Brooke and Hulk Hogan | Source: Getty Images
Brooke Hogan Details the Breakdown of Her Relationship with Dad Hulk Hogan
Aug 02, 2025 - 11:05 A.M.
The TV personality opened up about the rift between herself and the late WWE star in her tribute, following his death and reports that she removed herself from his will.
Wrestling icon Hulk Hogan, born Terrence Gene Bollea, died on Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Clearwater, Florida. The WWE legend is survived by his wife Sky Daily, and his children, Nick and Brooke Hogan, from his first marriage to Linda Hogan.
Nick Hogan, Brooke Hogan, Linda Hogan and Hulk Hogan pose for a photo at Brooke Hogan Signs Her New CD "Undiscovered" at FYE on October 26, 2004, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images
Hulk maintained a close bond with his son, Nick; however, his relationship with his daughter, Brooke, was strained in his final years. Despite this, Brooke honored him with heartfelt tribute on Instagram.
"My dad's blood runs though my veins His eyes shine through my children. And our bond has never broken, not even in his final moments. We had a connection deeper than words, one that spanned lifetimes," Brooke began.
Brooke Hogan poses for a portrait with her father Hulk Hogan on September 26, 2004, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
"I am so grateful I knew the real version of him. Not just the one the world viewed through a carefully curated lens. We shared a quiet, sacred bond, one that could be seen and felt by anyone who witnessed us together," she continued.
Brooke said it felt like a part of her spirit left with Hulk when he died. "I felt it before the news even reached us," she shared. She went on to recount cherished memories with her father and then addressed speculation about their relationship at the time of his passing.
Brooke Hogan and Hulk Hogan pose for a photo at Brooke Hogan Signs Her New CD "Undiscovered" at FYE on October 26, 2004, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images
"We never had a 'big fight.' My father and I never 'fought.' It was a series of private phone calls no one will ever hear, know, or understand," the 37-year-old said.
She added that Hulk confided in her about matters "both personal and business" that weighed on his heart, and she offered to help in any capacity she could. "I told him he had my support. I begged him to rest, to take care of himself," she said.
Brooke Hogan and Hulk Hogan during Keshia Chante, Brooke Hogan, and Hulk Hogan Visit MuchOnDemand at Chum/City Building on December 4, 2006, in Toronto, Ontario. | Source: Getty Images
Brooke and her husband, Steven Oleksy, moved to Florida to be closer to Hulk as he aged. She wanted to be there for him as much as possible.
"We had been through almost 25 surgeries together, and then all of a sudden he didn't want me at surgeries... everything started getting covered in a thick veil. It was like there was a force field around him that I couldn't get through," she recalled.
Brooke Hogan and Hulk Hogan during Brooke Hogan Holds a Press Conference to Promote her Debut Album "Udiscovered" in Japan at Pony Canyon on May 9, 2007, in Tokyo. | Source: Getty Images
Hulk's sudden distance led to "respectful disagreements" that Brooke said "took an emotional toll" on her. Amid their rift, she was also undergoing recovery after a "scary" C-section, during which she welcomed twins.
She added, "During the last two years, I had to step away to protect my heart." Prior to stepping away, in 2023, she reportedly asked to be removed from her father's will. According to a source who spoke to TMZ, Brooke didn't trust the people surrounding her father and believed they took advantage of him and his success.
"In the end, he continued to be a financial success for many. This was the last thing I wanted for him—he's been working and tearing his body apart his entire life. I know in my heart I did everything I could," Brooke reflected.
Still, she is at peace knowing that her father knew how much she loved him.
