8 Things You Didn't Know About JBL

1. He Learnt About Stock Trading To Avoid Going Bankrupt

John Layfield Bermuda August 2015 1
WWE

In 1992, following the untimely collapse of his football career, and possibly because he was relying on beating up bears for money, JBL was on the very verge of bankruptcy.

As he recounted in his book, the San Antonio Riders star had just $27 in his bank account after being recently fired from his day job and having blown all his gridiron earnings living the high life. As he anxiously considered whether he could manage the 330 mile trip back to his home town of Athens, Texas, the young Justin Hawk was struck with an epiphany, based around a Benjamin Franklin quote: "Necessity is the mother invention." He had wasted the last three years; he wouldn't repeat the mistake.

Logically, then, he became a pro-wrestler. But he also became savvy with the stock market, and spent the early part of his career wisely investing his earnings, having already made the mistakes most young wrestlers make. His is a true rags-to-riches tale, and it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.

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Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.