Hulk Hogan’s family is mourning the loss of the iconic wrestler while finding ways to keep his legacy alive.
Hogan’s family confirmed to Us Weekly in July 2025 that the former WWE star had died at age 71. The Clearwater Police Department confirmed that Hogan suffered cardiac arrest at his home. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Hogan’s cause of death was due to acute myocardial infarction, most commonly known as a heart attack. He also had a private history of leukemia CLL, a type of cancer that affects white blood cells called lymphocytes. (It is unclear when or if Hogan received his cancer diagnosis.)
The late athlete (real name: Terry Gene Bollea) is survived by wife Sky Daily and his kids Brooke Hogan and Nick Hogan, whom he shares with ex-wife Linda Hogan. Brooke and her father were not on speaking terms at the time of his passing, as she had distanced herself from her famous family two years prior to his passing.
After news broke of his death, many stars and members of the wrestling community paid their respects to Hulk. WWE Raw put together an emotional tribute to Hulk, highlighting his career and the impact he made on the sport. Nick was in attendance for the special event.
Keep scrolling for a break down on what has happened with Hulk’s family since his death:
The Family’s Tributes
Nick’s wife Tana Lea was the first to pay tribute to Hulk. She posted a photo of her, Nick and Hulk from their wedding. Days later, Nick broke his silence.
“Thank you to everyone who has reached out to me and comforted me over the last few days. It truly means a lot,” Nick wrote via Instagram in July 2025. “I’m sorry to everyone I have not responded to yet. This has been overwhelming and extremely difficult. Hearing so many kind words and stories about my dad’s life, interactions and experiences with everyone has been incredible and comforting.”
Nick’s tribute included a series of throwback photos with his dad as he reflected on their close bond.
“My dad was the most incredible person I’ve ever known and will always be my hero. He was the most kind, loving and amazing father anybody could ask for,” he shared. “I feel so blessed to have had the greatest dad in the world. He was not only the best dad but also my mentor and my best friend. He always has been my best friend and I love him and miss him more than I could ever explain.”
He continued: “I thanked him for everything he has ever done for me and told him how much I loved him and hugged him every chance I got. I spent a lot of time with him the past few years after moving back to Florida to be closer to him and I am so grateful for those memories. They are the best moments in my life.”
Daily also paid tribute to her late husband in an emotional post.
“I wasn’t ready for this… and my heart is in pieces,” she penned. “He had been dealing with some health issues, but I truly believed we would overcome them. I had so much faith in his strength. I thought we still had more time. This loss is sudden and impossible to process. To the world, he was a legend… but to me, he was my Terry. The man I loved. My partner. My heart.”
Daily added that Hulk cared deeply for his fans and he wanted to be there for them while battling his health issues.
“Hulk loved his fans so much and despite his growing physical discomfort, he did everything he could to show up, sign autographs, take photos, and connect with the people who supported him through it all. You meant everything to him,” she continued. “He was a believer in Christ, and I take comfort knowing his soul is at peace and he’s been welcomed home. Please keep his family and all of us who loved him in your prayers as we try to navigate this new reality.
Despite their estrangement, Brooke also publicly reacted to her dad’s death.
“My dad’s blood runs through my veins,” she wrote in a statement shared via Instagram in July 2025. “His eyes shine through my children. And our bond has never broken, not even in his final moments. We had a connection deeper than words, one that spanned lifetimes. I am so grateful that I knew the real version of him. Not just the one the world viewed through a carefully curated lens. We shared a quiet, sacred bond, one that could be seen and felt by anyone who witnessed us together.”
Brooke Hogan Not on Speaking Terms With Her Dad
In her statement, Brooke also opened up about her rift with Hulk and why their relationship was strained before and at the time of his death..
“We never had a ‘big fight.’ My father and I never ‘fought.’ It was a series of private phone calls no one will ever hear, know or understand. My father was confiding in me about issues weighing on his heart, both personal and business,” she wrote. “I offered to be a life raft in whatever capacity he needed. I told him he had my support. I begged him to rest, to take care of himself.”
Brooke shared that she and husband Steve Oleksy relocated to Florida to be closer to Hulk amid his health struggles.
“He was getting older. I wanted to be there as much as possible,” she continued. “We had been through almost 25 surgeries together, and then all of a sudden he didn’t want me at surgeries … everything started getting covered in a thick veil. It was like there was a force field around him that I couldn’t get through.”
Brooke claimed that “something shifted,” which led to a “disconnect” between her and Hulk.
“What followed were respectful disagreements that took an emotional toll on me,” she said. “You have to imagine, along with this, everybody inserts their opinion, never really knowing the truth or walking in our shoes.”
Brooke Hogan’s Relationship With Hulk Hogan’s Widow, Sky Daily
Brooke confessed that she advised her father not to marry Daily.
“I was kind of really going to bat for my dad and saying, ‘Hey, you need to be careful. If you want to date her, cool. Just don’t get married. You don’t have to,’” she said on the August 2025 episode of Bubba the Love Sponge’s radio show.
While Brooke didn’t think Hulk and Daily should get married, she was still on good terms with her stepmom.
“If Sky is a Scientologist, which apparently she is still in good standing — she said she left — it is not for me to judge,” Brooke said at the time. “She was always nice to me, I have no problem with Sky. But if she was a Scientologist, I know that’s a very powerful backing.”
Hulk Hogan’s Funeral
One week after his death, Hulk was laid to rest in Florida. The services were attended by his friends and family, though Brooke did not attend the funeral despite her being featured in the program.
Instead, Brooke opted to memorialize her father in a different way.
“My father hated the morbidity of funerals. He didn’t want one,” she wrote via Instagram. “And although I know people grieve in many ways – and I’m so grateful for all celebrations and events organized to honor him, as his daughter, I had to make my own decision to honor him the best and most genuine way I knew how…privately…the way that made me feel the closest to him. The only thing missing today was him in is pop up lawn chair watching the waves… and the sunset 💔.”
Hulk’s ex-wife Linda attended the funeral in addition to his famous friends including Kid Rock, Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, Theo Von, Vince McMahon, Ric Flair, Dennis Rodman and more.
Brooke Hogan Offers to Pay for Autopsy
In August 2025, Brooke took to social media, offering to pay for an autopsy to be performed on her late father.
“I’m glad to see that my dad has not been cremated and that Sky is waiting because of family questions,” she wrote via her Instagram Stories. “With all of the speculation and uncertainty of my dad’s death, I want to personally offer to pay for an autopsy if that’s what it takes to get it done. My dad’s dignity and legacy deserves it.”
Brooke added that she was curious about her dad’s cause of death since she was previously involved with his healthcare before their estrangement.
“I don’t think anyone thinks there’s foul play suspected, but the man had a very complicated medical history,” she continued. “Hearing what was coming out was shocking to me, given that I’ve seen MULTIPLE near-perfect blood panels of my father’s and then all of a sudden everything’s different? Anyone would want answers. And she’s doing just that.”
Brooke previously admitted during an August 2025 appearance on Bubba the Love Sponge’s radio show that she was surprised to see her dad had a history of leukemia, since she had reviewed his blood work in the past.
“Being through all the surgeries, you have to do a blood panel before any major surgery. How didn’t nobody catch a high white blood count? That’s what bothers me the most,” she said.
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