Tony Hawk is one of the most influential skateboarders in history and one of the people most responsible for taking skateboarding from a niche subculture into mainstream entertainment. Known worldwide as “The Birdman,” Hawk became a professional skateboarder as a teenager, dominated competitive vertical skating during the 1980s, landed the first documented 900-degree aerial trick in competition in 1999, and later built a business empire around skateboarding, video games, media and philanthropy.
His influence extends far beyond competition. Hawk founded Birdhouse Skateboards, helped create the enormously successful Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater video-game franchise, established a foundation dedicated to building public skateparks, and has remained an important ambassador for skateboarding. His official biography says the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater franchise has generated nearly $2 billion in sales, while his skatepark foundation has awarded more than $13 million in grants to hundreds of projects.
At 58, Hawk continues to skate, participate in demonstrations, work on business projects, and advocate for physical activity. He is also a father and grandfather, with his eldest son, Riley Hawk, following him into professional skateboarding.
Who Is Tony Hawk?
Tony Hawk is an American professional skateboarder, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and media personality. He is particularly associated with vertical skateboarding, a discipline in which skaters perform aerial tricks from the walls of a ramp.
Hawk became a professional at just 14 years old. By 16, he was widely considered one of the world’s best competitive skateboarders. According to his official biography, by age 25 he had competed in 103 professional contests, winning 73 and finishing second in 19. He was also crowned world champion in vertical skating for 12 consecutive years.
Although Hawk retired from professional competition in 1999, he never really left skateboarding. Instead, he expanded his role from athlete to entrepreneur, entertainer, philanthropist, and mentor.
Tony Hawk Age
Tony Hawk was born Anthony Frank Hawk on May 12, 1968, in San Diego, California. He is 58 years old in 2026. He was raised in San Diego by his parents, Nancy and Frank Hawk, alongside his older brother Steve and sisters Pat and Lenore. As a child, Hawk was described as energetic and restless. His parents supported his involvement in skateboarding after recognizing that the sport gave him an outlet for his energy.
Hawk received his first skateboard when he was nine years old. His older brother gave him a blue fiberglass skateboard that had already seen considerable use. According to Hawk’s official biography, his first experience was hardly spectacular—he reportedly struggled simply to figure out how to turn.
That quickly changed. Hawk began practicing at Oasis Skatepark in San Diego and soon demonstrated an unusual ability to learn difficult maneuvers. By 12, he was winning amateur competitions throughout California.
Tony Hawk Family and Background
Hawk comes from a San Diego family and has described his parents as important supporters of his early skating career. His father, Frank Hawk, worked in law enforcement and also served as a sports official, while his mother, Nancy, supported Tony’s development as a young skateboarder.
Hawk’s family life has remained important throughout his career. He has four biological children from previous marriages and is also a stepfather to two children through his current marriage. His eldest son, Riley Hawk, became a professional skateboarder himself.
In 2024, Hawk also became a grandfather when Riley and his wife, Frances Bean Cobain, welcomed their son Ronin. Hawk has spoken positively about the experience of becoming a grandfather and said that he enjoys being able to focus on the fun side of parenting.
How Tony Hawk Started Skateboarding
Hawk’s transformation from an energetic San Diego child into a professional athlete happened remarkably quickly. He began skating at nine, was winning amateur contests by 12 and turned professional at 14. By 16, he was widely regarded as the best competitive skateboarder in the world.
He became part of the legendary Bones Brigade, the influential Powell Peralta skateboarding team. During the 1980s, skateboarding was still considered a relatively underground activity, but Hawk’s technical ability helped redefine what was possible on a vertical ramp. He developed and popularized numerous tricks, helping push the technical boundaries of vert skating.
By his teenage years, Hawk was already earning significant money from sponsorships. His official biography says that when he was 17 and still in high school, his annual income exceeded that of his teachers. He was even able to purchase his first home before graduating.
Tony Hawk’s Professional Skateboarding Career
Hawk’s competitive career was extraordinarily successful. According to his official biography, he competed in 103 professional contests by the time he was 25, winning 73 and finishing second in 19. He also won the vertical skating world championship for 12 consecutive years. His success made him one of skateboarding’s biggest stars, but the sport went through a major downturn in the early 1990s.
Skateboarding’s popularity collapsed, sponsorships disappeared, and Hawk’s income dropped dramatically. He later described this period as financially difficult. At one point, he survived on a budget of only about $5 a day. Instead of leaving skateboarding, however, Hawk decided to invest in its future. That decision eventually transformed his career.
Tony Hawk and the 900
The defining moment of Hawk’s competitive career came at the 1999 X Games. After years of attempting the maneuver, Hawk successfully landed a 900, meaning he completed two and a half rotations in the air before landing back on the ramp. The trick had eluded him for years and had caused numerous injuries during failed attempts. When he finally landed it during the X Games, the moment became one of the most famous events in skateboarding history.
Hawk’s official biography describes him as the first skateboarder to successfully land the maneuver in competition. The achievement arrived at an important moment for skateboarding. The sport was entering a new era of mainstream popularity, and the televised 900 helped introduce millions of people to the athletic difficulty of modern skateboarding.
Tony Hawk’s Retirement From Competition
Hawk retired from professional competition in 1999, the same year he landed the 900. However, retirement did not mean he stopped skating. He continued participating in demonstrations, exhibitions and promotional events around the world. He also launched the Boom Boom HuckJam tour, bringing together skateboarders, BMX riders and freestyle motocross athletes for large-scale action-sports events.
His post-competition career ultimately became even more commercially successful than his competitive years.
Birdhouse Skateboards
In 1992, during skateboarding’s financial downturn, Hawk co-founded Birdhouse Skateboards with fellow professional skateboarder Per Welinder. The company’s early years were difficult. Skateboarding’s popularity was still declining, and Birdhouse struggled financially. But Hawk believed the sport would eventually return.
He was right. As skateboarding became popular again during the late 1990s, Birdhouse grew into one of the industry’s best-known skateboard companies. Hawk’s business interests expanded into clothing, toys, sporting goods and other products. This period helped establish him not merely as an athlete but as a successful entrepreneur.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater Video Games
Perhaps no project had a greater effect on Hawk’s mainstream popularity than the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater video-game series. In 1999, Hawk partnered with Activision to create the first Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater game. The game was an enormous success and eventually became one of the most recognizable sports video-game franchises in the world.
The official Tony Hawk website says the franchise has generated nearly $2 billion in sales, demonstrating the enormous commercial impact of the series. The games also introduced skateboarding to millions of people who had never visited a skatepark. In 2025, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 was released, bringing updated versions of two classic games to a new generation of players. Hawk remains closely associated with the franchise.
Tony Hawk’s Movies and Television Career
Hawk has also appeared in numerous movies, television programs and other media projects. His acting and television appearances include projects such as xXx, Lords of Dogtown, CSI: Miami and The Masked Singer. He has also appeared in numerous skateboarding documentaries and television specials. His autobiography, Hawk—Occupation: Skateboarder, became a New York Times bestseller. He later wrote How Did I Get Here? The Ascent of an Unlikely CEO, which explored his development as a businessman and entrepreneur.
In 2012, his production company, 900 Films, partnered with Google to launch the RIDE Channel on YouTube.
Tony Hawk’s Skatepark Project
One of Hawk’s most significant contributions outside professional skateboarding is his philanthropic work. His foundation, originally called the Tony Hawk Foundation and now known as The Skatepark Project, supports the development of public skateparks, particularly in communities where young people have limited access to recreational facilities.
The official organization says it has awarded more than $13 million in grants to more than 660 skatepark projects across the United States. Those parks are estimated to serve more than 17 million users annually. The organization reflects Hawk’s broader belief that skateparks can provide young people with safe places to exercise, socialize, and develop confidence. His charitable work has become an important part of his legacy.
Tony Hawk Height
Tony Hawk is approximately 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 meters) tall. His height has also been an advantage in his skating style, although his success has primarily been attributed to his exceptional balance, coordination, technical ability and years of practice.
Tony Hawk Wife
Tony Hawk is married to Catherine Goodman, also known as Cathy Goodman. The couple married on June 27, 2015, in Limerick, Ireland. Goodman is an artist and has been involved in the art world. Hawk and Goodman have maintained a relatively private relationship compared with many celebrity couples.
Before marrying Goodman, Hawk was married three times. He married Cindy Dunbar in 1990, followed by Erin Lee in 1996 and Lhotse Merriam in 2006. His marriages to Dunbar, Lee and Merriam ended in divorce.
Tony Hawk Children and Family
Tony Hawk has four biological children: Riley, Spencer, Keegan and Kadence. His eldest son, Riley Hawk, became a professional skateboarder and followed his father into the sport. Riley is married to Frances Bean Cobain, the daughter of Courtney Love and the late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain. The couple welcomed their son Ronin in 2024, making Tony Hawk a grandfather.
Hawk’s other children have pursued different interests. Spencer has worked in electronic music, while his youngest daughter, Kadence, has also grown up around skateboarding and recently graduated from high school. Hawk has spoken publicly about the importance of being present for his children. In interviews, he has emphasized perseverance, self-confidence and finding one’s own path as lessons he hopes his children take from him.
Tony Hawk Net Worth
Tony Hawk’s estimated net worth is approximately $140 million as of 2026. His wealth is mainly attributed to professional skateboarding, sponsorships, business ventures, video games, endorsements, and other commercial activities.
It is important to distinguish an estimated net worth from an audited financial statement. Hawk’s private investments, property holdings, business ownership interests, and contractual income are not publicly disclosed in full. Nevertheless, his financial success is closely connected to his ability to turn his name into a global brand.
Tony Hawk Salary and Income
Tony Hawk does not receive a conventional salary from professional skateboarding because he retired from competition in 1999. His income comes from multiple sources, including business ownership, endorsements, licensing, video games, appearances, investments and skateboarding-related projects.
At the height of his commercial career, Forbes reported that Hawk earned more than $9 million per year. The publication also reported that his brand generated approximately $300 million in retail sales in the year discussed in its 2004 profile. Today, his annual income varies depending on business deals, licensing agreements, and projects, so there is no reliable, publicly confirmed 2026 salary figure.
Tony Hawk’s Current Career
Tony Hawk remains active in skateboarding, business, and philanthropy in 2026. His official website continues to promote skateboarding projects and the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater franchise, while he remains involved with The Skatepark Project.
Hawk has also continued skating recreationally. In recent interviews, he has discussed staying active through skating, weightlifting and stretching as he gets older. He has emphasized that movement remains an important part of maintaining both physical and mental well-being. His life today is considerably different from his competitive years. Rather than trying to win contests, Hawk focuses on encouraging the next generation of skateboarders, running businesses, supporting skateparks and spending time with his family.
His influence remains particularly strong because his name has become almost synonymous with skateboarding itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Tony Hawk?
Tony Hawk was born on May 12, 1968, making him 58 years old in 2026.
What is Tony Hawk’s height?
Tony Hawk is approximately 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 meters) tall.
What is Tony Hawk’s net worth?
Tony Hawk’s estimated net worth is approximately $140 million as of 2026, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Who is Tony Hawk’s wife?
Tony Hawk is married to Catherine Goodman. They married in June 2015.
How many children does Tony Hawk have?
Tony Hawk has four biological children: Riley, Spencer, Keegan and Kadence. He is also a stepfather and became a grandfather in 2024.
What is Tony Hawk famous for?
He is best known for becoming one of the greatest professional skateboarders in history and for landing the first successful 900-degree aerial maneuver in competition in 1999.
How old was Tony Hawk when he started skateboarding?
Hawk began skateboarding at nine years old after receiving a skateboard from his older brother.
How old was Tony Hawk when he became a professional?
Tony Hawk became a professional skateboarder at 14 years old. By 16, he was widely regarded as one of the best competitive skateboarders in the world.
Does Tony Hawk still skateboard?
Yes. Although he retired from professional competition in 1999, Hawk continues to skate, participate in demonstrations and promote the sport.