Born as Richard Henry Blood on the 28th February 1953, in West Point, New York State USA, Ricky is a retired professional wrestler who competed in several wrestling organisations and divisions, including American Wrestling Association (AWA), World Championship Wrestling (WCW), World Wrestling Federation (WWF), and National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). During his career, Ricky won numerous titles, including WWF Intercontinental Championship, NWA World Heavyweight Championship, NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship, and was a twelve-time World Tag Team Champion, eight in WCW, three-times in Mid-Atlantic, and one-time in NWA.
Have you ever wondered how rich Ricky Steamboat is, as of mid- 2017? According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that Steamboat’s net worth is as high as $1 million, an amount earned through his successful career as a wrestler, which was active from the mid- ‘70s until the ‘90s. He returned to the ring in the 2000s, first as a referee and then as a road agent.
Ricky Steamboat Net Worth $1 Million
Born to an Hawaiian father and Japanese American mother, Ricky went to high school there, but at some point before matriculation relocated to Florida and attended Boca Ciega High School, located in Gulfport. While there, he was one of the best wrestlers in the high school team, and eventually became Florida state champion.
Ricky became a professional wrestler in 1976, when he fought in the American Wrestling Association as a babyface, and used his real name, Rick Blood.
He then joined Championship Wrestling from Florida, and before he debuted he was given the stage name, Ricky Steamboat by Eddie Graham, who got the inspiration thanks to Ricky’s resemblance to Sammy Steamboat, former Hawaiian wrestler. A year after his debut, Ricky became a part of Jim Crockett Promotions, sanctioned by National Wrestling Alliance. After a successful start of his career, Ricky garnered an avid fan base. He fought Rick Flair for the NWA Mid-Atlantic Television Championship at WRAL studios in Raleigh, North Carolina. Ricky came out as victorious from the match and became new Television Champion.
During the next decade, Ricky dominated the NWA, winning NWA United States Heavyweight Championship three times, and the NWA World Tag Team Championship on six occasions, with partners Paul Jones and Jay Youngblood. Furthermore, Rick won the NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship twice, then second title as NWA World Television Champion, while he also won NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship belt four times. He left the NWA after altercations with his tag team partner Paul Jones, and after having creative differences with JCP booker Dusty Rhodes.
After leaving NWA, Ricky became a part of the World Wrestling Federation, and performed under the ring name The Dragon. In 1986 he fought against Macho Man Randy Savage for the International Championship, but Ricky lost the match. However, at the rematch that was held on the 29th March 1987, Ricky defeated Savage to claim the title, which increased his net worth to a large degree. However, the following year Ricky left the WWF due to mistreatment by the WWF management and a loss at Wrestlemania IV in March 1988.
The following year he joined World Championship Wrestling, which is a NWA affiliate, and soon won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, after defeating one of his old enemies, Rick Flair, but lost the title to the same opponent in May 1989.
In the next several years, Ricky fought in the North American Wrestling Association, New Japan Pro Wrestling, World Wrestling Federation, and then returned to World Championship Wrestling, in 1994 becoming WCW World Heavyweight Championship, after he again defeated Rick Flair.
Ricky was fired by the WCW President Eric Bischoff while being injured, and announced his retirement from fighting, but he didn’t leave the ring. Instead, he was one of the most integral people responsible for the creation of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Since its creation, Ricky launched a career as a referee and has refereed numerous high-profile matches, which have further increased his wealth.
He returned to WWF in 2005, Ricky made several ring appearances, including a fight against Jericho, and a 10-man tag team match, alongside John Cena, Jeff Hardy, CM Punk, and Rey Mysterio, against Big Show, Edge, Kane, Jericho, and Matt Hardy.
Thanks to his successful career in wrestling, Ricky was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009.
Regarding his personal life, Ricky has been married to Claudia Sobieski since 2004, who is his fourth wife. He has one son, Richie Steamboat, who is also a wrestler, with his third wife, Bonnie Blood. Their marriage lasted from 1985 until 2003. His first wife was Maureen Muriel Powers, whom he married in 1977 and divorced three years later, after which he married Debra, but the couple divorced in 1985.
