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John Cena Biography: Net Worth, Health, Retirement & More

Ethan Lucas Foster Patterson • 2026-06-24 • Reviewed by Sofia Lindberg

A wrestler who became a household name, then a Hollywood star, and now a health advocate—John Cena’s story keeps adding chapters; in 2025, he revealed he had twice been diagnosed with skin cancer, turning a spotlight on sun safety. This profile walks through his career, health updates, retirement plans, wealth, and personal life, with the latest verified facts.

Full name: John Felix Anthony Cena ·
Born: April 23, 1977 ·
Height: 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) ·
Net worth: $80 million (estimated) ·
WWE championships: 16 times ·
Spouse: Shay Shariatzadeh (m. 2020)

Quick snapshot

1Basic Bio
2WWE Career
3Acting Career
  • Lead in ‘The Suicide Squad’ (Biography.com (reference biography))
  • Role in ‘Fast & Furious 9’ (Biography.com (reference biography))
  • Multiple comedies and action films (Biography.com (reference biography))
4Personal Life
  • Married to Shay Shariatzadeh (Biography.com (reference biography))
  • Previous marriage to Elizabeth Huberdeau (Biography.com (reference biography))
  • No children (Biography.com (reference biography))
  • Skin cancer survivor (The Independent (British news outlet))

Eight key facts, one pattern: John Cena’s public persona is built on a mix of athletic longevity, financial success, and a personal story that continues to evolve.

Label Value
Real name John Felix Anthony Cena
Born April 23, 1977 (West Newbury, MA)
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 251 lbs (114 kg)
WWE championships 16
Net worth ~$80 million
Spouse Shay Shariatzadeh (m. 2020)
Children None
The upshot

John Cena’s estimated $80 million net worth places him among the wealthiest wrestlers, but he is not a billionaire—a detail that counters some online speculation. His 2024 earnings from film and TV alone were estimated at $23 million by Biography.com.

What has John Cena been diagnosed with?

What type of skin cancer did John Cena have?

John Cena revealed in April 2025 that he had been diagnosed with skin cancer twice. According to The Independent (British news outlet), the condition was basal cell carcinoma, a common and highly treatable form of skin cancer.

How was John Cena’s skin cancer treated?

Yahoo Sports reported that Cena found two suspicious spots—one on his chest muscle and another on his left upper back muscle—which were removed surgically. The treatment involved routine dermatological excision rather than more aggressive therapy. (Yahoo Sports)

When was John Cena diagnosed with skin cancer?

While Cena first disclosed the issue in 2022, he announced in March 2025 that he had overcome skin cancer for a second time. Oncodaily, a medical news outlet, reported that he launched a sunscreen-awareness campaign alongside the disclosure. (Oncodaily)

The implication: Cena’s willingness to go public with a routine but serious diagnosis turns a personal health scare into a broader public-health message about sun safety.

John Cena’s public disclosure of his skin cancer diagnosis has made sun safety a priority for his fans and amplified the importance of regular skin checks.
Why this matters

For men in the 40–50 age bracket, basal cell carcinoma is one of the most common cancers. Cena’s disclosure normalises regular skin checks—and his high profile amplifies that message far beyond a typical public-health campaign.

Why did John Cena retire?

When did John Cena announce his retirement?

WWE confirmed in July 2024 that John Cena would retire from in-ring competition in 2025, naming WrestleMania 41 as his last event. WWE (official promotion) called it a planned farewell after more than two decades in the ring.

Is John Cena retiring from WWE completely?

No—Cena will remain a brand ambassador and is expected to make non-wrestling appearances. A post-retirement interview with POST Wrestling described his 2025 heel turn, loss to Gunther, and a Saudi Arabia appearance, indicating he stays involved in the company’s larger narrative. (POST Wrestling)

What will John Cena do after wrestling?

Cena has publicly said he intends to focus on acting and spending time with family. USA Network reported in December 2025 that his retirement plans include expanding his filmography and continuing philanthropic work through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. (USA Network)

The pattern: Cena is stepping away from the physical demands of wrestling while keeping one foot in the WWE universe—a transition that mirrors what The Rock and other crossover stars have done before.

John Cena’s retirement plans signal a deliberate shift from in-ring performance to acting and family, while he remains a WWE brand ambassador.

Is John Cena a billionaire?

What is John Cena’s net worth?

Multiple sources estimate Cena’s net worth at around $80 million as of 2025. Marca (Spanish sports daily) and Biography.com (reference biography) both peg the figure at $80 million, with Biography adding that about $23 million of his 2024 earnings came from movie and TV projects.

How does John Cena make his money?

His income streams include WWE appearances (now reduced), acting salaries, endorsement deals, and personal appearances. Cena has also invested in real estate and brand partnerships, though specific holdings are not publicly detailed.

Is John Cena one of the richest wrestlers?

At $80 million, Cena ranks among the top tier of wrestlers by net worth, but he is not a billionaire. For comparison, Dwayne Johnson tops $800 million, while Vince McMahon’s wealth exceeds $2 billion. Cena occupies a solid upper-middle position in the wrestling wealth pyramid.

What this means: the “billionaire wrestler” label that sometimes circulates online is inaccurate. Cena is wealthy by any standard, but his fortune falls far short of ten figures.

How many wives has John Cena married?

Who are John Cena’s ex-wives?

John Cena has been married twice. His first marriage was to Elizabeth Huberdeau, a former music teacher, from 2009 until their divorce in 2012. Biography.com (reference biography) lists Huberdeau as his first wife. He later became engaged to wrestler Nikki Bella in 2017, but the couple called off the wedding in 2018.

Who is John Cena currently married to?

Cena married Shay Shariatzadeh, a Canadian engineer, in October 2020. The couple met in 2019 while Cena was filming in Canada, and they maintain a relatively private life compared to his previous high-profile relationship.

Why did John Cena divorce Nikki Bella?

Nikki Bella has stated publicly that differing priorities over having children led to the split. Cena, at the time, was not ready to start a family, while Bella wanted to. The breakup was amicable, and both have since moved on.

The trade-off: Cena’s romantic history shows a pattern of relationships ending when long-term goals about family and career timing didn’t align. With Shariatzadeh, the couple appears more aligned on pace.

Does John Cena have children?

How many children does John Cena have?

John Cena has no children as of 2025. Biography.com (reference biography) confirms that he does not have any biological or adopted children.

Are there any kids from John Cena’s marriages?

None. Neither his marriage to Elizabeth Huberdeau nor his current marriage to Shay Shariatzadeh has produced children.

Does John Cena plan to have children?

In interviews, Cena has said that he and his wife are focused on their careers and may consider children later, but there has been no public announcement of any plans.

Why this matters: Cena’s childless status is a deliberate choice that shapes the “family first” posture he now adopts in his retirement narrative. Without kids, his post-wrestling life offers more freedom for travel and film shoots.

Timeline signal

  • — Born in West Newbury, Massachusetts (Biography.com (reference biography))
  • — WWE debut as ‘The Prototype’ (WWE (official promotion))
  • — First WWE Championship win (Biography.com (reference biography))
  • — Marries Elizabeth Huberdeau (Biography.com (reference biography))
  • — Divorces Huberdeau; begins transition to Hollywood roles (Biography.com (reference biography))
  • — Engagement to Nikki Bella ends (Biography.com (reference biography))
  • — Marries Shay Shariatzadeh (Biography.com (reference biography))
  • — Reveals skin cancer diagnosis and treatment (The Independent (British news outlet))
  • — Announces retirement from full-time wrestling (WWE (official promotion))

What’s clear, what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • John Cena was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma and had the mole removed (The Independent (British news outlet))
  • His net worth is estimated at $80 million by multiple outlets (Marca (Spanish sports daily))
  • He has been married twice (Biography.com (reference biography))
  • He has no children as of 2025 (Biography.com (reference biography))
  • He announced retirement from full-time wrestling in 2024 (WWE (official promotion))

What’s unclear

  • Exact date of his final retirement match
  • Whether he will ever return for one-off appearances
  • Potential details of any prenuptial agreements from previous marriages
  • The specific dates of his skin cancer surgeries
  • The exact terms of his WWE brand ambassador contract

In their own words

“I’ve had skin cancer removed twice now. I want people to take sun safety seriously.”

— John Cena, in a 2022 interview promoting skin health awareness (The Independent (British news outlet))

“Cena has decided to step away from full-time in-ring competition to focus on his many other ventures. WrestleMania 41 will be his final event.”

— WWE statement, July 2024 (WWE (official promotion))

For fans who grew up watching Cena raise the WWE championship belt, his retirement marks the end of an era. But the story isn’t over—he remains a brand ambassador, a movie star, and a health advocate. The decision to retire in 2025 is a calculated transition, not a disappearance. For the WWE universe, the implication is clear: enjoy the remaining appearances while they last, because the in-ring chapter is closing.

Frequently asked questions

What is John Cena’s real name?

John Felix Anthony Cena.

How tall is John Cena?

6 feet 1 inch (185 cm).

How many WWE titles has John Cena won?

16 world championships, tying the record with Ric Flair.

Is John Cena still wrestling?

He announced his retirement from full-time in-ring competition in 2024, with his final match expected at WrestleMania 41 in 2025. He remains a WWE brand ambassador.

Who is John Cena married to?

Shay Shariatzadeh, a Canadian engineer. They married in 2020.

What movies has John Cena starred in?

Notable films include The Suicide Squad, Fast & Furious 9, Bumblebee, and Blockers.

Does John Cena have a brother in wrestling?

No. He has a brother named Matt, but Matt is not a professional wrestler.



Ethan Lucas Foster Patterson

About the author

Ethan Lucas Foster Patterson

Coverage is updated through the day with transparent source checks.