as he was his in-ring exploits. He was beloved for his “promos” — hype sessions he used to draw fans into matches. He often would play off his interviewer, “Mean” Gene Okerlund, starting his interviews off with, “Well, lemme tell ya something, Mean Gene!”

Outside the ring

He crossed over into movies and television as well. He was Thunderlips in the movie “Rocky III” in 1982.

In 2016, a Florida jury awarded Hogan $115 million in a lawsuit against Gawker Media and then added $25 million in punitive damages. Hogan sued after Gawker in 2012 posted a video of him having sex with his former best friend’s wife. He contended the post violated his privacy.

But there was other fallout outside the court case. WWE for a time cut ties with Hogan after it was reported that he used racial slurs on the tape. Hogan apologized and said his words were “unacceptable.”

During the three-week trial, Hogan smiled and wore black.

Terry Bollea, also known as legendary wrestling superstar Hulk Hogan, died Thursday. He was 71.

Hogan had an undeniable impact on the pro-wrestling world, almost singlehandedly carrying the business throughout the 1980s. Hogan was so popular during the era he broke out of the wrestling bubble, becoming a full-on entertainer. Over his career, Hogan appeared in movies, dabbled in music, had his own popular reality-television program and even opened his own pasta-themed restaurant.

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Hogan’s star dimmed in recent years after he was caught using racial slurs in a leaked sex tape. WWE cut ties with the wrestling icon for years before his eventual return. He received negative reactions from fans in his final appearances with WWE.

Despite his end with WWE, Hogan remained an influential and legendary figure in wresting circles until his death. Hogan was remembered fondly by a number of wrestling stars Thursday.

A proof that his impact stretched far beyond sports, Hogan’s death prompted a message from President Donald Trump, who referred to Hogan as “Strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart.”

Hogan appeared at the 2024 Republican National Convention in support of Trump.

At the convention, Hogan gave a speech and ripped off his shirt while proclaiming “Let Trump-A-Mania run wild, brother.”

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Former WWE owner Vince McMahon sent a heartfelt message about Hogan’s death. McMahon called Hogan a “global phenomenon.”

A number of wrestlers also paid tribute to Hogan on Thursday, with one of his biggest wrestling rivals leading the charge.

That would be Ric Flair, who praised Hogan for being a great friend away from the ring.

Flair’s daughter Charlotte, a 14-time world champion in her own right, also paid tribute to Hogan on Thursday.

Other wrestling superstars and companies chimed in Thursday to pay homage to Hogan.

Trump’s vice president, JD Vance, also paid homage to Hogan, calling him a “great American icon.”

This story will be updated.

Pro wrestling legend Hulk Hogan, whose charisma and shirt-ripping showmanship brought the theatrical sports genre to new heights of mainstream popularity, died Thursday in Florida, officials said.

He was 71.

Hulk Hogan in 1991. Brian Aris / Camera Press / Redux

Clearwater police and firefighters rushed to his home to answer a “cardiac arrest” call at 9:51 a.m., according to a city statement.

First responders then took him to Morton Plant Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:17 a.m., Clearwater police Maj. Nate Burnside told reporters.

While police will conduct an investigation, “there are no signs of foul play or suspicious activity related to this call for service,” Burnside added.

Hogan died surrounded by loved ones, manager Chris Volo told NBC Los Angeles.

Hulk Hogan in Melbourne, Australia, in 2009. Mark Dadswell / Getty Images file

“WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away,” World Wrestling Entertainment said in a statement.

“One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s. WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans.”

He’d become a fixture in Republican politics in recent years and appeared at last year’s GOP convention, ripping open his shirt to hype Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.

“We lost a great friend today, the ‘Hulkster.’ Hulk Hogan was MAGA all the way — Strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart,” Trump said in a statement posted on his Truth Social page.

“He entertained fans from all over the World, and the cultural impact he had was massive.”

Vice President JD Vance said he vividly recalled how much fun he had watching Hogan perform in his childhood.

“Hulk Hogan was a great American icon. One of the first people I ever truly admired as a kid,” Vance said in a statement.

“The last time I saw him we promised we’d get beers together next time we saw each other. The next time will have to be on the other side, my friend! Rest in peace.”

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Hogan’s passing will strike an emotional chord for an entier generation.

“I was sad to see the news that Hulk Hogan passed away today. He was a major icon for anybody in GenX,” DeSantis said.

“So I was really sad to see that and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and people throughout this region of Florida, because I know so many people cared about him.”

The wrestler also played a huge role in the demise of popular news and gossip website Gawker.com.

He won a $140 million, invasion-of-privacy lawsuit in 2016 against the New York City outlet — a lawsuit funded by tech billionaire Peter Thiel — after it posted graphic video of him having sex with the wife of his friend, shock jock Bubba the Love Sponge Clem.

Gawker shut down months after the devastating verdict.

Hogan — whose real name was Terry Gene Bollea — earned fame for his theatrical wrestling performances.

His career began in 1977, spending his early years wrestling in regional promotions across the U.S., including the World Wrestling Federation, and even competing in Japan.

Hogan’s over-the-top performances led to the “Hulkamania” craze of the 1980s, which reached its apex when he was pitted against fellow wrestling superstar André the Giant in a famously heated feud.

Hogan’s body slam of André at Wrestlemania III is now one of the iconic moments in professional wrestling history.

In “The True Story of WrestleMania,” Hogan said he never dreamed he could have had the chance to wrestle in New York City’s Madison Square Garden.

“And then once I’d made that huge step into the big leagues, WrestleMania was something that I didn’t understand,” Hogan said.

Hogan made what was considered a controversial move by leaving the WWF in the 1990s and later joining the rival organization at the time, World Championship Wrestling.

The move gave his career new life as he led the New World Order, a faction of black-and-white-clad wrestlers who played the roles of supervillains in the league.

Sylvester Stallone and Hulk Hogan on set of the movie “Rocky III” in 1982. Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images file

While Hogan was well-known to wrestling fans, he became a household name after making appearances in several films and television shows that widened his appeal in popular culture.

He appeared in the third installment of the “Rocky” film franchise in which he took on the title character, played by Sylvester Stallone, in a fight between wrestler and boxer.

Hogan’s family had a reality series on VH1 in the mid-2000s named “Hogan Knows Best,” following the lives of his then-wife, Linda, and their two children, Brooke and Nick.

Hulk Hogan in Fayetteville, Ark., in 2024. Wesley Hitt / Getty Images file

The show was canceled in 2007 after his son was seriously injured in a car accident in Clearwater and was charged with reckless driving.

Linda Hogan filed for divorce the same year, ending more than two decades of marriage.

Hogan was dogged by allegations of racism about 10 years ago, when he was accused of racism due to his apparent casual use of the N-word.

The WWE removed him from its Hall of Fame in 2015, saying it was “committed to embracing and celebrating individuals from all backgrounds as demonstrated by the diversity of our employees, performers and fans worldwide.”

Hogan’s apologies, though, earned him a second chance and the WWE reinstated him in 2018.

“I’ve been praying for this day and I finally feel like I made it back home,” he said in a statement at that time.

That episode of his life might have left a lingering impact on his legacy to some younger fans.

He was lustily booed by fans at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles during a “Monday Night Raw” appearance in January, in what turned out to be his final major public event.

But old school wrestling aficionados will always have a soft spot for the Hulkster, who was crucial in growing pro wrestling from a niche genre to a massive pop culture presence.

Fellow wrestling icon Ric Flair said he was “Absolutely Shocked” to learn of Hogan’s passing.

Flair recalled how Hogan loaned him money when the former’s son, Reid Flair, was sick.

“Our Friendship Has Meant The World To Me,” Flair said in a statement. “He Was Always There For Me Even When I Didn’t Ask For Him To Be.”

Beloved wrestling star Hulk Hogan is dead, TMZ reports. The news is breaking, and the announcement was made just minutes ago. Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, was 71.

Hogan had a profound impact on WWE and was adored by many. Fans are already reacting to the news with an outpouring of love and expressing their sadness. Hogan was also a family man, and he is survived by his daughter, Brooke, and his son, Nick.

He has been married to Sky Daily since 2023. This is the family he left behind, and a glimpse into happier times.

The Family Hulk Hogan Left Behind

Hulk shared his two children with his ex-wife, Linda Hogan. The former couple were married from 1983 to July 2009.

Hulk and his children were often photographed together at events, which allowed fans to get a better glimpse of their bond. Fans also saw Brooke and Nick grow up in the spotlight, and the family appeared on MTV’s “Total Request Live” in 2006.

Photo by Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images

The family was also the stars of the reality TV show, “Hogan Knows Best.” It ran for four seasons starting in 2005.

Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Brooke was born on May 5, 1988, in Tampa, Florida. She embraced the limelight, first with a career as a singer and even a brief stint on WWE in 2006. Over the years, Hulk attended many events with his beautiful daughter, including the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards at the American Airlines Arena.

Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

Brooke and Hulk also attended the 2004 event, Winning Way ‘A Day of Champions’ sports gala, and appeared very happy interacting with each other.

Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images

Hulk’s son, Nicholas Anthony Bollea, better known as Nick Hogan, was born on July 27, 1990, in Los Angeles, California.

Photo by Peter Kramer/Getty Images

Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images

Hulk Hogan as a Father

Hulk’s relationship with his daughter was strained in later years, but his ex-wife, Linda, praised him for being a good dad. In an interview with TMZ in March 2025, she said the wrestler was “always a good father” who “spent probably over $3 million on Brooke’s career with no questions asked.”

He remained close with Nick, who shared a touching tribute to him on Instagram on June 16, in honor of Father’s Day. “Had a great Father’s Day with the goat! Happy Father’s Day to all the awesome dads,” Nick wrote in the caption of a throwback photo of himself and his dad.

Later in life, Hulk found happiness with yoga instructor Sky. The pair married in an intimate ceremony in Clearwater, Florida, in September 2023.

Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images

Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images

Sky reflected on their relationship in an interview with the Daily Mail in July 2023. “I wasn’t allowed to watch a lot of TV growing up. I knew who Hulk Hogan was obviously, but I hadn’t seen any of his fights or watched any wrestling,” she said. “But I think he liked the fact that he had to ask me for my number as opposed to everyone else just jamming their number into his hand.”

“He knew I was interested in Terry, not Hulk,” she added. She continued, “He swept me off my feet. He is my ultimate male.”

The entertainment world is in mourning following the death of Hulk Hogan.

The WWE star and pop culture icon died on July 24, 2025. He was 71.

Tributes to the iconic sports entertainment figure began pouring in on social media shortly after the announcement of his death.

On X (formerly Twitter), the WWE released an official statement mourning the loss of “one of pop culture’s most recognizable figures” and extending condolences to Hogan’s family.

Fellow wrestling star Ric Flair called Hogan an “incredible athlete, talent, friend, and father,” adding: “Our friendship meant the world to me.”

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The Death of Hulk Hogan and His Lasting Legacy on Pop Culture

Born Terrence Gene Bollea, the wrestler known as Hulk Hogan died at his Clearwater, Fla. home.

According to TMZ Sports, emergency responders were summoned early Thursday following a cardiac arrest event, and he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Hogan was a defining figure of ‘80s and ‘90s professional wrestling, celebrated for his electrifying charisma and slogans such as “say your prayers and eat your vitamins.” As a 12‑time world champion and headliner of multiple WrestleMania events, he played a pivotal role in transforming the WWE into a behemoth of global entertainment.

Beyond wrestling, Hogan appeared in films such as Rocky III and also had a reality TV show called Hogan Knows Best.

However, his legacy and impact was tarnished in recent years by his own behavior and history of making vile racist remarks, which led to his firing from the WWE in 2015.

Hogan’s health had recently stirred public concern. Just weeks earlier, his wife Sky Daily publicly dismissed rumors of serious complications following neck surgery.

He is survived by Daily as well as his two children, Brooke, 37, and Nick, 34, from his previous marriage to Linda Hogan.

See reactions on social media to Hulk Hogan’s death, below.