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When sports stars decide to make a foray into Hollywood, it doesn’t always seem to be the best idea. However, once in a blue moon, everything seems to work out. This is the case with professional wrestler-turned-action star Dave Bautista. Spending about 20 years as a professional wrestler, he seems to have found his true calling as an actor.
He has a few films in the works, so we did our research to get to know him better. Here’s everything you need to know about the brilliant and versatile Dave Bautista, from his net worth to his biography and much more:
Dave Bautista’s Net Worth
As of 2022, Dave Bautista is worth an estimated $16 million. With multiple careers under his belt, such as professional wrestler, professional mixed martial artist, and actor, it makes sense that he’s been cut a few large checks. He isn’t just a versatile actor, but a versatile human overall, having several interests and making sure they have benefitted him.
A majority of his net worth comes from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where he plays the titular character Drax. He most recently appeared in Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, where he played one of the more important roles.
Dave Bautista Biography
David Michael Bautista, Jr., was born on January 18, 1969, in Washington, D.C. His family lived in poverty for some time, and by the age of 13, he had started stealing cars. He became estranged from his parents by the age of 17, living on his own. He lost his job as a nightclub bouncer and was sentenced to one year of probation after fighting and injuring two patrons.
After spending some time working at the beach as a lifeguard and not being able to afford Christmas gifts for his young daughters, Bautista decided to make changes in life, auditioning to become a professional wrestler.
Dave Bautista Early Days
Initially, Bautista tried out at the World Championship Wrestling (WCW) Power Plant but was told by Sgt. Buddy Lee Parker that he would never make it. He then went to the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and was advised to train at the Wild Samoan Training Center with Afa Anoa’i. He first fought in his debut match as Kahn on October 30, 1999. Additionally, he trained in Muay Thai and Eskrima and recently earned his purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-JItsu.
After signing with the WWF in 2000, he appeared in his debut under the ring name Leviathan in Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW). He later won the OVW Heavyweight Championship but left OVW when he was promoted to World Wrestling Entertainment’s main roster. He began his televised career on May 9, 2002, on an episode of SmackDown! as Deacon Batista. In 2003, he began using the ring name, Batista. Batista did not fight for much of 2003 after tearing and re-tearing his right triceps muscle in a tag team match.
In 2005, Batista entered the Royal Rumble and won a spot in WrestleMania 21. In the main event, he won the World Heavyweight Championship. He suffered a muscle tear in his back during taping for the November 11 episode of SmackDown! He tore his right triceps for the third time on January 6, 2006, and he successfully underwent reparative surgery on January 12, 2006.
He spent a number of years fighting for the WWE and defending his title(s), and he retired from the WWE in 2013, appearing in mostly non-televised events until he announced his retirement from professional wrestling as a whole on April 8, 2019. Bautista used a simplified spelling of his last name, Batista, as the name of his WWE persona.
Dave Bautista Acting Career
Bautista has acted and guest-starred in multiple projects as both himself and in-character as Batista. He has guest-starred on television series such as Smallville Phantom Zone, Relative Strangers, and Chuck. Bautista’s best-known role may be that of Drax the Destroyer in Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. He first portrayed Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 1.
Altogether, he has appeared as Drax in six films and one television special on Disney+, including both Avengers: Infinity War in 2018 and Avengers: Endgame in 2019. Supposedly, 2023’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3 will mark his last appearance as Drax. In 2015, he played Mr. Hinx, a top assassin, in the James Bond film Spectre, opposite Daniel Craig as Agent 007 himself. In 2021, he starred in Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead and played the villain Glossu Rabban in Dune, a role which he will reprise in Dune: Part Two in 2023.
Bautista played a somewhat major role in Rian Johnson’s murder mystery Glass Onion, a sequel of sorts to 2019’s Knives Out.
Dave Bautista’s Dating History
In 1990, Bautista married his first wife, Glenda. They divorced in 1998, but they have two adult daughters together. That same year, he married his second wife, Angie, on October 13, and they had a son together before divorcing in 2006.
He married competitive pole dancer Sarah Jade in October 2015, eventually divorcing in early 2019. Dave Bautista has been in relationships with several professional wrestlers, including Barbie Blank (2008), Rebecca DiPietro (2006), Rosa Mendes (2009), and Melina Perez (2007).
Dave Bautista Family
Dave Bautista is the son of Donna Raye (née Mullins) and hairdresser David Michael Bautista. On his mother’s side, Bautista considers himself Greek, while he is the grandson of Filipino immigrants, as well. In his 2007 autobiography, Batista shared that his Filipino grandfather served in the Philippine military and worked as a taxi driver and barber to make ends meet.
From his first marriage, Bautista has two daughters: Keilani, born in 1990, and Athena, born in 1992. Before he turned 40 years old, Bautista had two grandsons from his daughter Keilani. He also has a son, Oliver, with his second wife.
Conclusion
We’re almost certain you recognize Dave Bautista from either of his careers, and we can’t wait to see more of him in 2023! Do let us know in the comments what your favorite Bautista appearance is.
