Who is Roman Reigns?

Leati Joseph “Joe” Anoa’i, better known by his ring name Roman Reigns, is an American professional wrestler and former football player. He has been wrestling under WWE since 2010 and performs on the Smackdown brand.

Reigns is the former leader of The Bloodline stable and a member of the Anoa’i family. He is widely regarded as one of the top active professional wrestlers today.

Early life and football career

Leati Joseph “Joe” Anoa’i was born on May 25, 1985, in Pensacola, Florida, to Sika Anoa’i and Patricia hooker. His father is of Samoan descent and his mother is of Sicilian ancestry. He is a part of the Anoa’i wrestling family, as he is cousins with Rikishi, the late Umaga, Yokozuna, Solo Sikoa, The Tonga Kid, and The Usos.

Anoa’i attended Pensacola Catholic High School before transferring to Escambia High School, and he played for four years in those schools. During his senior year, he was named Defensive Player of the Year by the Pensacola News Journal. 

He then majored in management at the Georgia Institute of Technology. While attending college there, Reigns was a part of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team along with NFL great Calvin Johnson.

Anoa’i was a three-year starter starting in his sophomore year and was also one of the team captains as a senior. He earned first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) honors in 2006 after notching 40 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and two fumble recoveries.

After going undrafted in the 2007 NFL Draft, Anoa’i joined the Minnesota Vikings in May 2007 but was let go after failing a team physical. He then signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in August 2007 but was also released before the beginning of the 2007 NFL season.

Anoa’i played one season for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League (CFL) in 2008. After having featured in five games (three starts) that season, he was released by the team on November 10 and retired from professional football for good.

Professional wrestling career

Anoa’i signed a contract with the WWE in 2010 and was later assigned to their developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW). He made his TV debut on August 19, 2010, with the ring name Roman Leakee.

The WWE rebranded FCW to NXT in August 2012, and Anoa’i changed his ring name to Roman Reigns.

Roman Reigns made his main roster TV debut on November 18, 2012, at the Survivor Series as a member of The Shield faction alongside Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins. They attacked Ryback during the triple threat main event for the WWE Championship, allowing CM Punk to retain the title.

The Shield was broken up when Seth Rollins turned on Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns to align himself with Triple H and The Authority. From there, Roman Reigns went on his own and worked his way up to singles main event status.

Reigns became WWE Champions for the first time during Survivor Series on November 22, 2015, but his reign only lasted five minutes after Sheamus cashed in his Money in the Bank contract and defeated him. He went on to win a couple more championships and was a Grand Slam Champion before going on an indefinite hiatus to receive treatment for his leukemia.

Upon returning from leukemia, Reigns re-established himself and eventually became the Undisputed WWE Universal Heavyweight Champion. At 1,316 days, Reigns’ world title reign is the fourth-longest in WWE history and the longest championship reign since 1988.

Roman Reigns Net Worth

Roman Reigns is one of the highest-paid wrestlers in the WWE with a reported net worth of $20 million. His annual salary is roughly $5 million, but that doesn’t include his extra perks and bonuses.

Besides his WWE salary, Reigns earns from movies, merchandise sales, and endorsements. He also has partnerships with brands like Shady Rays and C4 Energy.

Reigns reportedly lives in a $2.43 million mansion in Tampa, Florida, and has a collection of luxurious cars, such as a Cadillac Escalade, Mercedes-Benz, and a Range Rover.

Reigns also donates to charitable organizations like the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.