Who Is The Fabulous Moolah? Age, Biography and Wiki
The Fabulous Moolah, born Mary Lillian Ellison on July 22, 1923, in Kershaw, South Carolina, became an iconic figure in professional wrestling. Known for her groundbreaking contributions to women's wrestling, Moolah built an illustrious career that spanned several decades until her passing on November 2, 2007. She was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 1995, solidifying her legacy in sports entertainment.
| Occupation | Wrestlers |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | July 22, 1923 |
| Age | 84 Years |
| Birth Place | Kershaw County, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Cancer |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 2 November, 2007 |
| Died Place | Columbia, South Carolina, U.S. |
Popularity
The Fabulous Moolah's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Moolah stood at a height of approximately 5 feet 4 inches (163 cm) and had a fighting weight that fluctuated throughout her career, generally around 130 lbs (59 kg). Her athletic build was a testament to her years in the wrestling ring, where her strength and agility made her a formidable opponent.
Ellison died on November 2, 2007, at the age of 84 in Columbia, South Carolina. According to her daughter Mary, the possible cause of death was a heart attack or blood clot related to a recent shoulder replacement surgery. Ellison is buried in a grave plot at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Columbia, South Carolina.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Moolah was known to have had a secretive personal life, often keeping her relationships out of the public eye. Before her passing, she was engaged in a long-term relationship, yet specific details about a boyfriend or husband remained elusive. Moolah's family life is not extensively documented, emphasizing her focus on her wrestling career rather than her personal relationships.
She began her career working with promoter Billy Wolfe and his wife, wrestler and trainer Mildred Burke, as well as working alongside professional wrestler "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers. She won the NWA World Women's Championship in 1956 and was the most prominent holder of the title for 28 years.
She is overall an eight-time women's world champion and to this day holds the record as the longest reigning world champion in combination of all her reigns.
Net Worth and Salary
While The Fabulous Moolah’s exact net worth at the time of her passing is not clearly documented, estimates suggest she earned several million dollars through her wrestling career, appearances, and managing other wrestlers. Her notable income streams came from various wrestling promotions and merchandise sales, showcasing her influence in the wrestling industry.
Wendi Richter and Mad Maxine both claimed that Ellison did not actually train the wrestlers at her wrestling school.
According to Richter, Ellison accepted payment of the training fee (which at the time of Richter's training was $500) and had other female wrestlers within her camp (including Leilani Kai, Judy Martin, Winona Littleheart, and Joyce Grable) train the new recruits; these women did not get paid for their additional work as trainers.
Richter also claimed that Ellison required all women that received training at her camp to sign a contract that allowed Ellison to function as their booker and receive 25% of their booking fee. Trainees were also required to rent duplex apartments on Ellison's property and they were responsible for paying her for rent and utilities.
The training lasted six months and took place up to five hours per day inside a wrestling ring in a barn that lacked heating and air conditioning or fans. Mad Maxine said that due to owing Moolah both rent and training fees amounting to $1,500, the trainees "went into debt to [Moolah] and she controlled their lives...
It was an environment ripe for abuse." Maxine also said that when she went to work for WWF, Moolah was taking at least half of her earnings.
Debbie Johnson, another former trainee of Ellison's, stated that she was required to give Ellison 30% of her booking fee, and her paycheck was further reduced as Ellison deducted travel expenses, food, rent, and utilities before paying her. As a result, Johnson worked for Ellison for two years before she received any money.
Johnson stated that Ellison would refuse to book certain women in her training camp if they angered her, and that Ellison monitored her and refused to let her leave the physical constraints of the training camp unless she was accompanied by someone else.
Career, Business and Investments
Moolah's career began in the 1940s, where she quickly rose to fame as a pioneering female wrestler. Over her six-decade-spanning career, she held the NWA World Women's Championship for an astounding 28 years, making her one of the longest-reigning champions in wrestling history. Besides wrestling, Moolah operated her own wrestling school and trained a multitude of female wrestlers, influencing the next generation of the sport.
In addition to her wrestling ventures, she invested in various businesses, contributing to her financial stability and legacy in the industry. Moolah’s impact is still felt today, as many women wrestlers cite her as a key figure in shaping women's wrestling.
During her lifetime, Moolah was lauded as a leading figure in women's professional wrestling and was considered one of the industry's most known lady wrestlers. She became the first woman to be inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame in 1995 and is also a member of the NWA Hall of Fame and the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame.
However, her legacy has since been damaged in the years following her death, when allegations surfaced that she had exploited female wrestlers under her tutelage both financially and sexually.
Social Network
Although The Fabulous Moolah passed away in 2007, her legacy continues on social media through fan pages and tributes. Fans share memories and highlight her achievements, celebrating her contributions to the wrestling world. Platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook keep her spirit alive, with dedicated accounts showcasing her matches, interviews, and special moments in her career.
In the late 1950s when the once-dominant promoter of women's wrestling, Billy Wolfe, was out of business, Ellison and Lee began to book their female wrestlers for more and more shows. They began calling their promoting business Girl Wrestling Enterprises (GWE).
Ellison demanded a lot from the girls of GWE, including that they had to keep their hair and make-up done, act like a lady, and not date men who were in the professional wrestling business. In addition to women, Ellison also trained midget professional wrestlers, including Katie Glass in the 1960s.
Ellison founded the Ladies' International Wrestling Association, a non-profit organization to help retired professional wrestlers, in the late 1980s. In the 1990s, she spent most of her time training female wrestlers at her school in Columbia, South Carolina.
She also began training men, including Del Wilkes, and in 1995 trained more men than women. She also spent time training in Los Angeles at Verne Langdon's Slammers Gym.
Education
Moolah's educational background is not widely reported, yet it is clear that her wrestling career provided her with considerable life experience and knowledge. She trained under the guidance of professional wrestlers, applying her learning in the ring rather than following a traditional academic path.
Dave Meltzer described that women's wrestling "went way way down" under Moolah's "tutelage", but he also said he did not know if it was her fault.
Meltzer said that although women "used to headline and they were successful", "during the period Moolah controlled women's wrestling, the popularity and product didn't evolve." However, Meltzer noted that Moolah herself "stood the test of time" to remain culturally relevant long after the Japanese female wrestlers of the 1980s (more popular at that
time) had faded from relevance.
