If you’ve spent any time on social media lately, you’ve probably seen one of those "RIP" posts with a grainy photo of a guy in a leather vest. It’s enough to make anyone do a double-take. But here is the bottom line: is actor Paul Hogan still alive? Yes, he is. As of early 2026, the man who basically invented the global image of the rugged Australian outdoorsman is still with us, though life looks a lot different for him these days than it did when he was wrestling animatronic crocodiles in the 80s.
Honestly, it’s easy to see why the rumors start. Hogan is 86 years old now. He’s reached that age where every time a celebrity’s name trends on X (formerly Twitter), people assume the worst. Plus, he hasn’t exactly been hiding the fact that his health has taken some major hits over the last few years.
The Reality of Paul Hogan’s Health in 2026
About four years ago, Hoges—as most of Australia still calls him—went public with a pretty serious health battle that left him looking, in his own words, "feeble." He was diagnosed with a rare condition called retroperitoneal fibrosis.
Basically, it’s a disorder where scar tissue grows in the abdominal cavity. In Hogan's case, it wrapped around his aorta and started messing with his kidneys. To fix it, he had to go through some pretty intense treatment, including a heavy course of corticosteroids. While the treatment worked to shrink the growth, it had a brutal side effect: it absolutely ravaged his body mass.
He lost almost all his body fat. His muscles shrank. For a guy who prided himself on being fitter than most 40-year-olds well into his 70s, it was a massive blow to his pride and his physical capabilities.
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Recent Sightings and the Wheelchair "Scandal"
Back in mid-2025, some paparazzi photos surfaced of Hogan being wheeled through Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport. Fans went into a total tailspin. People were convinced he was on his deathbed.
But typical of Hogan, he poked fun at the whole thing during an interview with 7NEWS. He told everyone to relax, explaining that he’d actually injured his knee while—get this—skateboarding with his son. At 85. He also joked that his arthritis just makes long airport walks a "bloody nightmare."
So, while he might be move a bit slower and look a lot thinner than the Michael Dundee we remember, the wit is still sharp as a razor. He’s also had a pacemaker fitted, which he’s been very open about. He’s basically "held together by string and sticky tape," but he’s still kicking.
The Long Road Back to Australia
For over 30 years, Hogan lived the high life in Los Angeles. He moved there in the early 90s, married his co-star Linda Kozlowski, and raised their son, Chance. But lately, he’s been vocal about how much he misses home.
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During the pandemic, he famously got caught in a bit of a PR storm after telling Sunrise he was "desperately homesick" while sitting in his multi-million dollar Venice Beach mansion. Some fans back in Australia weren't thrilled, telling him to "stop whining" and just fly home if he missed it so much.
The move hasn't been simple. * His Son: He didn't want to leave his son, Chance, behind in the US.
- Health: Long-haul flights are a massive strain on someone with his condition.
- Property: He’s been systematically "dismantling" his property empire, selling off homes in Malibu and Venice Beach to simplify his life.
By late 2025 and moving into 2026, reports have confirmed that Hogan has finally spent more time on Australian soil than in California. He’s been spotted laying low, reportedly staying with family and avoiding the "glitz" of Sydney for a quieter pace.
What Most People Get Wrong About His Wealth
There’s this weird myth that Paul Hogan is broke. You’ll see headlines about his "shattered fortune" because of a decade-long battle with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).
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Yes, the ATO went after him for years, alleging he owed tens of millions in unpaid taxes. It was a messy, public, and incredibly stressful saga that saw him barred from leaving Australia at one point. But that case was eventually settled in 2012, and Hogan has always maintained he didn't do anything wrong.
While his net worth isn't the $75 million-plus it was during the peak of Crocodile Dundee mania—thanks to a couple of divorces and those legal fees—he’s far from the breadline. Current estimates put his net worth around **$20 million**. Between the residuals from his films (he owned a massive 60% of the profits from the first movie) and his savvy real estate moves over the decades, he’s doing just fine.
Life in the "Grandfather" Phase
If you look at Paul Hogan today, you aren't seeing a movie star. You're seeing a great-grandfather who is tired of the spotlight. He’s lived a "fortunate life," going from a rigger on the Sydney Harbour Bridge to the most famous face in the world for a brief window in the 1980s.
He’s reached a point of total honesty. He knows he’s in the "final act." In that 2025 interview, he even mentioned his last wish: to have his ashes scattered off the Harbour Bridge where his career started. It sounds grim, but for him, it’s just practical. He’s always been a straight shooter.
Key Takeaways on Paul Hogan’s Current Status:
- Alive and Well (Mostly): He is alive, living between LA and Australia, but primarily settling back home.
- Health Management: He manages retroperitoneal fibrosis and uses a pacemaker, but he is not "incapacitated."
- Financial Standing: He remains wealthy, despite past tax battles and expensive divorces.
- Legacy Focus: He is focused on his family, particularly his son Chance, and staying out of the "rag" magazines.
If you’re looking to celebrate the man, skip the "is he dead" Google searches and go back to the source. Re-watching the original 1986 Crocodile Dundee is still the best way to appreciate why he became such a legend in the first place. It wasn't just the knife; it was the charm. And even at 86, that charm hasn't gone anywhere.
Actionable Next Steps: Keep an eye on official Australian news outlets like ABC or 7NEWS for any legitimate health updates, as they are usually the first to get exclusive interviews with his inner circle. Avoid clicking on "celebrity death" YouTube channels, which often use AI-generated voices and fake thumbnail images to farm clicks from concerned fans.