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Tony Hawk is the greatest action sports athlete of all time and has a net worth of over $140M.
But did you know he once lost everything, sold his house, and lived on $5 a day?
This is his wild story.
Time for a thread
But did you know he once lost everything, sold his house, and lived on $5 a day?
This is his wild story.
Time for a thread
1) Tony Hawk, born and raised in California, started skateboarding at the age of 9.
After winning amateur tournaments all over the state, Hawk turned professional at 14.
By 25, he had competed in 103 events, winning 73 and cementing himself as the best skateboarder in the world
After winning amateur tournaments all over the state, Hawk turned professional at 14.
By 25, he had competed in 103 events, winning 73 and cementing himself as the best skateboarder in the world
2) With skateboarding success from a young age, Tony Hawk was making $100,000 annually by the time was 15.
At 17, Hawk bought his first home and went on to get a second one shortly after.
His biggest mistake?
"I spent like it was never going to end, and it ended quickly"
At 17, Hawk bought his first home and went on to get a second one shortly after.
His biggest mistake?
"I spent like it was never going to end, and it ended quickly"
3) As skateboarding developed a bad reputation in the early 1990s, Tony Hawk started to see an impact on his wallet.
âMy income was dropping in half every monthâ
To stay afloat, Hawk sold one of his houses, refinanced the other, and lived off a $5-a-day Taco Bell allowance.
âMy income was dropping in half every monthâ
To stay afloat, Hawk sold one of his houses, refinanced the other, and lived off a $5-a-day Taco Bell allowance.
4) As sponsorships dried up, the majority of skateboarders switched to other careers.
Not Tony Hawk.
Hawk doubled down, creating his own brand "Birdhouse", certain that skateboarding would become mainstream.
After a few years of "no sales", everything changed with one event...
Not Tony Hawk.
Hawk doubled down, creating his own brand "Birdhouse", certain that skateboarding would become mainstream.
After a few years of "no sales", everything changed with one event...
5) In 1995 ESPN launched The X Games, a nationally televisied extreme sports competition.
Tony Hawk, still in the prime of his career, would win gold in 95' and 97'.
To this day, Hawk still credits those medals with bringing the needed exposure to the sport of skateboarding.
Tony Hawk, still in the prime of his career, would win gold in 95' and 97'.
To this day, Hawk still credits those medals with bringing the needed exposure to the sport of skateboarding.
6) After his two X games gold medals, Tony Hawk's skateboarding brand "Birdhouse" blew up.
Within 5 years the business was doing $25M in annual revenue.
The craziest part?
That's not even what he's most known for...
Within 5 years the business was doing $25M in annual revenue.
The craziest part?
That's not even what he's most known for...
7) In 1999, Tony Hawk teamed up with Activision to create the Tony Hawk video game franchise.
Based on pre-launch feedback, Activision offered Hawk a $500k buyout in lieu of royalties.
âI had never heard anyone say the words âHalf a million dollarsâ to me.â
Hawk still declined
Based on pre-launch feedback, Activision offered Hawk a $500k buyout in lieu of royalties.
âI had never heard anyone say the words âHalf a million dollarsâ to me.â
Hawk still declined
8) In the years since, Tony Hawk and Activision have partnered to create almost 20 different video games.
In total, the Tony Hawk video game franchise has done over $1.4 billion in sales.
Hawk himself routinely makes more than $6M annually in royalties from the game.
In total, the Tony Hawk video game franchise has done over $1.4 billion in sales.
Hawk himself routinely makes more than $6M annually in royalties from the game.
9) In addition to success in business, Tony Hawk has continued to give back to the skateboarding community.
Through his foundation, Hawk has personally given away over $10M to finance 620 skateparks throughout the United States.
Not bad for a kid that used to live off $5/day.
Through his foundation, Hawk has personally given away over $10M to finance 620 skateparks throughout the United States.
Not bad for a kid that used to live off $5/day.
10) Tony Hawk made millions of dollars, lost it all, doubled down on himself, and came back to make even more.
He is the perfect example of continuing to chase your dreams, no matter how unpopular they may seem to others.
Always remember, you won't regret betting on yourself.
He is the perfect example of continuing to chase your dreams, no matter how unpopular they may seem to others.
Always remember, you won't regret betting on yourself.
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2. Subscribe to my free daily newsletter where I give detailed analysis on topics involving the money and business behind sports. https://huddleup.substack.com
Sources:
https://www.tonyhawk.com/#MASTERCLASS
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/06/13/tony-hawk-activision-offered-him-500000-in-royalties-but-he-said-no.html
https://www.sportscasting.com/tony-hawk-has-a-higher-net-worth-than-larry-bird-and-charles-barkley-combined/
https://www.businessinsider.nl/tony-hawk-net-worth-lifestyle-career-investments-video-games-2020-5/
https://www.tonyhawk.com/#MASTERCLASS
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/06/13/tony-hawk-activision-offered-him-500000-in-royalties-but-he-said-no.html
https://www.sportscasting.com/tony-hawk-has-a-higher-net-worth-than-larry-bird-and-charles-barkley-combined/
https://www.businessinsider.nl/tony-hawk-net-worth-lifestyle-career-investments-video-games-2020-5/
