Dwayne Johnson discovered crucial Hollywood wisdom during his days earning $40 a day as a wrestler.

Before becoming one of the highest paid movie stars, Dwayne Johnson earned $40 per match while wrestling.

In the United States Wrestling Association in Tennessee, his days were not profitable or glamorous, despite being an important stepping stone to his success in the WWF, now known as WWE.

"Johnson recounted in a GQ profile published this week how he made 40 bucks per match wrestling in flea markets and used-car dealerships in the parking lot during those days. He also shared that he consumed Waffle House three times a day."

Although the USWA matches didn't pay well, they taught him a valuable lesson that later helped him earn hundreds of millions of dollars: Give the fans what they want.

"In pro wrestling, the goal is to make everyone happy, while in Hollywood, the goal is to make good movies that reach a wide audience."

His career was shaped by an approach that resulted in a full IMDb of crowd-pleasing blockbusters, including "Fast Five", "Jumanji", and "Moana".

Johnson stated that he was meticulous in choosing his roles, prioritizing the audience with the philosophy of "Audience first."

"He said, 'I'd look at [a script] and think, "Does this have four-quadrant capability and opportunity?" and "Are audiences going to like seeing me in this role?"'"

Despite continuing to take on popular films like "Moana 2" and the upcoming live-action remake of "Moana," Johnson has also decided to seek out roles that push him out of his comfort zone.

In "The Smashing Machine," Mark Kerr, the former UFC champion, will be portrayed by him next year in a sports drama.

"Johnson recognized that the situation presented an opportunity for him to stretch and challenge himself in new ways."

Johnson's dramatic turn may not lead him to abandon his $40 lesson.

""While big movies are enjoyable and have a place in our entertainment industry, there is also a need for more profound and challenging material in my career," he stated."

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