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4d ago

Hulk Hogan’s Death Prompts Reexamination of Privacy Battle With Gawker

His passing has renewed focus on a 2016 verdict that forced Gawker into bankruptcy.

FILE - Hulk Hogan, whose given name is Terry Bollea, waits in the courtroom during a break in his trial against Gawker Media in St. Petersburg, Fla., March 9, 2016. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius, Pool, File)
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Overview

  • Hogan died of cardiac arrest on July 24, 2025, at age 71, triggering renewed reflection on his legal legacy.
  • In 2016 a Florida jury awarded him $140 million for invasion of privacy over a 2012 sex tape, later settled for $31 million.
  • The verdict drove Gawker Media into bankruptcy and its subsequent sale to Univision after the site refused to remove the tape.
  • Tech billionaire Peter Thiel’s financial support helped fund Hogan’s lawsuit, highlighting the rise of third-party litigation financing.
  • Legal scholars say the case empowered celebrities to sue over intrusive reporting and reshaped the balance between privacy rights and press freedom.