--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: By the time Vince McMahon called upon me…" description: "\"By the time Vince McMahon called upon me to become this character, the Million Dollar Man, I had already been wrestling for 12 years.\" — Ted DiBiase Sr" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10e/ted-dibiase-sr-6260_character_by-the-time-vince-mcmahon-called-upon-me_2606805.jpg" --- # By the time Vince McMahon called upon me to become this… ![“By the time Vince McMahon called upon me to become this character, the Million Dollar Man, I had already been wrestling for 12 years.” quote by Ted DiBiase Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10e/ted-dibiase-sr-6260_character_by-the-time-vince-mcmahon-called-upon-me_2606805.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10e/ted-dibiase-sr-6260_character_by-the-time-vince-mcmahon-called-upon-me_2606805.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10e/ted-dibiase-sr-6260_character_by-the-time-vince-mcmahon-called-upon-me_2606805.jpg) > “By the time Vince McMahon called upon me to become this character, the Million Dollar Man, I had already been wrestling for 12 years.” [Ted DiBiase Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dibiase-sr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He recounts that before adopting the "Million Dollar Man" persona, he already had a long wrestling career spanning twelve years. **In simple terms:** He was a wrestler for 12 years before the character. Key Takeaway Experience precedes fame. Themes career development identity branding Mood reflective proud Type professional personal When to use this quote - sports entertainment - personal branding - career planning Key Concepts wrestling character creation longevity Questions to Reflect On - How does a persona reshape a career? - What value does experience bring to a new identity? A Different Perspective Character changes can eclipse earlier achievements. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Million Dollar Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/million-dollar-man/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/) ## Related quotes > [The Million Dollar Man the character is actually a Vince McMahon original. It was presented to me and Vince kind of started laying it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dibiase-sr/the-million-dollar-man-the-character-is-actually-a-vince-mcmahon/) [Ted DiBiase Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dibiase-sr/) > [I was fortunate. I probably could have saved more money, too. But, it's like, even though I'm not really the Million Dollar Man, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dibiase-sr/i-was-fortunate-i-probably-could-have-saved-more-money-too-but-it-s/) [Ted DiBiase Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dibiase-sr/) > [The Million Dollar Man was to professional wrestling what Ebenezer Scrooge is to Christmas. He was like a rich bully. He bullied everybody with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dibiase-sr/the-million-dollar-man-was-to-professional-wrestling-what-ebenezer/) [Ted DiBiase Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dibiase-sr/) > [The Million Dollar Man thought he could buy anybody or anything and that was the essence of the character. About as evil as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dibiase-sr/the-million-dollar-man-thought-he-could-buy-anybody-or-anything-and/) [Ted DiBiase Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dibiase-sr/) > [I wanted to be the Six Million Dollar Man as a child. I learned how to raise each eyebrow independently, just like Lee Majors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-winston-george/i-wanted-to-be-the-six-million-dollar-man-as-a-child-i-learned-how-to/) [Jason Winston George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-winston-george/) > [I swear when she runs she runs like a mix between Kermit the Frog & the Six Million Dollar Man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-green/i-swear-when-she-runs-she-runs-like-a-mix-between-kermit-the-frog-the/) [Rachel Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-green/) > [Dad's like the Six Million Dollar Man - as soon as he feels a twinge, he wants it fixed. He's even had laser surgery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-young/dad-s-like-the-six-million-dollar-man-as-soon-as-he-feels-a-twinge-he/) [Paul Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-young/) > [I would love to face the Million Dollar Man, Ted DiBiase. He is one of my favorites of all time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheamus/i-would-love-to-face-the-million-dollar-man-ted-dibiase-he-is-one-of/) [Sheamus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheamus/) > [The Six Million Dollar Man was one thing, but I wanted to keep my own parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-majors/the-six-million-dollar-man-was-one-thing-but-i-wanted-to-keep-my-own/) [Lee Majors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-majors/) > [The Irish Six Million Dollar man only cost three quid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-carson/the-irish-six-million-dollar-man-only-cost-three-quid/) [Frank Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-carson/) > [You five dollar boy and I'm a million dollar man. Youse a sucker MC, and you're my fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/run-dmc/you-five-dollar-boy-and-i-m-a-million-dollar-man-youse-a-sucker-mc/) [Run DMC](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/run-dmc/) > [Our reward for Starsky and Hutch was getting to write The Six Million Dollar Man for Todd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-lennon/our-reward-for-starsky-and-hutch-was-getting-to-write-the-six-million/) [Thomas Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-lennon/) > [I've been around wrestling since I was 12 years old and I really believe I was put on this planet to wrestle and that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roderick-strong/i-ve-been-around-wrestling-since-i-was-12-years-old-and-i-really/) [Roderick Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roderick-strong/) > [I did make 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin the Million Dollar Champion on Raw. You know I saw the talent in Steve and I remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dibiase-sr/i-did-make-stone-cold-steve-austin-the-million-dollar-champion-on-raw/) [Ted DiBiase Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dibiase-sr/) > [Def Jam on my heels, should I sign to it? Million dollar advance for me to rhyme fluent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-ross/def-jam-on-my-heels-should-i-sign-to-it-million-dollar-advance-for-me/) [Rick Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-ross/) ## More by Ted DiBiase Sr > [Well, the mission statement of Heart of David is that we're a ministry of evangelism and encouragement. Evangelism meaning that I evangelize I travel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dibiase-sr/well-the-mission-statement-of-heart-of-david-is-that-we-re-a-ministry/) [Ted DiBiase Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dibiase-sr/) > [The real art of what we do, at least back in the old-school days, was improv. If you were a great worker, you were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dibiase-sr/the-real-art-of-what-we-do-at-least-back-in-the-old-school-days-was/) [Ted DiBiase Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dibiase-sr/) > [Wrestling is a business, it is show business and wrestling championships are props.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dibiase-sr/wrestling-is-a-business-it-is-show-business-and-wrestling/) [Ted DiBiase Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dibiase-sr/) > [Bobby Heenan to me, he was the best. Of all the guys that have been managers that can pick up a microphone and talk,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dibiase-sr/bobby-heenan-to-me-he-was-the-best-of-all-the-guys-that-have-been/) [Ted DiBiase Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dibiase-sr/) > [I am Heart of David because Heart of David Ministry, the Ministry is a Ministry of evangelism. It's like I'm the chief cook and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dibiase-sr/i-am-heart-of-david-because-heart-of-david-ministry-the-ministry-is-a/) [Ted DiBiase Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dibiase-sr/) > [I have wrestled in front of 80,000 people at Wembley Stadium, and that is a pretty big thrill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dibiase-sr/i-have-wrestled-in-front-of-80-000-people-at-wembley-stadium-and-that/) [Ted DiBiase Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dibiase-sr/) > [When you're a celebrity, you don't have to find trouble because it will come find you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dibiase-sr/when-you-re-a-celebrity-you-don-t-have-to-find-trouble-because-it/) [Ted DiBiase Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dibiase-sr/) > [Yeah, the first television match that I'm going to have, I got put out there with Danny Hodge and I was scared to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dibiase-sr/yeah-the-first-television-match-that-i-m-going-to-have-i-got-put-out/) [Ted DiBiase Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dibiase-sr/) > [If I had to feel one thing towards Jim Hellwig, I guess it would be pity a little bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dibiase-sr/if-i-had-to-feel-one-thing-towards-jim-hellwig-i-guess-it-would-be/) [Ted DiBiase Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dibiase-sr/) > [I was real close with Jim Duggan and Jake Roberts. We all came out of Mid-South, so we all had that in common.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dibiase-sr/i-was-real-close-with-jim-duggan-and-jake-roberts-we-all-came-out-of/) [Ted DiBiase Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dibiase-sr/) > [The road can become a very lonely place. It's not what it's cracked up to be. Of course, it's what you make it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dibiase-sr/the-road-can-become-a-very-lonely-place-it-s-not-what-it-s-cracked-up/) [Ted DiBiase Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dibiase-sr/) > [Usually a manager is put with someone who has got good rings skills, but is not necessarily good on the mic. So I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dibiase-sr/usually-a-manager-is-put-with-someone-who-has-got-good-rings-skills/) [Ted DiBiase Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dibiase-sr/) > [You've got to have new stars and you need people to pass the torch to build those stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dibiase-sr/you-ve-got-to-have-new-stars-and-you-need-people-to-pass-the-torch-to/) [Ted DiBiase Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dibiase-sr/) > [I tell people all day who say 'When you going to retire?' I said I never found the word retirement in the Bible, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dibiase-sr/i-tell-people-all-day-who-say-when-you-going-to-retire-i-said-i-never/) [Ted DiBiase Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dibiase-sr/) > [The Million Dollar Man thought he could buy anybody or anything and that was the essence of the character. About as evil as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dibiase-sr/the-million-dollar-man-thought-he-could-buy-anybody-or-anything-and/) [Ted DiBiase Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dibiase-sr/) [Explore all 99 Ted DiBiase Sr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dibiase-sr/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) David Hudgins > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "By the time Vince McMahon called upon me to become this character, the Million Dollar Man, I had already been wrestling for 12 years.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ted DiBiase Sr" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dibiase-sr/by-the-time-vince-mcmahon-called-upon-me-to-become-this-character-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dibiase-sr/by-the-time-vince-mcmahon-called-upon-me-to-become-this-character-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10e/ted-dibiase-sr-6260_character_by-the-time-vince-mcmahon-called-upon-me_2606805.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10e/ted-dibiase-sr-6260_character_by-the-time-vince-mcmahon-called-upon-me_2606805.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10e/ted-dibiase-sr-6260_character_by-the-time-vince-mcmahon-called-upon-me_2606805.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“By the time Vince McMahon called upon me to become this character, the Million Dollar Man, I had already…” — Ted DiBiase Sr", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ted DiBiase Sr", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dibiase-sr/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "By the time Vince McMahon called...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dibiase-sr/by-the-time-vince-mcmahon-called-upon-me-to-become-this-character-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dibiase-sr/by-the-time-vince-mcmahon-called-upon-me-to-become-this-character-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```