Who Is Jake Roberts? Age, Biography and Wiki
Jake Roberts, born on May 30, 1955, is a legendary American professional wrestler, celebrated for his significant contributions to the world of wrestling. With a career spanning several decades, Roberts has left an indelible mark on the industry through his unique character work and compelling storytelling in the ring. As of 2025, Jake Roberts is 69 years old and continues to inspire new generations of wrestlers and fans alike. His tumultuous journey through the highs and lows of fame and personal struggles has made him a compelling figure, not only in wrestling but in discussions about mental health and recovery.
| Occupation | Wrestlers |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | May 30, 1955 |
| Age | 70 Years |
| Birth Place | Gainesville, Texas, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Gemini |
| Country | U.S |
Popularity
Jake Roberts's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Jake Roberts is known for his tall stature and commanding presence. As of 2025, he stands approximately 6 feet 5 inches (196 cm) tall and weighs around 239 pounds (108 kg). His athletic build has been integral to his wrestling persona, allowing him to execute moves with precision while projecting an intimidating presence.
He officially turned face when he feuded with The Honky Tonk Man, an Elvis impersonator, who attacked Roberts with a guitar during his interview segment The Snake Pit. The Honky Tonk Man's guitar shot actually injured Roberts' neck, as at the time guitars were not prepared to break easily.
The Honky Tonk Man denies that he purposefully injured Roberts, although Honky's manager Jimmy Hart, as well as a video of the incident (seen on the Pick Your Poison DVD) suggests otherwise with Roberts later claiming that he was picking pieces of wood out of his back for weeks after.
The attack led to their match at WrestleMania III in which Roberts had Detroit native Alice Cooper (a known lover of snakes) in his corner. After Honky Tonk won the Intercontinental Championship from Ricky Steamboat, Roberts unsuccessfully challenged him for the Championship several times throughout the rest of 1987.
The initial plan was for Roberts to win the Intercontinental Championship shortly after The Honky Tonk Man's win over Steamboat and begin an angle with "the Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase, but because of the injuries from the guitar shot, the decision was made to keep the belt with The Honky Tonk Man.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Throughout his life, Jake Roberts has experienced various highs and lows, including his relationships. While not currently known to be in a public relationship, he has had significant relationships in the past that have shaped his life. As of 2025, he remains private about his personal life, focusing primarily on his career and recovery. With his rich family history, including his legendary father, Grizzly Smith, Roberts values the lessons he learned from his upbringing in the wrestling world.
Aurelian Smith Jr. His father, Aurelian "Grizzly" Smith (1932–2010), also a wrestler, left his mother when she was 17 by which time she had given birth to another child. Roberts lived with his grandmother until she died in 1966, forcing him to move back to live with his father and his new wife.
Roberts had a strained relationship with his pedophilic father, and was sexually and physically abused by his stepmother during his childhood, which included vaginal penetration - his father was doing the same thing to his daughters (Aurelian Jr.'s sisters) too.
He has a half-brother, Michael Smith, and a half-sister, Robin Smith, both of whom also became wrestlers. During the late 1980s, all three wrestled at the same time for the WWF (now WWE).
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Jake Roberts has an estimated net worth of around $1.5 million. His wealth stems from his decades-long career as a professional wrestler, his appearances in various wrestling promotions, and his work as a motivational speaker. Roberts has also generated income through merchandise sales, interviews, and appearances in documentaries related to wrestling and recovery.
Roberts debuted in the World Wrestling Federation on March 8, 1986, at the Boston Garden defeating Jose Luis Rivera. A month later, he made his pay-per-view debut, defeating George Wells at WrestleMania 2.
During the match, Roberts made Wells foam from the mouth when he wrapped his snake Damien around Wells' head; however, contrary to popular belief, he had been using the "Snake" nickname before his WWF debut, including while in Georgia Championship Wrestling.
Career, Business and Investments
Jake Roberts made his wrestling debut in the late 1970s and quickly rose to fame in the 1980s and 1990s, particularly with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). Known for his psychological tactics and finishers like the DDT, he became a prominent villain and later a fan favorite. After retiring from active competition, Roberts shifted his focus to helping others through motivational speaking engagements, wrestling seminars, and coaching.
In recent years, he has also leveraged his fame by appearing in documentaries, reality shows, and podcasts, sharing his story of recovery from addiction and promoting mental health awareness.
Throughout his career, Roberts, often considered one of professional wrestling's most iconic figures, was known for his intense and cerebral promos, dark charisma, extensive use of psychology in his matches, and innovative use of the DDT finishing move (which was later named the "coolest" maneuver of all time by WWE).
He often brought snakes into the ring, most famously a python. He was one of the subjects of the 1999 documentary film Beyond the Mat.
In 2012, he moved in with fellow wrestler Diamond Dallas Page to seek help in getting his life back on track following years of alcohol and drug addiction, a period covered in the 2015 documentary The Resurrection of Jake the Snake.
He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on April 5, 2014, and the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in 2020.
Social Network
Jake Roberts remains active on social media platforms, where he engages with fans and promotes his projects. He can be found on Twitter and Instagram, where he shares insights into his life post-wrestling, motivational messages, and updates on his new ventures. His social media presence is a way for him to connect with fans and address important issues, further solidifying his role as an influential figure in and outside the ring.
During the first match of their feud in Los Angeles, André treated it like Jake was a jobber out there for an old fashioned squash match, giving Roberts virtually no offence and not selling anything Jake did to him.
After the match, an angry Roberts physically confronted André in the locker room and told him that he had to give Jake something out there or the program just wouldn't work. The Giant simply answered "We're OK Boss. We're good now" and they went on from there.
Jake later learned it had been a test from André to see if he went running to complain to management, or if he had the guts to confront him man to man. From then on André had no problem selling Jake's offence in the ring.
Education
Jake Roberts has had a unique educational journey, primarily shaped by his experiences within the wrestling industry rather than traditional academic routes. His education in wrestling, honed through years of in-ring experience and mentorship, has been invaluable. Roberts has taken life lessons and wisdom from his career, turning those experiences into teachings that he shares with aspiring wrestlers and audiences through his speaking engagements.
It was in Georgia Championship Wrestling during 1983 that Roberts became part of Paul Ellering's stable, the Legion of Doom, and began a feud with Ron Garvin over the NWA National Television Championship that lasted into 1984.
In 1984, Roberts entered World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) joining up with "Gentleman" Chris Adams and Gino Hernandez in their feud against the Von Erichs, winning the WCCW Television title and 6-Man Tag Team title (with Adams and Hernandez).
Roberts returned to Mid-South Wrestling for 1985, ending his run there in February 1986 with a feud with Dick Slater after being told by management that he was not considered a top talent even though he was getting the biggest crowd reactions.
