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16 July 2016, 12:00AM

Seiuli Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has vowed to work even harder after being named the world's highest paid actor by Forbes magazine.

The 44-year-old former professional wrestler earned US$64.5 million (T$148.35 million) in the last year thanks to the box office success of his latest films Furious 7 and the doomsday romp San Andreas.

Seiuli was humble following the announcement and reflected on the depression and financial hardship he suffered after his professional football career was cut short by injury in the 1990s.

Seiuli regularly talks about how in 1995 he found himself with just US$7 (T$16.1) to his name after his stint in the Canadian Football League ended.

“Receiving news like this will always serve as my anchoring reminder to continue to work even harder. We not only want to “embrace the grind”, but take the grind to new levels,” Seiuli wrote on Instagram.

The actor told his fans to surround themselves with hardworking people and to respect their past, revealing he still didn’t take his luck for granted.

“And don’t ever forget where you came from. I was evicted at 14 years old and completely broke by 23. Every day I wake up as if that eviction notice is right around the corner waiting for me, which is why I always say, ‘the wolf is always scratchin’ at the door’. He’s scratchin’ cause he’s hungry and never satisfied.

“We embrace and respect our past (even if it was f---ed up), but we never let it define our future. Let’s stay hungry and chase that greatness.”

Seiuli regularly uses Instagram to motivate and encourage his 59 million followers.

He has been praised as one of the hardest working actors in Hollywood, and is currently juggling Furious 8, Baywatch and Jumanji remakes and his HBO series Ballers.

The announcement comes as part of Forbes’ highest paid celebrities list for 2016 released on Thursday, with Taylor Swift finishing on top thanks to earnings of US$170 million.

British boy band One Direction placed second with US$110 million, a figure expected to drop off after they announced their hiatus last year.

The highest paid actor list shows action stars are still the biggest earners. Jackie Chan is the world’s second-highest paid actor, banking US$61 million.

Matt Damon, Tom Cruise and Johnny Depp round out the top five.

Jennifer Lawrence is the world’s highest paid actress, making US$46 million  in 2016 - nearly US$20 million less than the world’s highest paid actor.

Ghostbusters star Melissa McCarthy is this year’s second-highest paid actress, banking US$33 million thanks to the success of recent films including Spy.

This is what Seiuli posted about his success:

 

"The wolf is always scratchin' at the door" was the first thing I said when we found out from @forbes I was officially the world's highest paid actor. Well, actually the first thing I said was "Aw shit!", then I said the wolf part. Receiving news like this will always serve as my anchoring reminder to continue to work even harder. We not only want to "embrace the grind", but take the grind to new levels. I learned a few invaluable lessons a long time ago that can help all of you guys out there succeed at whatever it is you're doing. Greatness is never achieved alone. Surround yourself with hungry, brilliant individuals who not only buy into your philosophy, but who are all willing to work just as hard as you. Power of teamwork. And don't ever forget where you came from. I was evicted at 14yrs old and completely broke by 23. Every day I wake up as if that eviction notice is right around the corner waiting for me.. which is why I always say, "the wolf is always scratchin' at the door". He's scratchin' cause he's hungry and never satisfied. We embrace and respect our past (even if it was f*cked up), but we never let it define our future. Let's stay hungry and chase that greatness. I will now jump in my pick up truck, go to work and figure out whether or not I need psychiatric therapy for this damn wolf that's become my best friend. #Celeb100 #SevenBucksProductions #HardestWorkersInTheRoom #1WolfOnThePlanet

A photo posted by therock (@therock) onJul 13, 2016 at 6:18am PDT

“The wolf is always scratchin’ at the door” was the first thing I said when we found out from Forbes I was officially the world’s highest paid actor. Well, actually the first thing I said was “Aw shit!”, then I said the wolf part.

Receiving news like this will always serve as my anchoring reminder to continue to work even harder. We not only want to “embrace the grind”, but take the grind to new levels.

I learned a few invaluable lessons a long time ago that can help all of you guys out there succeed at whatever it is you’re doing.

Greatness is never achieved alone. Surround yourself with hungry, brilliant individuals who not only buy into your philosophy, but who are all willing to work just as hard as you. Power of teamwork. 

And don’t ever forget where you came from. I was evicted at 14yrs old and completely broke by 23. Every day I wake up as if that eviction notice is right around the corner waiting for me.. which is why I always say, “the wolf is always scratchin’ at the door”. He’s scratchin’ cause he’s hungry and never satisfied. 

We embrace and respect our past (even if it was f***ed up), but we never let it define our future. Let’s stay hungry and chase that greatness. 

I will now jump in my pick up truck, go to work and figure out whether or not I need psychiatric therapy for this damn wolf that’s become my best friend.”

*Story from Agencies and The Sydney Morning Herald


16 July 2016, 12:00AM

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