Known as the "The Italian Strongman", Sammartino had an estimated net worth of over $4 million. He was married to Carol Sammartino since 1959. They had three sons together; David, Danny, and Darry.
Bruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino was born on October 6, 1935, in Pizzoferrato, Abruzzo, Italy to father Alfonso Sammartino and mother Emilia Sammartino. By nationality, he was Italian-American and belonged to white ethnicity. Further, his star sign was Libra.
Bruno was the youngest of his seven siblings, four of whom died tragically during his childhood. He went to Schenley High School and started weightlifting. Later, he went to the University of Pittsburgh and joined a wrestling team coached by Rex Peery.
CAPTION: Bruno Sammartino with her wife Carol Sammartino SOURCE: biowikis.com In 1951, he along with family arrived in the United States. In 1959, at the age of 24, Sammartino set a world record in the bench press with a lift of 565 pounds.
During his professional career, the American Italian wrestler had an estimated net worth of $4 million. Sammartino started his career as a stuntman in the Pittsburgh area. He quickly became one of the best performing stuntmen.
There isn't any exact detailed information regarding his yearly salary from WWF. However, considering his performance and previous contracts, it can be assumed that Sammartino earned roughly $20,000-$50,000 as his yearly salary.
Many national and international brands wanted Sammartino to promote their products. However, he never made a deal with them in his career.
In his career lifetime, he added a huge sum of properties. Moreover, it includes his real estates, stock, and properties, private jets and cars.
Sammartino made his professional debut in Pittsburgh on December 17, 1959, and was the former WWF World Champion & Tag Team Champion in the 1960 and 1970. Sammartino is still considered by many to be the greatest pro wrestling champion of all time
During his WWF career, Sammartino held the WWF (now WWE) World Champion title for 8 years. His second reign as WWE Champion lasted four years from 1973 to 1977.
CAPTION: Bruno Sammartino holding a photo of his image SOURCE: Sportsnet He "retired" from wrestling in 1981, and began providing commentary for the WWF's syndicated programming. In 1984, Vince McMahon made an agreement with Sammartino to become a WWF commentator.
Sammartino's final WWF match was in Baltimore, where he teamed up with Hulk Hogan. Further, he continued doing commentary on Superstars of Wrestling until March 1988.
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After leaving WWF, Sammartino worked as a commentator for Universal Wrestling Federation. In 1992, he was the side reporter on Saturday Night.
In 2013, Arnold Schwarzenegger inducted Sammartino into the WWE Hall of Fame for his contribution in the wrestling industry. The ceremony took place at Madison Garden.
Sammartino was often called "The Strongest Man in the World" and "The Italian Strongman". During his lifetime, Sammartino earned the title "The Living Legend".
One of the most highly respected athletes, Bruno Sammartino is still regarded as the greatest professional wrestlers of all time.
Bruno Sammartino Personal Life and Death
Regarding the personal life of Bruno Sammartino, his family moved to Pennsylvania in order to avoid German soldiers during World War II. While Sammartino was a professional wrestler, he earned the title "Living Legend".
He married his wife Carol in 1959 and was together with family until his death in 2018. They had three sons together, David (former wrestler), Danny and Darryl. In addition, they were grandparents of four grandchildren.
Remembering the legend... #RIPBrunoSammartino pic.twitter.com/okpnfhUtOk
— WWE (@WWE) April 18, 2018
Wrestlemania Axxess honored Sammartino with a stunning 10 foot Bronze Statue in April 2014. Triple-H, another professional wrestler was at the ceremony.
For his major contribution as a social worker, May 17, 2013, was declared "Bruno Sammartino Day" in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
Sammartino underwent heart surgery in 2011. He died on April 18, 2018, at the age of 82 from multiple organ failure due to heart problems following a two-month hospitalization. Many celebrities from the WWE and entertainment industry gave him warm condolence including his close friend Arnold Schwarzenegger, Triple H, Bret Hart, Vince McMahon, etc.
Bruno Sammartino is a well- known figure throughout the world because of his profession and his talent. He still has an immense fan-following and is considered the greatest athletes in the wrestling industry.
Some of the facts of Bruno Sammartino are:
