Hulk Hogan married Linda Claridge in 1983 in a wedding attended by Vince McMahon, Andre The Giant, and a host of other big wrestling names of the time. The two had met over 2 years earlier and had mostly a long-distance relationship over the telephone as a result of Hulk’s busy wrestling schedule.
Hulk and Linda would have two children, Brooke born in 1988, and Nick born 2 years later. All seemed to be going well, so much so that the Hogans starred in a very successful Reality TV show called Hogan Knows Best. It was one of the first reality shows of its time and was very much a precursor to the reality show boom that would come years later with the likes of Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Real Housewives, etc.
In Hogan Knows Best, the Hogans seemed to be a very loving family who would stick together through thick and thin, however, all was not well beneath the surface. Hogan Knows Best ran for 4 seasons and would end in 2007 when Linda Hogan filed for divorce.
Linda Hogan’s Side Of the Story
Strangely, in November 2007, People Magazine reported that Linda had filed for divorce without telling Hulk Hogan, and they reported that Hulk found out about his own divorce along with everybody else after a St. Petersburg Times reporter broke the news. In 2008, Linda’s publicist told E! News that Linda filed for divorce after she found out that Hulk had an affair with one of his daughter Brooke’s close friends, Christine Plante. Linda’s publicist Gary Smith claimed, "Almost every statement that comes out of Hulk's mouth is a diversionary tactic to deflect attention away from the real reason Linda filed for divorce, two words: HULK'S CHEATING!"
In 2008, Christine Plante confirmed she had a relationship with Hulk Hogan in an interview with the National Enquirer. Plante said, "My relationship with [Hulk] began at a time when [Hulk] and Linda [Hogan] privately knew their marriage was ending. She had left him already, although no official papers had been filed. [Hulk] is a good man, good father, and good friend, and he and I grew close at a time when he was going through a very difficult period. It seemed right then, but I know it was wrong."
Plante also said she deeply regretted hurting her close friend Brooke Hogan, "Having felt the guilt and pain build up, I gave a note to Brooke apologizing for my actions. I will never be able to fully forgive myself for this. I have lost an amazing friend."
Brooke Hogan posted (then quickly deleted) a message on MySpace, writing, "When your best friend and one of your closest family members that you have loved unconditionally since your first day on this earth, betray you together, you could MAYBE find it in yourself to forgive one day ... but you will NEVER forget the hurt they caused you and how it hurt the people who mean the most to you."
Hulk Hogan Denies Everything
In his autobiography, My Life Outside The Ring, Hulk acknowledged that Linda had repeatedly suspected him of having numerous infidelities, and while he admitted to having innocent friendships with other women, he outright denied ever cheating on Linda.
It was a very messy divorce, with both parties making it public, Linda’s publicist said, "Hulk Hogan is saying anything he can conjure up to make Linda look bad in the media. Hulk has even implied that the VH1 hit show, Hogan Knows Best, was the cause of the split in his marriage."
While Hulk Hogan’s lawyer told E! News, "It is unfortunate Linda Hogan will do virtually anything to keep herself in the public spotlight. We are not going to demean this process nor the family any longer by responding to what amounts to pathetic pleas for attention."
The divorce was settled in 2009 and E! News reported that Linda was awarded more than 70% of the couple’s liquid assets in addition to 40% ownership of Hulk’s companies. Hulk Hogan also had to pay her a $3 Million property settlement. That is all the public knowledge of what happened in the divorce, though it should be noted that neither party particularly seem like a reliable narrator, so what really went on may never be known.
What Happened Next?
In 2008 Linda Hogan, aged 48, caused headlines by beginning a relationship with 19-year-old Charley Hill. 4 years later in 2012, Hill proposed to Linda on an episode of Celebrity Therapy, though they broke up soon after. In 2010, Hulk Hogan married Jennifer McDaniel and the two would be married for 11 years before their eventual split in February 2022. Hulk Hogan is now in a new relationship with a woman named Sky Daily, a 44-year-old yoga instructor.