The Rock Opens Up About His Shoplifting Experiences

Dwayne Johnson’s recent Vanity Fair tell-all ran the gamut of topics related to all things Rock. From his feud with Vin Diesel to a possible future in politics, The Rock pulled no punches as he spilled his guts to the publication.

The Hollywood behemoth and pro wrestling legend also revealed a life of teenage crime. Johnson told the publication that by the time he was 14 or 15 years old he’d learned the art of stealing. After being evicted from the apartment he shared with his mother, The Rock was sent to live with Bruno Lauer, one of his father’s wrestling pals.

We knew The Rock had a difficult upbringing, but it’s particularly shocking to consider one of the biggest stars in the world as a petty criminal. The former WWE champ discussed his routine in the interview.

At his new temporary home, Rock was expected to help out with errands and around the house. Instead, he paid his dues by stealing.

Vanity Fair also spoke to Laurer. He opened up about how The Rock would bring home provisions, as well.

“I just didn’t want to wear the same old shorts and T-shirt and flip-flops every day”—though he would also lift a king-size Snickers from the same 7-Eleven every day between 4 and 4:30 in the afternoon as he walked the three or four miles to the gym. Just breezed in, breezed out, without buying anything else. “They had to have known.”

“He’ll tell you himself—he was a thief,” Lauer tells me. “ ‘Bruno, you want some cigarettes? I got you a quart of beer. I got us some hot dogs, some this, some that…. I got me a radio….’ ” Johnson would pretend that people had given him the stuff for free because they were fans of Lauer or of his father, but of course Lauer knew the truth. “Hell, back then I didn’t have any morals either,” Lauer says. “I was benefiting too!”

What a long way he’s come since he was stealing liquor and smokes. The Rock’s near mythological life story continues to grow with new surprises every time he opens up.

What are your thoughts on The Rock’s revelation that he was a childhood thief? Let us know in the comments!