Dany Garcia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dany Garcia
Garcia in 2020
Born	(1968-11-29) November 29, 1968 (age 56) Belleville, New Jersey, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Miami (BBA)
Occupation	Chairwoman CEO investor producer
Years active	2008–present
Organization	The Garcia Companies Seven Bucks Productions
Title	Chairwoman
Spouse(s)	Dwayne Johnson ​ ​ (m. 1997; div. 2008)​ Dave Rienzi ​ (m. 2014)​
Children	Simone Johnson

Dany Garcia Rienzi, born on November 29, 1968, is an American businesswoman and film producer. She is the founder of GSTQ, a lifestyle brand, and the CEO and chair of The Garcia Companies. This company manages many different brands in business, entertainment, and food. Some of these brands include Teremana Tequila, Athleticon, Project Rock Collection at Under Armour, VOSS water, Atom Tickets, Salt & Straw ice cream, ZOA Energy drinks, Acorns, and the UFL.

After finishing her studies at the University of Miami, she started her career in finance in 1992. In 2008, she began managing the career of her ex-husband, actor and former wrestler Dwayne Johnson. In 2012, Garcia helped start the production company Seven Bucks Productions. Through this company, she has produced many films starring Johnson. These include Baywatch (2017), Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017), Shazam! (2019), Hobbs & Shaw (2019), Jumanji: The Next Level (2019), Jungle Cruise (2021), Red Notice (2021), DC League of Super-Pets (2022), and Black Adam (2022).

Early Life and Education

Dany Garcia was born in New Jersey. Her parents were immigrants from Cuba. She has a brother named Hiram Garcia and a sister.

Garcia studied international marketing and finance at the University of Miami. She earned a degree in Business Administration in 1992. After college, she worked at Merrill Lynch and later started her own company, JDM Partners LLC, in 2002. In 2008, Garcia changed her career path. She began managing Dwayne Johnson's career and now advises him on global strategies.

Career Highlights

Starting Her Producing Career

In 2008, Garcia became an executive producer for the documentary Theater of War. She also produced the Christmas movie Lovely, Still (2008). The next year, Garcia produced the documentary Racing Dreams (2009). This film followed young people who wanted to become professional NASCAR drivers. Critics loved the film, and it won an award at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival.

Founding Seven Bucks Productions

In 2012, Garcia and Dwayne Johnson started their own production company called Seven Bucks Productions. Garcia then produced the action film Snitch (2013), which starred Johnson. She also produced the reality TV series The Hero. Later, she created The Garcia Companies and TGC Management. These companies help develop and manage global brands and represent actors like Henry Cavill and Dwayne Johnson.

Garcia also executive produced other reality TV shows. These included Wake Up Call (2014-2015) and Clash of the Corps (2016). She and Johnson also launched a digital channel for a short TV series called Millennials the Musical (2016).

Producing Big Movies and TV Shows

In 2017, Garcia executive produced several projects for TV and the internet. One was Rock and a Hard Place for HBO. This show looked at the lives of young people in prison. She also worked on web series like Logan Paul Summer Saga and Lifeline.

Garcia then executive produced her first big-budget film, Baywatch (2017). This action comedy was based on the popular TV show. Even though critics didn't love it, the movie made a lot of money worldwide. She followed this with Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017). This fantasy adventure film was a sequel to the 1995 movie Jumanji. It was a huge success, earning over $962 million worldwide.

Other films she produced include Rampage (2018), a science fiction monster film, and Skyscraper (2018), an action film. She also executive produced the documentary Stuntman (2018) and the HBO comedy-drama series Ballers.

Expanding into Sports and New Ventures

In 2019, Garcia executive produced The Titan Games, a sports competition series for NBC. Seven Bucks Productions also had its first film at the Sundance Film Festival with Fighting with My Family. Garcia also produced a six-episode series called Finding Justice for BET. This series highlighted people fighting for justice in the African American community.

She continued to produce major films like the superhero movie Shazam! (2019) and the The Fast and the Furious spin-off Hobbs & Shaw (2019). She also produced Jumanji: The Next Level (2019), which had a record-breaking opening weekend for Seven Bucks Productions.

In August 2020, Garcia and Johnson led a group that bought the XFL football league. This made Garcia the first woman to own a major professional sports league in the United States. She became the Chairwoman of the XFL, which relaunched in February 2023. In late 2023, the XFL merged with the USFL to form the United Football League, and Garcia still has a part ownership.

In 2021, Garcia worked with Disney on the docuseries Behind the Attraction and the film Jungle Cruise. She also produced Young Rock, a TV show based on Dwayne Johnson's life. That same year, Garcia launched her new lifestyle and fashion brand, GSTQ.

Awards and Recognition

Dany Garcia has received many awards and recognitions for her work:

• In 2016 and 2018, she was featured in Variety magazine's "Power of Women Report."
• From 2018 to 2022, she was named to Variety magazine's 500 list.
• In 2020, she received the Outstanding Film Producer Impact Award from the National Hispanic Media Coalition.
• The Hollywood Reporter included her in their 2021 Women in Entertainment Power 100 list.
• In 2021, she was named to Create & Cultivate's 100 and Adweek's Most Powerful Women in Sports 2020 list.
• In 2022, she was recognized on Entrepreneur magazine's Women of Influence list, Inc. magazine's "Female Founders 100" list, and Success magazine’s Top 25 Most Influential Leaders of 2022.

Personal Life

Relationships

Garcia with ex-husband Dwayne Johnson in April 2009

Dany Garcia met Dwayne Johnson when they were both students at the University of Miami. They got married on May 3, 1997. They have one child together, Simone Johnson, who is a professional wrestler. On June 1, 2007, they announced they were getting a divorce, which was finalized in May 2008. Even after their divorce, Garcia continued to be Johnson's global strategic advisor. In 2014, Garcia married Dave Rienzi, who is a bodybuilder and works as the Chief Health and Fitness Brand Officer for The Garcia Companies. They live in Los Angeles and Orlando and have four dogs.

Interests and Hobbies

Garcia is a bodybuilder and believes the sport has helped her be determined in business. She started competing in 2011 and earned her professional card in 2014. She was the first female bodybuilder in her division to be signed to the Weider roster.

Garcia also serves on several boards. In 2008, she started the Beacon Experience. This program helps students who are at risk to continue their education after high school. She is also a trustee at the University of Miami and is the current president of the University of Miami Alumni Association.

Filmography

Producer

• Fighting with My Family (2019)
• Jumanji: The Next Level (2019)
• Jungle Cruise (2021)
• Red Notice (2021)
• DC League of Super-Pets (2022)
• Black Adam (2022)
• Moana (2026)

Executive Producer

Featured Films

• Lovely, Still (2008)
• Snitch (2013)
• Baywatch (2017)
• Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)
• Rampage (2018)
• Skyscraper (2018)
• Shazam! (2019)
• Hobbs & Shaw (2019)

Documentary Films

• Theater of War (2008)
• Racing Dreams (2009)
• Stuntman (2018)

Television Shows