Popularly known as ‘Birdman’, Tony Hawk is one of the most influential skateboarders of all time. His interest in the game grew ever since he got his first skateboard at the age of 8. Hawk started his life as a professional skateboarder when he turned 14.

Hawk won gold at the 1995 and 1997 X games and won over 70 competitions, making him the top vert skater every single year from 1984 to 1996. He owns the skateboard company Birdhouse. Although his 17-year-long career ended in 2003, his brand’s name still keeps his legacy alive.

Recently, famous podcaster Andrew Schulz let out how Activision tried to deceive Hawk through a tempting offer.

 Tony Hawk’s partnership with Activision

Tony Hawk was recently seen in Schulz’s podcast ‘Fragrant 2’ where they talked about his career as well as the games he produced.

Schulz carefully brought up the topic of Hawk’s partnership with Activision, which made him reveal an amusing story about the same. Before the launch of the game, Activision sensed success. Hawk had no idea that not only skaters, but everyone would be so fond of the game.

“Yeah, I have a funny story about that. As the game is getting released, they could sense the buzz of it. I was just going a million miles an hour because I was still doing the next games and I was just like I was working on the game I know. I was proud of it but I just didn’t imagine it was gonna be big,” said Hawk.

They tried to fool him out of royalties that would’ve cost him half a million. Since Hawk’s life just started taking off back then, half a million dollars sounded like a gazillion billion dollars to him.

“And they called me right before the release and they said ‘we want to offer you a buyout of future royalties’. I’d like they said ‘we would we want to buy you off for half a million dollars, yeah looks like sick. At that time in my life, someone saying a half a million dollars sounded like a gazillion billion dollars,” he added.

Hawk gets a certain percentage of each game. The Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater franchise gained him approximately $1.4 Billion since it was launched. Hawn’s net worth of $140 million has been significantly affected by the video game franchise.

Tony Hawk reveals his biggest inspiration

Besides being a skateboarder, the legend is also a successful businessman. His outstanding performances in the game still guide the new skateboarders. Even his son Riley, from his first wife, Cindy Dunbar, is a professional skateboarder. Recently, though, the inspirational and iconic skateboarder revealed his biggest inspiration.

Hawk said that Michael Jordan, the well-known NBA player, is his biggest inspiration. Not just as an athlete, but as a businessman as well, Jordan has set the standard. Michael Jordan himself is considered the GOAT of basketball. He’s also the owner of the NASCAR team, 23XI, along with numerous other ventures.

“The biggest inspiration for being an athlete and being a successful businessman is Michael Jordan. I mean he is the standard by which all others are measured. I wasn’t trying to emulate him, but for sure, he showed he paved the way,” said Hawk.

Hawk also added how skateboarding actually helped in setting up his business. It taught him to get back up after falling. In business, there are ups and downs regularly. The main thing is to keep trying.

READ MORE: Tony Hawk Reveals How Michael Jordan Became An Inspiration For His Success