The amount Richard Belzer received in his lawsuit against Hulk Hogan was not disclosed in contemporaneous reports. Belzer sued for $5 million, but that was the amount he sought—not a confirmed settlement payout. A later-circulating claim that he received $400,000 is not verified by the reporting available here.
What was the settlement amount?
It was not made public in the contemporaneous accounts. UPI reported on January 2, 1990, that the case had settled and explicitly said the amount was undisclosed. The Los Angeles Times also reported the settlement without giving a payout figure.
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UPI quoted Hogan’s lawyer, Ted Dinsmoor, saying, “It’s been resolved to the satisfaction of both parties.” That statement described the defense lawyer’s view when the settlement was announced; it did not reveal the terms.
Was Belzer’s award $5 million?
No confirmed report establishes that he received $5 million. That figure was the amount Belzer demanded in the lawsuit, according to UPI’s settlement report and the Associated Press’s 2023 account. The case ended in an out-of-court settlement, but the amount paid was not stated.
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Did Hulk Hogan pay Belzer $400,000?
The $400,000 figure appears in later secondary accounts, but the contemporaneous reports cited here do not confirm it, and no primary transcript or recording establishing that amount has been identified. It should not be treated as a verified payout.
Why did Belzer sue Hogan?
On March 27, 1985, Hogan and Mr. T appeared on Belzer’s cable show, Hot Properties. During a demonstration, Hogan applied a wrestling hold to Belzer; Belzer passed out and hit his head on the floor. UPI reported that he suffered a head wound requiring stitches. Belzer later sued Hogan and other defendants, alleging negligence and excessive force.
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The parties disputed responsibility. Hogan’s lawyer said Hogan maintained his innocence and argued that Belzer had requested the demonstration and accepted its risks. Those were the defense’s arguments, not findings by a court. The lawsuit settled shortly before jury selection was scheduled to begin in January 1990, according to UPI.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What did the lawsuit proceeds help pay for?
The Associated Press later reported that proceeds from the lawsuit contributed to homes Belzer purchased, but it did not disclose the settlement figure. That detail does not establish how much money he received.
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