BREAKING: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, 53, Dead After Massive Heart Attack at Private Gym

The world stopped mid-rep this morning.

Dwayne Douglas Johnson — the global icon known simply as The Rock — collapsed at 9:12 a.m. inside his private training facility in the Hollywood Hills. Paramedics pronounced him dead on site at 9:28 a.m. after frantic attempts to revive the 6-foot-5, 260-pound superstar failed. The Los Angeles County Coroner has confirmed the cause: a catastrophic myocardial infarction triggered by an undetected coronary artery blockage.

Eyewitnesses inside the gym — two longtime trainers and a physical therapist — described a scene of chilling normalcy turned to horror. Johnson had arrived at 8:30 a.m. in high spirits, joking about “smelling what the bar was cooking” as he loaded 495 pounds onto the squat rack. He completed four heavy sets, racked the bar, then reached for his water bottle. That’s when it happened.

“He just… folded,” said head trainer Dave Rienzi, voice cracking. “One second he was laughing, the next his eyes rolled back and he hit the floor like a tree. No warning. No clutching his chest. Just… gone.”

CPR was initiated within 30 seconds. An AED delivered three shocks. Epinephrine was pushed. Nothing brought him back.

A Life Lived at Maximum Intensity

Born in Hayward, California, in 1972, Johnson’s journey from college football benchwarmer to WWE legend to Hollywood’s highest-paid actor is the stuff of modern myth. He headlined eight films that grossed over $100 million each. His net worth, at the time of his death, was estimated at $800 million. He owned production companies, a tequila brand, a football league, and — until this morning — an indestructible public image.

Behind the scenes, however to those closest to him, the warning signs were there.

• Chronic sleep debt: Johnson famously bragged about 3–4 hours of sleep per night, fueled by pre-dawn workouts and 18-hour film shoots.
• Steroid-era past: Though he admitted to experimenting with steroids in his 20s, insiders say he never fully trusted his heart post-WWE.
• Family history: His father, Rocky Johnson, suffered two minor heart attacks before dying at 75. His maternal grandfather, Peter Maivia, died at 45 from cardiac arrest.
• Stress load: In the last 18 months alone, he wrapped Black Adam 2, launched Teremana in 12 new countries, and was in pre-production on a Jumanji sequel — all while finalizing a divorce from longtime manager Dany Garcia.

“He never said no,” said Hiriam Garcia, president of Seven Bucks Productions. “If you asked The Rock to move a mountain, he’d ask for a bigger shovel.”

The Final 24 Hours

Thursday, October 24, was a “light” day by Johnson standards:

• 5:00 a.m.: Cardio and mobility at home.
• 7:30 a.m.: Investor call for ZOA Energy.
• 11:00 a.m.: Table read for Red One: Holiday Heist.
• 3:00 p.m.: Visited his daughter Simone at USC, where she’s training to follow him into wrestling.
• 8:00 p.m.: Posted an Instagram story — 118 million followers — flexing in the mirror with the caption: “Iron paradise. 5 plates a side. Still got it.”
• 11:30 p.m.: Texted Rienzi: “See you at 8:30. Let’s go heavy.”

He never made it to 8:30.

The Aftermath: A World in Shock

Within minutes of the news breaking, #RIPTheRock trended in 47 countries. The New York Stock Exchange paused trading in Under Armour (a brand Johnson co-created) for 15 minutes due to volatility. WWE canceled tonight’s SmackDown taping in Los Angeles and lowered its flag to half-mast. Disney pulled all Moana 2 trailers featuring Johnson’s voice as Maui out of respect.

Celebrities flooded social media:

• Kevin Hart: “I’m not okay. He was my brother. This hurts.”
• Chris Hemsworth: “The strongest man I knew… and the kindest.”
• Vin Diesel: “Family. Always.”
• Taylor Swift: “He made the world feel possible. I’m devastated.”

At 1:15 p.m., a makeshift memorial began forming outside the Iron Paradise gym — fans leaving flowers, protein shakers, and handwritten notes on 45-pound plates.

What Happens Next?

The Johnson family has requested privacy but confirmed a public memorial service will be held at SoFi Stadium on November 2, 2025. Capacity: 70,000. Tickets will be free, first-come via the Teremana Foundation.

An autopsy is scheduled for Monday. Early reports suggest plaque rupture in the left anterior descending artery — the so-called “widowmaker.” Toxicology is pending, but sources close to the family say Johnson had been clean for decades.

Seven Bucks Productions released a statement:..

“Dwayne lived every day like it was his last rep. He leaves behind a legacy of joy, hustle, and heart. We ask that you honor him by being kind to one another — and maybe doing one extra set.”

A Silent Gym, A Silent World

Tonight, the Iron Paradise sits dark. The barbell he loaded this morning — 495 pounds — remains untouched. The water bottle he reached for lies on its side, a single drop still clinging to the rim.

The Rock is gone.

But somewhere, in the echo of clanging plates and the smell of chalk and sweat, his voice still booms: