Quick Links

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is arguably the hottest Hollywood celebrity on the planet right now. With countless films and productions in the works, he’s catapulted his way up the ladder of financial and celebrity success totem pole to grab the No.1 spots in earnings, social media followers, and box office records. Needless to say, it doesn't appear that his star is about to fall anytime soon.

Anytime someone becomes that successful that quickly, it’s difficult to do so without making beneficial partnerships or finding out that you have jealous enemies looking to hold you back or see you fail. The world of celebrity is political, but it's not something that The Rock isn't used to, especially considering the fact that he came from the world of professional wrestling.

It pays to be Johnson’s friend these days. Actors like Kevin Hart are working alongside Johnson on a number of projects and repeatedly teaming up to bring in big box office dollars. In contrast, it doesn’t pay to get on Johnson's bad side. For example, former actors involved in the Fast and Furious franchise have found themselves on the outs in Hollywood quickly realizing that if producers and directors are going to be siding with anyone, it’s the most electrifying man in sports entertainment, film, and television.

So, who (and what) exactly gets a Christmas card from “The Great One” this season? Who and what might get a lump of coal? We’ve compiled a list of 15 people (or things) that have become Johnson’s best friend and Johnson’s worst enemy. Some of these things either helped launch him into superstardom or are keeping him there while others have tried to slow him down or almost killed his success before it started.

Friend: Kevin Hart

We'll start this list with a guy that, over the past two to three years, seems like he's attached to Dwayne Johnson's hip. It’s hard to spend much time on the Internet these days and not find a video of Johnson and Kevin Hart together. With films like Central Intelligence and Jumanji under their collective belts, they’ve proven to have great chemistry and can make big bank together.

They're also well-known for joking around with each other, getting chuckles at the other's expense but always in good fun.

It is rumored that Johnson has potential aspirations to run for President in 2020. But when asked who he'd pick as a running mate, he joked that it definitely wouldn't be Kevin Hart. They're close though, and for now, will stick to running Hollywood together.

Enemy: Tyrese Gibson

The relationship between Fast and Furious co-stars Tyrese Gibson and Dwayne Johnson has gotten ugly over her past year, although it seems pretty one-sided. Gibson seems to be the one who's holding on to whatever beef he's got, and his inability to let it go is going to cost him dearly.

It all started when Johnson made a public remark about the unprofessional nature of some of his co-workers

during the filming of one of the Fast and Furious movies. Two stars took exception, one of which was Tyrese. Then, after Johnson agreed to star in a spin-off film focused on his Hobbs character, Tyrese took it as a personal slight on behalf of the rest of the cast and crew who would have to wait to film the next ensemble installment of the franchise while Johnson made his own movie. The latest buzz is that Tyrese claimed he won’t accept a role in another sequel if Johnson is asked to be in it as well. He's bitter, and the funny part is Johnson doesn't seem to care.

Friend: Disney

Dwayne Johnson and Disney have found a partnership that works well for both sides. Back in 2007, when Johnson was still trying to make his mark in Hollywood, he starred in The Game Plan. That worked out well for him so Disney signed him on to be in a remake of Race to Witch Mountain in 2009. Seven years later and after starring in Moana, Johnson was a huge movie star.

Today, he has signed on to create an adaptation of the famous Disney theme park ride, Jungle Cruise, starring alongside Emily Blunt, and there's not much question that he will likely work with Disney on other projects in the future.

Disney loves to use bankable actors, and Johnson has proven to be about as bankable as they come. He's also got that something special about him that audiences of all ages just love, which makes him a perfect fit for the company that does everything from superhero films to animated masterpieces.

Enemy: Vin Diesel

Tyrese and Johnson are not the only two stars of Fast and Furious who apparently didn’t see eye to eye. Most people believe that the shot Johnson took at his fellow cast mates when the heat on set went public was personally directed at Vin Diesel who many consider to be the star of the films but also tricky to work with. Johnson's exact words were “zero tolerance for candy as*es,” and as such, their feud was nicknamed The Candy-A*s Feud.

As things progressed, it became clearer and clearer that Diesel was the subject of Johnson's ire. And when filming wrapped, Johnson thanked almost everyone except Diesel.

It is believed that a meeting took place to squash and settle, and there are even pictures that have come out since with the two of these guys embracing and smiling. But, it's hard to know if that's for the cameras and the sake of the franchise or that they've actually squashed whatever beef they had.

Friend: Vince McMahon

There will be plenty of professional wrestling references in this list simply because Johnson spent so much time as The Rock in WWE that it would be hard not to include the industry that got him his start. For example,

there is a love from Vince McMahon for The Rock that may be unmatched by and for anyone in WWE.

Vince knows how valuable Johnson has been in helping WWE become the worldwide phenomenon that it is today. Johnson took his character The Rock and turned it into a household name and global draw. The Rock was instrumental in helping WWE overcome the onslaught from WCW, and it didn’t hurt that he went on to become a huge movie star, often coming back to WWE with thunderous applause and giddy anticipation. Vince was making paper for every appearance. Always a businessman but also a father figure, Vince has a longstanding history with the Johnson family that goes way back in professional wrestling.

Enemy: John Cena

If you follow WWE and wrestling, then you know of the legit feud that existed between John Cena and Dwayne Johnson. While it may not be as volatile as it once was, for a while, it was fairly public knowledge that these two did not like each other. But, as WWE tends to do, they capitalized on the friction and made two separate WrestleMania main events out of their distaste for the other.

The feud revolved around the fact that these two viewed professional wrestling from different perspectives. Cena didn't like the fact that he saw Johnson as someone who abandoned the industry that made him famous which, in turn, meant that he ditched the fans. He called him out on it repeatedly. Meanwhile, Johnson believed he still loved the business but was in another phase of his life. That didn't mean he was ever going to leave the WWE Universe, though. It just meant that he'd not always be there in person.

Ironically, Cena is now making waves in Hollywood and likely better understands what it means to try and juggle a film career and full-time wrestling one.

Friend: Under Armour

The deal Johnson struck with Under Armour is incredibly lucrative and beneficial for both sides. While Under Armour's list of athletes and celebrities endorsing their products is ever-expanding, there may not be a better face of a brand than The Rock is. He represents work ethic, busting one's butt with a good workout, managing a crazy and physical lifestyle, and can offer a variety of uses for Under Armour products.

Under Armour called their deal a "long-term partnership" that will "create a range of products across footwear, apparel, and accessories."

The first big thing they collaborated on was a series of backpacks and duffel bags. You can find a ton of their apparel in the films he stars in. There was the swimwear for Baywatch, muscle shirts for Fast and Furious, and there'll be shoes for Ballers. 

Enemy: Fanny Packs

The Rock isn’t a fan of fanny packs? Say what? If you’re a wrestling fan, you know what we mean when we say that. For those that only know Dwayne Johnson from films, let us, wrestling fans, fill you in. When Dwayne Johnson was first introduced to the WWE Universe as Rocky Maivia, he was promoted as a third-generation star who was clean-cut and upstanding, ready to honor the legacy of his family heritage. It was a good idea on paper but he had a terrible haircut, a moustache, and wore a fanny pack, all while the WWE tried to put him over as the next big thing. The fans hated him.

Even today when he comes back to WWE (which isn’t very often), he reminisces about those days and how it’s amazing that he was able to still reach his ridiculous level of success, considering that’s what he looked like when he started.

Friends: Roman Reigns

Roman Reigns is real-life cousins with Dwayne Johnson, and while Reigns has the look and feel of a main event WWE Superstar, he likely owes a great deal of the push he’s gotten to his cousin. Reigns hasn't exactly had a squeaky-clean run as a WWE talent, and thanks to Johnson, the leash might be a tad looser as far as Reigns is concerned.

While the two are close, being related to The Rock doesn’t always work out for Reigns.

The Rock once showed up at the Royal Rumble to help get Reigns over with a crowd who wasn’t on Reigns' side, and instead of fans cheering for The Rock when he appeared, they booed both talents realizing what WWE was trying to do. If Johnson wants to keep getting cheered, he’s likely best to stay away from Reigns who is a polarizing figure in WWE to say the least.

Enemy: Timelines And Pre-Scripted Promos

The Rock Dwayne Johnson may be one of the few people in WWE who can get away with doing pretty much whatever he wants. His promos may drive a guy like Vince McMahon crazy because he often goes over the allotted time, but because they're pure gold, he gets a pass.

He's also not a huge fan of wrestling scripts because he likes to work off the cuff, often having to write down his focus points on his hand to ensure he gets the WWE agenda across.

There was one instance where a segment with Mick Foley (then known as Mankind) went so far over the timeline Vince was furious. When the ratings came in and it was the highest-rated segment Raw had ever done, Vince gave Johnson the okay to do whatever from then on.

Friends: Dany Garcia

There aren't a lot of people who can say they were once married, split, and still get along wonderfully with their exes. It's a rare breed of people but Dwayne Johnson is one of those people. Years ago, he was married to a woman named Dany Garcia. Meeting in Miami, Florida, Garcia was his college sweetheart. But after being married for 11 years and having a daughter together, they divorced. For most people, that might be the end of it, or they'd at least try to get along for the child's sake.

Interestingly, Garcia is still a huge part of Johnson's life. Dany is now Johnson's manager and business partner in his new production company, Seven Bucks Creative.

They work on almost everything together, and while she is now married to bodybuilder  Dave Rienzi and Johnson has found love with Lauren Hashian, the entire collection is one, big, unique family of incredibly hardworking people.

Enemy: Triple H

This one might be a bit of a stretch these days but we're going to guess that there's still some friction between Johnson and COO of WWE, Triple H. The heat goes way back to when the two were coming up in the company.

The Rock used his electrifying personality to win everyone over and become a huge star. Triple H used political warfare to manage his way up the ladder.

Today, Triple H is running a lot of WWE, and The Rock makes big bucks to show up once a year (if that). While Triple H is known to be a much better business person than his bitter rival now, there's still a rumored tendency to shy away from part-time workers like Chris Jericho and Dwayne Johnson. Triple H also tried to make it in movies but wasn't successful. If there's any heat there, this one is likely a jealousy thing. Both sides say they get along just fine.

Friends: Social Media

Part of the charm of Dwayne Johnson is that he appears to live his life in front of his fans. Pasting almost everything on social media, Johnson is the No. 1 ranked celebrity in terms of social media followers and traffic.

Johnson is one of the top presences on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and whatever platform will allow fans an inside peak at his routine. 

He's used social media to draw massive attention to his movies, trailers, releases, causes, and other ideas. His sponsors love the fact that he's so followed and he can easily contribute a good portion of his success to not only being open to social media but using everything there is to become more popular by the post. He has a whopping 102 million followers on Instagram (as of this writing).

Friend: Remakes And Adaptations

The Rock has found a career out of re-imagining existing or former stories from the past, putting a spin on them, and spitting them back out as blockbuster hits. He remade Jumanji, Baywatch, and other films with mixed critical but vast financial success and has become well-known for rebooting dying franchises like G.I. Joe and Fast and Furious. On his list of future projects are a reboot of Big Trouble in Little China and a number of sequels.

Basically, if you want to remake a movie, turn a video game into a film, or bring an idea back from the dead, Johnson is your guy.

That said, it’s going to cost you a pretty penny now to get him to sign on as he’s one of the highest-paid actors in the world now. And, you may lose a co-star or two over the process since he has an ability to intimidate people with his success.

Enemy: Laziness

If there’s one thing you can’t call Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, it’s lazy. In fact, if you try, you'd better be the most hardworking person in the universe. Why? Because, there may be no actor that works harder, more, or as rapidly as Johnson does. He keeps a more hectic schedule than anyone in Hollywood, and somehow, he seems to always have energy. It wouldn't be a stretch to say that he’s truly a man who thinks the days aren’t long enough. He makes them work anyway.

Flying around on his private jet or traveling from coast to coast to make production meetings or appearances, he literally never stops,

even if it means getting in a weightlifting workout at 1 am or a cardio run at 3:30 am while magazines are shooting and his social media crew is capturing something to keep fans in the loop.