Dwayne Johnson’s rise to stardom began with firing agents who doubted his ambition

Dwayne Johnson recalls firing agents who doubted his ambition to surpass Will Smith and George Clooney in Hollywood.

Dwayne Johnson, who began his Hollywood journey with 2002’s The Scorpion King, revealed in a recent GQ interview that he once fired his agents after they doubted his ambition to achieve a career even bigger than Will Smith or George Clooney. 

Johnson, now a global superstar with box office earnings exceeding $4.5 billion, told his team early on that he aspired to reach the top tier in Hollywood. Skeptical agents led him to find new representation that supported his vision, pushing him to prioritize audience appeal in every project.

Reflecting on his journey, Johnson emphasized that his approach was unique for someone with his background and appearance, saying he aimed to establish a "different" path to success. He credits his growth to strategically selecting and timing his releases to maximize impact, as seen with major hits like Moana, Jumanji, and the Fast & Furious series. His newest film, the holiday action-comedy Red One, premieres on Nov. 15.