The journey to name and fame was quick for Tony Hawk. A skateboarding prodigy, Hawk’s growing up days in San Diego played a crucial role his shaping his dreams. He was just eight years old, when he fell in love with the sport. Being a tough sport, he quickly rose to the success ladder and won the National Skateboard Association World Championship. Hawk was already winning all crucial skateboarding competitions by 12. He turned into a pro-skater, when he was just 14. Moreover, by the time he turned 26, he had already won 73 skateboarding competitions.

With all the fame came money. However, managing the finances was not easy for the young champ. Despite all the resources, Hawk faced a severe financial crunch, the experience of which played a crucial role in his upcoming years.

Hawk faced a difficult time 

Success came to Tony very young. Having won multiple competitions, he was already making $100,000 a year at the age of 15. Having no clue about financial investments and saving, he was quoted saying, “I spent like it was never going to end, and it ended quickly.”

Too naive to understand finances, he further stated, “When I started making money … I thought I’d continue to do so forever.” As bad luck could have it, even skateboarding was earning itself a bad reputation during the said time. In the early 1990s, because of multiple external factors and his lifestyle choices, Tony thus faced a severe financial blow.

Read More: “Money Dried Up…Took to the Streets”: Tony Hawk Opens Up on the Struggles of Skateboarders in the 80s

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While other skateboarders shifted their careers, Hawk lived off a $5 daily Taco Bell stipend and sold one of his homes while refinancing the other to stay solvent. However, he did not back off. He undeniably faced a significant hurdle, but he took all the hardships upfront.

Tony Hawk too tough to bow down

During the said time, Tony realized that his “income was dropping in half every month.” Elaborating further, he said, “And people just weren’t buying skate stuff, nor Tony Hawk stuff.” It was not just a difficult phase for him but also for the sport.

However, refusing to give up, he accepted work as a skate demo, earning roughly $100 per day. Through this, he stayed focused. Taking his finances seriously, he refinanced his house and co-founded the “Birdhouse.” With fellow skater and friend, Per Welinder, Tony thus founded his skateboard team and company.

Watch This Story: Tony Hawk, Magic Johnson, and More Here’s How These Athletes Turned Into Big Entrepreneurs