Let’s be real for a second. When people talk about Terry Bollea—the man behind the 24-inch pythons and the "Hulkamania" brand—they usually focus on the body slams or the $140 million Gawker lawsuit. But if you want to understand why the man was so complicated, you have to look at the women who lived through the madness. Specifically, his first wife, Linda.
Linda Hogan isn't just a footnote in a wrestling biography. She was the architect of the Hogan family brand during the Hogan Knows Best era. She was also the person who walked away with over 70% of his liquid assets.
Honestly, the story of hulk hogan ex wife is way more than just a bitter divorce. It’s a saga of reality TV curses, alleged infidelities, and a family tree that basically shattered in public. Even now, in 2026, following the wrestling legend's passing last summer, the echoes of their 2009 split are still making headlines.
The $30 Million Split: Why Linda Got Nearly Everything
Most celebrity divorces are a 50/50 split. Not this one. When Hulk and Linda finalized their paperwork in 2009, the numbers were genuinely shocking.
Linda walked away with roughly $7.44 million of the couple's $10.41 million in cash and investment accounts. That’s about 70%. But it didn't stop there. She also snagged a $3 million property settlement and 40% ownership in his various business entities. People always ask: How did she get so much? Part of it was the timing and the nature of their Florida filing. Another part was the sheer amount of evidence regarding the "Hulkster's" extracurricular activities. It was a messy, public takedown of a childhood hero.
- Liquid Assets: $7.44M to Linda / $2.97M to Hulk.
- Properties: A massive chunk of the real estate portfolio went her way.
- The Alimony Twist: Interestingly, she didn't get monthly alimony. She took the "lump sum" approach to assets instead.
The Affair That Ended an Era
You can't talk about hulk hogan ex wife without mentioning the "best friend" scandal. This is the stuff of soap operas. In 2007, Linda filed for divorce after discovering that Terry had allegedly been involved with Christiane Plante.
👉 See also: Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
The kicker? Plante was a close friend of their daughter, Brooke.
Think about that for a minute. Your dad, the biggest star in wrestling history, has an affair with your peer. It didn't just break the marriage; it broke the family dynamic for a generation. Linda has been very vocal about this, calling him a "sex addict" and a "liar" in various emotional social media videos over the years. She even wrote a tell-all book, Wrestling the Hulk: My Life Against the Ropes, where she detailed his alleged temper and drug use.
Life After the Ring: What Linda Is Doing Now
Linda Marie Claridge (her maiden name) has had a wild ride since the divorce. Remember when she started dating Charlie Hill? He was 19 years old at the time. She was 48.
The 29-year age gap became tabloid fodder for years. They even appeared on Couples Therapy together. But eventually, that fizzled out, and she moved into a phase of her life that was much more private—until recently.
As of 2026, Linda lives a relatively quiet life in California and Florida, though she’s still "the worst mess" according to her own Instagram stories from 2025. She recently revealed that she hasn't spoken to her daughter, Brooke, in nearly eight years.
✨ Don't miss: Jeremy Renner Accident Recovery: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
"It's been 15 years since I left Hulk Hogan, and my family is the worst mess," she shared in a tearful video.
She didn't even know Brooke had gotten married to hockey player Steven Oleksy or that she had given birth to twins in early 2025. She found out through the internet. That’s a level of estrangement that’s hard to wrap your head around when you remember them as the tight-knit family on VH1.
Jennifer McDaniel: The Second Wife Who Stayed Quiet
While Linda was loud and public, Hulk’s second wife, Jennifer McDaniel, was the total opposite. They married in 2010—just a year after the Linda divorce was finalized—and stayed together for over a decade.
Jennifer was a makeup artist, and for the most part, she stayed out of the drama. But in late 2021, the Hulkster filed for divorce again. This time, there was a non-disparagement clause. This is why you don't hear Jennifer trashing him in the press.
As part of their settlement:
🔗 Read more: Kendra Wilkinson Photos: Why Her Latest Career Pivot Changes Everything
- Hulk had to buy her a brand-new car (and pay it off completely).
- She kept a property in Palm Isle, Florida.
- He paid a one-time lump sum (the amount is sealed).
By the time the news of their divorce even hit the public in February 2022, Hulk was already posting photos with his next flame, Sky Daily.
The Final Chapter: Sky Daily and the 2025 Aftermath
Hulk’s third wife, Sky Daily, was a yoga instructor and accountant who met him at a bar in 2022. They married in September 2023. This marriage was short-lived, unfortunately, as Hulk passed away in July 2025 from a heart attack at age 71.
Even after his death, the drama involving hulk hogan ex wife Linda didn't stop. Days before he died, Linda posted a throwback photo of them from the 80s with the caption "The good old days!"
Fans were confused. Was she forgiving him? Was it a premonition? After he passed, she admitted she was "melting down" and still loved the man she knew as Terry, despite the decades of legal warfare.
What You Can Learn From the Hogan Saga
If there’s any takeaway from this high-profile wreckage, it’s about the importance of legal protection and the dangers of the "reality TV curse."
- Prenups are non-negotiable: Hulk didn't have a solid one with Linda, which is why he lost 70% of his wealth. He learned his lesson and had a very strict one with Jennifer McDaniel.
- The "Reality" Cost: Reality shows like Hogan Knows Best often act as an accelerant for marital problems. If the cracks are there, the cameras will turn them into canyons.
- Estate Planning Matters: In 2026, the battle over Hulk’s $25 million estate continues, with Florida's "spousal elective share" law likely giving his widow, Sky, at least 30%, regardless of what the will says.
If you're dealing with a complicated family dynamic or looking into how to protect your assets during a transition, your first step should be consulting a family law attorney who specializes in high-net-worth estates. Don't wait until the "good old days" are over to put your paperwork in order.
Actionable Insight: If you're managing assets in a long-term marriage, ensure your name is on joint accounts or that you have a clear understanding of the "elective share" laws in your state (like Florida's 30% rule). For those following the Hogan family legacy, keep an eye on Brooke Hogan's social media for updates on the next generation—the twins, Oliver and Molly—who represent the newest branch of this complicated tree.