Ric Flair is a legendary American professional wrestler, known professionally as The Nature Boy, who is currently signed to All Elite Wrestling.
He is widely regarded as the greatest professional wrestler of all time, with multiple peers and journalists recognizing his impact on the sport.
Flair’s influence extends beyond wrestling, with references in popular culture, including songs by Killer Mike and Offset and Metro Boomin, as well as a podcast that cites his “Wooo” chant and mystique.
Despite some criticism for his later career, Flair has continued to wrestle and receive praise for his performances.
Net worth | $500,000 |
Date of birth | February 25, 1949 |
Profession | Wrestler |
Nationality | American |
Background
Flair also known as The Nature Boy, was born on February 25, 1949, in Memphis, Tennessee.
His biological parents were Olive Demaree and Luther Phillips, but he was given up for adoption and ended up in the Tennessee Children’s Home Society, an orphanage whose Memphis branch operator, Georgia Tann, was involved in kidnapping children for adoption.
Flair was eventually adopted by Dr. Richard Reid Fleihr and his wife, Kathleen Fliehr, and grew up in Minnesota.
He started his wrestling career in 1972, training with Verne Gagne’s wrestling camp and making his debut for Gagne’s AWA promotion.
Net worth
Flair’s net worth is estimated to be around $500,000, according to recent reports by Celebrity Net Worth.
His major income source throughout his life was professional wrestling, hosting independent shows, endorsements, his restaurant chains and some other small investments.
However, Flair’s net worth is relatively lower than expected due to his extravagant lifestyle, multiple marriages and legal issues with the IRS.
Extravagant spending
Flair’s penchant for luxury, dating habits, and overspending on his girlfriends have contributed to his lower net worth.
He has also faced financial troubles due to unpaid taxes, with the IRS revealing in 2000 that he owed $870,000 in unpaid taxes.
Flair’s second wife was also reported to have overspent his money, and he was found guilty of not paying taxes from 2016 to 2019.
Additionally, Flair suffered a heart attack in 2019, and his treatment was not covered by his insurance, resulting in a bill of around 1.8 million dollars.
Despite these challenges, Flair has continued to wrestle and receive praise for his performances, with his last WWE match taking place at WrestleMania 24 in 2008.
He has since competed in TNA and AEW, and his net worth is expected to increase with his recent multi-year deal with AEW.
Real estate properties and cars
Flair owns a $1 million mansion in Charlotte, North Carolina, spanning 5000 square feet with six bedrooms, four bathrooms and a pool.
Additionally, he has a house in Lawrenceville, Georgia, USA.
Flair’s car collection includes a Chevrolet SS worth $72,000, a Mercedes Benz worth $32,000, a 1999 Bentley Arnage T worth $72,000, a Chevrolet Camaro worth $61,140, a BMW 7-Series worth $74,000, a Porsche Cayenne Turbo worth $88,900, a Mercedes-AMG GT 63 worth $136,500 and a Rolls-Royce Dawn worth $353,000.
Tax issues
Flair has had a long history of tax issues, dating back to the 1980s when he did not pay taxes, leading to the IRS becoming his rival for the rest of his life.
In 1990, he paid $62,000 on back taxes from 1982, 1982, and 1988, but the IRS came knocking on his door again in the 1990s.
In 2005, the IRS seized his earnings to pay back the taxes he owed, and in 2019, Flair was served a notice to pay $280,000.
He was also prone to investing in the wrong places, such as the Ric Flair Finance program, which was struck down immediately as it was illegal.
Additionally, Flair took out loans and barely paid them back, contributing to his financial troubles.
He has been open about his financial troubles, revealing that Vince McMahon lent him money to help him out of sticky situations, but Flair has always paid him back.
Career
Flair made his debut in 1972 and quickly rose to fame, earning the nickname Nature Boy.
His career spanned over 40 years, during which he wrestled for various promotions, including the AWA, Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, WCW and WWE.
Flair is a 16-time World Heavyweight Champion, two-time WWE Hall of Famer, and a member of the NWA Hall of Fame.
His impact on professional wrestling is undeniable, and he is often considered one of the greatest wrestlers of all time.
Despite his financial troubles and tax issues, Flair’s legacy in the wrestling industry remains unmatched.
Memorable matches
Flair has had many memorable matches throughout his career, including his match against Dusty Rhodes at the Great American Bash 1986, his match against Mr. Perfect, his match against Terry Funk at Clash of the Champions 9, his match against Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XXIV, and his match against Chris Jericho at SummerSlam 2002.
His match against Kenny Dykstra at New Year’s Revolution 2007, his match against Mick Foley at SummerSlam 2006, and his match against Eddie Guerrero at King of the Ring 2002 are also noteworthy.
Flair’s match against Harley Race for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship at Starrcade 1983 is also a classic, as well as his match against Randy Orton at Taboo Tuesday 2004 and his match against Harley Race in a Steel Cage Match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship at Starrcade 1983.
Personal life
Flair is currently married to Wendy Barlow, but they have announced their separation; he has four children in total, from two marriages, Charlotte, David, Megan and Reid.
Charlotte, also known as Ashley, is a WWE Smackdown Women’s Champion and one of the biggest female stars in the industry.
Flair’s older children, Megan and David, were born in the 1970s when Flair was still in his first marriage to Leslie Goodman.
His second marriage was to WWE star Elizabeth Harrel, a partnership which lasted 23 years and also yielded two children – Reid and Charlotte.
Flair has had a string of marriages, first tying the knot with Leslie Goodman in 1971, then Elizabeth Harrel, Tiffany VanDemark, Jackie Beems and finally Wendy Barlow.
Flair’s children have also been involved in the wrestling business, with three of them – David, Ashley, and Reid – adopting their father’s finishing maneuver.
However, the Flair family has not always gotten along, with physical altercations and disagreements reported in the past.