Dusty Rhodes

Dusty Rhodes was an American professional wrestler like Tyrus. He was also better known as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes. He received fame for his work for National Wrestling Alliance, Jim Crockett Promotions, and the World Wrestling Federation, now known as WWE. 

Dusty was born on October 11, 1945, as Virgil Riley Runnels Jr. in Austin, Texas, United States. He graduated from Arlington Heights High School in Fort Worth. After that, he joined West Texas A&M University, where he played baseball and football. Early in his professional career, Rhodes also tried out for the American Football League's Boston Patriots but couldn't make the cut.

Who is Dusty Rhodes' Wife?

Like Noah Emmerich, Rhodes also married the second time after his first marriage failed. Rhodes met his second wife Michelle Rubio (Runnels) in Tampa, Florida, during his first big run, according to him in his autobiography. He met her when he was 30 years, and she was 19 years old. In an interview, he said that  

"There was something about her that was not like anybody else I had ever met. She just had a way about her". 

The couple started dating and continue to go out for two years. Rhodes proposed to Michelle on the banks of Lake Austin, Texas. The pair eventually tied the knot on August 17, 1978, and held their wedding reception at the Columbia, a nightclub in Ybor City, Tampa's National Historic Landmark District. 

Previously, he walked down the aisle with Sandra Runnels. The duo exchanged wedding vows in 1965 when Dusty was just 20-years-old. The pair celebrated their marital union for a decade before calling it quits in 1975.

Rhodes Raised Four Children From his Two Marriages

From his first marital relationship with Sandra, he became father to two children. Sandra gave birth to duos' offspring Kristin Runnels Ditto and Dustin Patrick Runnels. Dustin followed his father's footsteps and joined WWE with a stage name "Golddust".

At the beginning of his second marital union, he and Michelle didn't have kids for the first five years. But when the couple had their children, they eventually moved to Charlotte. Rhodes became parents to two children with Michelle Teil Runnels and Cody Runnels.

Cody followed in his father and brother's footsteps and became a professional wrestler known as "Cody Rhodes". Dusty was happily married to Michelle for 37 years until his death in 2015. Rhodes would describe her as his "best friend," and she was the one for him without a doubt.

How much was Dust Rhodes' Net Worth?

Rhodes's net worth is estimated at $3 million at the time of his death. He amassed such wealth from his wrestling career, his role as a writer for WWE, and his several movies and TV series appearances. From his wrestling profession, he earned as much as $450,000 annually as per online sources.

Advertisement of Dusty Rhodes selling Ford Vehicle!!!

He also appeared on advertisements for local car dealers during the 1980s. Dusty features in an advertisement of a Ford vehicle as shown in the video above when he appeared in an ad in 1983. From his advertisements and TV series appearance, he might've earned a decent income.

As per sources, the average earnings of a TV series appearance is around $15,000 to $25,000. He might've earned a similar amount of salary.

The Legacy Left Behind

Dusty was a Wrestler for forty-odd years from 1967 to 2010 and performed in various promotions, including WWE, WCW, and Jim Crockett Promotions. Besides being a wrestler he also wrote and produced shows.

His legacy as a wrestler wouldn't go in vain as he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on March 31, 2007, by his two sons, Dustin and Cody.

After his death in 2015, WWE's NXT introduced Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic in his honor; the tournament takes place annually. In 2019 All Elite Wrestling named their "Go Position," "The Dusty Position," after him.

How did Dusty Rhodes Die?

Rhodes was rushed to the hospital by paramedics on June 10, 2015, after getting a call that he had fallen. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died the next day.

Rhodes's death was said to be because of kidney failure, which he had battled during his later days. He died at the age of 69 in Orlando, Florida, United States. His death was reported by major media outlets like Time saying "WWE Superstar Dusty ‘the American Dream’ Rhodes Dead at 69".

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