Cowboy Bill Watts Net Worth (Updated 2025).
Cowboy Bill Watts, born William Bruce Watts, began his professional wrestling career in the early 1970s, initially working under the name “Cowboy” Bill Watts. Hailing from Oklahoma, Watts was known for his rugged, no-nonsense approach to the ring, a style that would eventually earn him the moniker “The Midnight Rider.”
Watts’ fame began to grow in the mid-70s when he joined the American Wrestling Association (AWA), where he formed a formidable tag team with his real-life brother, Mike. Their rough-and-tumble style, coupled with Watts’ distinctive cowboy hat and boots, captured the attention of fans and promoters alike. It was during this time that Watts’ reputation as a tough, relentless competitor began to solidify, setting the stage for his future success.
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Cowboy Bill Watts’ Current Net Worth (2025)
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As of 2025, Cowboy Bill Watts’ net worth is estimated to be around $10 million, according to the latest available information. This figure reflects his successful career in professional wrestling and his various business ventures.
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Career
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Bill Watts, known as “Cowboy” in the wrestling world, is a retired American professional wrestler and promoter. He began his wrestling career in the early 1960s and gained significant prominence in the Mid-South Wrestling territory during the 1970s and 1980s. Watts is also known for his work with the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE) as a producer and on-screen personality in the late 1990s.
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Other Ventures
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After retiring from wrestling, Watts ventured into various businesses. He founded the Bill Watts Pro Wrestling School, where he trained aspiring wrestlers. He also authored a book, “Slam Bam Thank You Ma’am: The Life and Times of Cowboy Bill Watts,” which was published in 2006. Additionally, Watts has worked as a wrestling commentator and analyst for various promotions.
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Assets
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Watts’ assets include real estate properties, primarily in his home state of Louisiana. He owns a ranch in the small town of Bastrop, where he resides. His wrestling memorabilia collection, accumulated throughout his career, is also considered a significant asset. However, the exact value of these assets is not publicly disclosed.
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Annual Income
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Watts’ annual income is primarily derived from his retirement benefits and royalties from his book and various wrestling-related projects. His exact annual income is not publicly available. However, given his net worth and the longevity of his career, it is estimated to be substantial.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cowboy Bill Watts
**Frequently Asked Questions: Cowboy Bill Watts Net Worth**
1. What is Cowboy Bill Watts’ net worth?
Cowboy Bill Watts’ net worth is estimated to be around $5 million.
2. How did Cowboy Bill Watts make his money?
Cowboy Bill Watts made his fortune primarily through his career as a professional wrestler and promoter. He was a prominent figure in the Mid-South Wrestling promotion, which he founded, and later served as the president of the Universal Wrestling Federation (UWF).
3. What was Cowboy Bill Watts’ wrestling career like?
Cowboy Bill Watts was a wrestler in the 1960s and 1970s, but he is more renowned for his work as a promoter. He was known for his innovative booking style and for giving wrestlers more creative freedom, which helped to elevate the Mid-South territory to one of the top promotions in the country during the 1980s.
4. Did Cowboy Bill Watts wrestle in the WWE?
No, Cowboy Bill Watts did not wrestle in the WWE. He was primarily active in the Mid-South Wrestling territory and later in the UWF, which was a rival promotion to the WWE at the time.
5. What happened to the UWF after Cowboy Bill Watts left?
After Cowboy Bill Watts left the UWF, the promotion struggled and eventually folded. Some of the UWF’s talent was absorbed into the WWE, and the promotion’s library of footage was later purchased by WWE.
6. What is Cowboy Bill Watts’ legacy in professional wrestling?
Cowboy Bill Watts is considered one of the most influential promoters in professional wrestling history. He is credited with helping to create the “sports entertainment” style of wrestling that the WWE is known for today, and he was a mentor to many of the industry’s top stars, including Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff.
7. Did Cowboy Bill Watts have any notable feuds in his career?
One of Cowboy Bill Watts’ most notable feuds was with Jerry “The King” Lawler, which was a real-life rivalry that played out in the ring. The two had a famous match at the 1981 Great American Bash, which is considered one of the greatest wrestling matches of all time.
8. What is Cowboy Bill Watts’ relationship with Hulk Hogan?
Cowboy Bill Watts was a mentor to Hulk Hogan in the early stages of his career. He gave Hogan his first big break in the wrestling business, booking him in the main event of a show in 1979. The two remained friends and colleagues throughout their careers.
9. What is Cowboy Bill Watts’ relationship with Eric Bischoff?
Cowboy Bill Watts was also a mentor to Eric Bischoff, who later went on to become the president of WCW. Watts helped to train Bischoff in the wrestling business, and the two remained friends and colleagues throughout their careers.
10. What is Cowboy Bill Watts doing now?
As of 2021, Cowboy Bill Watts is retired from the wrestling business. He occasionally makes appearances at wrestling conventions and events, and he has also worked as a consultant for wrestling promotions in the past. He also runs a cattle ranch in Texas.
