Wrestler Hulk Hogan’s $140M Verdict Ends Gawker, Shifts Media Law

Hulk Hogan, the iconic professional wrestler who died at 71, is remembered not only for his transformative wrestling career but also for a landmark legal battle that reshaped American media law. In 2012, Gawker Media published a leaked sex tape involving Hogan and Heather Clem, leading Hogan to sue for invasion of privacy and emotional distress. The 2016 Florida jury verdict awarded Hogan $140 million, a case bankrolled by billionaire Peter Thiel as part of a broader effort to take down Gawker, which ultimately led to the site's bankruptcy. This lawsuit raised significant concerns about the influence of wealthy individuals on press freedom, sparking debates about privacy rights versus journalistic freedom in the digital age. Hogan’s legal victory is seen as a pivotal moment that ended the freewheeling era of blog-style media and highlighted the growing power of billionaires to impact media institutions. His death has reignited public reflection on his dual legacy as both a wrestling legend and a key figure in a media landscape increasingly shaped by financial and political forces.