Throughout his career spanning professional wrestling and acting, Dave Bautista has received invaluable guidance from industry veterans. In a recent clip, the entertainment star shared some of the most impactful advice he’s been given.
During his time as a wrestler, Bautista found a mentor in Triple H, who offered two pieces of wisdom that stuck with him. Initially intimidated by the hierarchy in wrestling, Bautista was hesitant to assert himself. Triple H advised him to view himself as a business and a brand, encouraging him to prioritize his career over making friends.
“When I first started, I was scared. I didn’t want to piss people off because of the hierarchy, and I was afraid of being disrespected. One day, he said to me, “Look man, do you want to make money or make friends? This is a business. You have to treat it like one. You are a business.” From that point on, I thought of myself as my own commodity—my own brand.”
Another thing he told me was, “Always imagine that everyone is pointing a gun at your head. It’s up to you how many bullets you give them.”
Triple H also imparted a metaphorical lesson, telling Bautista to imagine everyone pointing a gun at his head, with Bautista controlling how many bullets they had. This advice emphasized the importance of managing one’s image and reputation in the industry.
On the financial front, Bautista credits another wrestling legend, The Undertaker, for providing crucial guidance. The Undertaker advised him to “always live beneath your means,” a lesson Bautista admits he learned the hard way. After leaving wrestling, Bautista faced significant financial hardships, including the foreclosure of his home.
“The best financial advice I ever got, which I often share with professional athletes, was from The Undertaker, another wrestler. He told me, “Always live beneath your means.” I learned that the hard way. After wrestling, I lost everything. My house got foreclosed on, but I got a second chance in the film industry. Now, having money in the bank means more to me than buying things I don’t need. I don’t need a Bugatti. I’d love to have one, but I’m not paying $3–5 million for a car just because I can.”
This experience shaped Bautista’s approach to money management. Now finding success in the film industry, he places greater value on financial security than material possessions. He shared an example, stating that while he’d love to own a Bugatti, he wouldn’t spend $3 million to $5 million on a car he doesn’t need.
