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Bret Hart is a retired professional wrestler of the WWE (formerly the WWF) and has been inducted into the company’s Hall of Fame twice.
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The 66-year-old is regularly ranked among the greatest pro wrestlers ever and continues to work within sports entertainment.
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Hart is also one of the co-founders of the Calgary Hitmen hockey team, lending his nickname to the team.
Born in Calgary, Alberta, and trained by his father, Stu Hart, Bret Hart went from amateur wrestling in high school and college to be pivotal in the realignment of the then-WWF towards technical performance as the core of the product.
Now retired, Hart continues to do the rounds in pro wrestling. In recent years, he’s been reported as having a lucrative merchandise deal with the WWE and appeared on the first-ever AEW show.
Having dominated in the 90s, which was arguably the pinnacle of the wrestling company now known as the WWE, he become a pop culture icon. So, it won’t come as a surprise that Bret Hart’s net worth is quite hefty.
Of course, this net worth piece and all others beyond respected financial outlets like Forbes are pure conjecture, but we aim to try to get close to the net worth of Bret Hart here.
How Much is Bret Hart Worth?
It’s estimated that Bret Hart’s net worth is around CA$19.8 million (US$15 million), based on his earnings as a pro wrestler, work in writing and film, and piece of the famed Hart House in his native Alberta.
Said to be on a Legends contract with the WWE, Hart will still be earning decent money from merchandising and may receive payouts if he shows up to televised events.
Importantly, Hart performed in the WWF from mid-1984 until the infamous “Montréal Screwjob” of November 1997. In that time, he became one of the biggest draws in pro wrestling.
It’s impossible to gauge exactly how much Hart earned in this time without his bank statements, or how hefty the payout was for him to join WCW after leaving the WWF.
Still, having earned championships in both promotions, it’s clear that he was one of the highest-paid attractions.
Headlining his time in the WWF for many was his rivalry with “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, which led to several high-earning pay-per-view events for the company.
The estimates for Hart’s additional earnings on top of his WWE salary range from CA$72.5k (US$55k) for Summerslam to CA$5.3k (US$4k) for his showing at WrestleMania 2 in 1986 as part of The Hart Foundation.
Is Bret Hart Still Wrestling?
With 32 championships held across three different promotions from the 1970s to the 2010s, it’s fair to say that Bret Hart established an incredible pro wrestling career.
Perhaps enhanced by the way that the WWE decided to cast the Canadian aside, he’s still remembered as one of the outright fan favourites, particularly because he brought the spotlight to the athletic side of pro wrestling.
Being so iconic and having an entrenched love of pro wrestling, Hart doesn’t struggle to find work around the square circle today.
In May 2019, Hart appeared at AEW’s first event, Double or Nothing, and has since been subject to several more collaboration rumours.
He reportedly only holds a merchandising deal with the WWE, allowing him to work with other companies – so he may be open to working with AEW.
However, his lack of AEW action alongside appearances at indie promotions like BTW in June 2023 may suggest otherwise.
Those who claim to have spoken with Bret Hart about his ties to AEW have said that he offered to come in as an agent and essentially train up members of their wrestling stable, but AEW only wanted him in as a character.
Does Bret Hart Own a Hockey Team?
Bret “The Hitman” Hart is one of the co-founders of the Calgary Hitmen in the WHL, who don the “Hitmen” name in honour of the local pro wrestler.
Founded in 1994, the Scotiabank Saddledome co-residents originally played in Hart’s colours of pink, grey, and black, but have since pivoted to red, black, and brown after the sale of the team.
Along with up to 18 other investors, Hart was forced to sell the Hitmen in 1997 to the Calgary Flames for around CA$2 million (US$1.5 million) due to the key founder, Graham James, being imprisoned.
The very next season, under new head coach Dean Clark, the Hitmen made it to their first playoffs after topping their division. They then won the Ed Chynoweth Cup in 1998/99.
Having finished with a 31-29 record last season, the Hitmen are currently building back to prominence, but should be favoured more often than not in the WHL betting online next season.
Does Bret Hart Own Part of the Calgary Flames?
After selling his piece of the Calgary Hitmen to the Calgary Flames, Bret Hart essentially ended his official and in-house ties with the NHL team.
He has, however, been a season ticket holder to the Flames, even if his true fandom actually lies with the Edmonton Oilers – per an interview with NHL.com in 2013.
A big hockey fan overall, he might just get to see one of his teams hoist the Stanley Cup next season.
According to the futures betting odds, the Oilers are the +800 favourites, with the Maple Leafs just behind at +900.
What Else Did Bret Hart Do to Increase His Net Worth?
Outside of the square circle, Bret Hart was a long-time weekly columnist for the Calgary Sun. He was in this role from 1991 to 2004, following up the columnist job with a book of his own.
Released in 2007, Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling was drawn from the recordings he’d make on the road and delved into the tragedies of his life up to its publication – including his 2002 stroke.
The autobiography is still available on the official Bret Hart website for $59.99 autographed and with Hitman shades, or $40 for the signed soft cover version.
His book Bret “Hitman” Hart – The Best There Is, The Best There Was, The Best There Ever Will Be, which mostly recounted his career outside of the WWF through photographs and captions, became a bestseller in Canada in 2000.
Hart also boasts a stack of non-WWE acting credits for his appearances in films and TV shows, which include:
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Stalker (2022)
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The Demented (2021)
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Trailer Park Boys: Jail Shorts (2020)
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I Fixed It That Way (2020)
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Corner Gas Animated (2020)
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The Detour (2018)
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Aladdin: The Magical Family Musical (2006)
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Jacob Two-Two (2003)
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The Immortal (2000)
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The Simpsons (1997)
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Aar Ya Paar (1997)
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Lonesome Dove: The Outlaw Years (1995-1996)
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Lonesome Dove: The Series (1995)
How Much is Bret Hart’s House Worth?
As with many celebrities and millionaires, Bret Hart probably lives in a very nice house, but most know his home as the famed Hart House or Hart Mansion in Patterson Heights of Calgary, Alberta.
Declared a heritage site in 2012, in 2004, the house was sold after being listed for around CA$2.6 million (US$2 million) by the family, with the proceeds presumably split between the ten siblings.
Just six years later, it was reported that the mansion had been listed for nearly CA$5 million (US$3.8 million), but by 2013, other outlets caught it being available for rent at a rate of CA$13,000 (US$10,000) per month.
The legendary pro wrestler continues to work within the wrestling scene and runs several charities; while it’s tough to gauge accurately, Bret Hart’s net worth is estimated to be close to the CA$20 million mark.
*Credit for all images in this article belongs to AP Photo*
