Rhea Ripley, whose real name is Demi Bennett and hails from Adelaide, South Australia, was born on October 11, 1996, and is now a big name in wrestling. Ripley has completely shifted the idea of what a WWE female star is like through her gothic character, remarkable ability, and sense of charm. Her estimated wealth as of 2025 is $3.5 million, proving her great success as a boxer, worldwide fame, and a fast-expanding personal brand.
The article will discuss who Rhea Ripley is, her most memorable moments, her style in the ring, what her life is like away from, ring, and a complete analysis of how she makes money.
Rhea Ripley_image source : instagram.com
Early Life and Wrestling Beginnings
Rhea Ripley chose the name Rhea Ripley in 2013 and began her wrestling career with wrestling in Riot City Wrestling, a company based in Adelaide, Australia. Before going into professional wrestling, she trained with groups in Australian City Wrestling (MCW), New Horizon Pro Wrestling (NHPW) and Pro Wrestling Alliance (PWA).
Even when she was young, people were aware of Ripley’s special athletic abilities from her experience in swimming, karate, and soccer. She quickly won attention in the Australian wrestling world with her strong look and fierce attitude.
In 2017, scouts spotted her skills and she was brought into WWE’s developmental brand, NXT. Following this, her international career in wrestling began.
WWE Career Milestones
Mae Young Classic & NXT UK
At the first Mae Young Classic contest in 2017, Ripley received attention all around the world. Even though she didn’t win, everyone at WWE was impressed by her performances. She entered NXT UK when it was formed, and there she became NXT UK’s first-ever Women’s Champion by beating Toni Storm in 2018.
Her time as Champion led to a new person controlling women’s wrestling. She was known for her tough, aggressive approach, with both great strength and fast steps.
NXT became very popular alongside the U.S. brand.
Rhea made history in the UK, then went back to NXT in the U.S. and did it again. In 2019, she won the NXT Women’s Championship from Shayna Baszler in a well-regarded match. It made her the first person to be the NXT UK and NXT U.S. champion.
Sasha Banks kept her winning streak in 2020, winning her NXT title again at WrestleMania 36 against Charlotte Flair. Even though she didn’t win, appearing on the show made her famous.
Earning the Raw Women’s Title & the Biggest WWE Prize
In 2021, Rhea Ripley earned the Raw Women’s Championship by defeating Asuka at WrestleMania 37, which made her a main player on WWE’s premier program. Following this victory, she became a recognized global star, with fans being drawn to her honesty and strong character, too, in addition to everything she did in the ring.
The February premium show will also feature Judgment Day and the Women’s World Championship.
By the middle of 2023, Ripley grew into a top player in The Judgment Day, a group that also included Finn Bálor, Damian Priest and Dominik Mysterio. Adding this alliance to her story made it possible for her to display gothic beauty countered by hardness.
Ripley became the new Women’s World Champion at WrestleMania 39 after her victory over Charlotte Flair for the SmackDown Women’s Championship. The bout was considered one of the best women’s matches at WrestleMania.
In-Ring Style and Persona
Ripley prefers to combine strength, quickness, and technical skill when wrestling. Weighing roughly 169 lbs at 5’9”, she is far stronger than most women in MMA. Her main technique, the Riptide (a pump-handle move), along with the Prism Trap (an inverted cloverleaf), generally ends the match in her favor.
Thanks to her dark makeup, tattoos, leather outfit, and piercings, she stays separate from what the WWE refers to as divas. She speaks, behaves, and looks genuine, and her faithful group of fans respect and value this about her.
Financial Breakdown
His Net Worth is $3.5 million.
Let’s examine all of the sources that add to Ripley’s financial assets.
Annual WWE Salaries – $1.2 Million
According to reports, Rhea Ripley’s WWE contract pays her $1.2 million each year in 2025. Her salary includes her regular pay plus extra from any major boxing broadcasts. Because of this, she is ranked in the top 5 most highly paid women in WWE.
Regularly, superstars are given special bonuses when they appear at WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, SummerSlam, and Survivor Series. Because Ripley is always part of big matches, she gets excellent performance bonuses each year.
Estimated Sales of Merchandise is $500,000+ each year
A large portion of Ripley’s income comes from selling merchandise. Thanks to her gothic fashion, phrases, and signature style, her merchandise is very appealing. Even among action figures and Funko Pops, WWE’s online store finds Ripley’s brand a leading top seller.
Most WWE superstars receive about 25-30% of the profits from merchandise that uses their pictures. Ripley’s toys and goods sell so well that her cut more than triples every year.
I also get Pay-Per-View Bonuses, estimated at $200,000–$300,000 Each Year
Performers are paid extra by appearance fees and awarded bonuses if they take part in PPVs. Because Ripley is a regular main-event star, she receives higher pay for appearing at big events such as WrestleMania and the Royal Rumble.
Being part of many PPVs in 2023 and 2024 increased the amount of money she earned each year.
He earns most of his money from Brand Endorsements and Sponsorships, about $500,000.
Ripley has been chosen as an advertisement face in light of his success in WWE:
- As C4 Energy’s fitness ambassador
- The WWE action figures released by Mattel
- Trading Cards from Topps
- Nexus Sports Nutrition
Many of these endorsements allow her to bring in off-ring earnings, said to include deals worth over $100,000 every year. As a worldwide phenomenon with her brand, she attracts attention in the fitness and lifestyle worlds.
An Influencer’s Impact On Social Media – About $100,000–$150,000/Year
Rhea has over 3 million followers on Instagram and is gaining audiences on YouTube, which also earns her money with sponsored posts. Social media is a popular means for WWE stars to boost their brand partners and personal products, and this includes Ripley.
Occasionally, she recommends fitness clothing, trendy choices, and items that fit her audience’s interests.
Assets and Lifestyle
Ripley’s success hasn’t changed her ability to live simply. She now lives in America with her husband, Buddy Matthews, who used to wrestle as Buddy Murphy in the WWE. The two of them live in an upscale apartment in Florida, not far from where WWE trains.
She’s famous for having a modified Jeep Wrangler and sporting a simple but unusual sense of style. Rhea has put her money into cryptocurrency and stocks, as stated in interviews which shows she thinks long term.
Conclusion
It’s incredibly inspiring how Rhea Ripley started in local indie wrestling in Adelaide and ended up a wrestling celebrity around the world. Beyond being unapologetic and bold, her powerful ring presence and unique appeal continue to make fans and WWE admire her, plus she makes a lot of money.
Currently worth $3.5 million and having achieved multiple titles, Rhea Ripley is the top of the sports entertainment industry in 2025, and it looks like she’ll only go higher.
