Tony Hawk

Tony Hawk is widely regarded as the most influential skateboarder in the history of the sport. Born on May 12, 1968, in San Diego, California, Hawk began skateboarding at the age of nine and turned professional by the time he was fourteen. His prodigious talent quickly set him apart, and by sixteen he was considered the best competitive skateboarder in the world. Hawk dominated the vertical skateboarding scene throughout the 1980s and 1990s, winning more than 70 gold medals in competitive events and pioneering hundreds of tricks that redefined what was possible on a skateboard.

Hawk’s most iconic achievement came on June 27, 1999, when he became the first skateboarder to successfully land the 900, a trick involving two and a half aerial rotations, at the X Games in San Francisco. That moment became one of the most replayed highlights in action sports history and cemented his status as a cultural icon. His competitive career spanned nearly two decades, during which he won 10 consecutive X Games gold medals in the vert competition and was virtually unbeatable at his peak.

Beyond skateboarding, Hawk built a business empire that has generated the majority of his fortune. The Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater video game franchise, launched in 1999 by Activision, became one of the best-selling game series of all time, earning over $1.4 billion in revenue. He founded Birdhouse Skateboards in 1992, which remains one of the most recognized skateboard brands globally. He also launched the clothing line Hawk Clothing, and his media company, 900 Films, has produced numerous skateboarding documentaries and shows.

Hawk’s entrepreneurial ventures extend to philanthropy through The Skatepark Project (formerly the Tony Hawk Foundation), which has helped fund and build over 600 skateparks in underserved communities across the United States. He has appeared in numerous films, television shows, and commercials, and continues to be the primary ambassador for skateboarding worldwide. His ability to translate athletic success into a diversified business portfolio has made him one of the wealthiest action sports athletes in history.