Mark Wahlberg’s phenomenal physique and rigorous training regimen are probably the first things that spring to mind when you think of him. But there’s more to this Hollywood star than just muscles and sweat—his $400 million empire serves as evidence of his business acumen and savvy investments. While it’s true that the Boston-born actor is no stranger to hard work (just look at his intense daily schedule that commences before the sun rises), there’s yet another key ingredient to his success that often slips unnoticed.
The Oscar-nominated actor, 52, says that his faith and prayer life are at the “forefront” of everything he does, attributing his success to them in a recent interview. Wahlberg has been open and honest about his religious beliefs in recent years.
Back in 2022, Wahlberg co-produced and starred in Father Stu, a passion project that narrated the tale of a Catholic priest who battled a muscular ailment while remaining steadfast in his faith.
The Secret Sauce Behind Mark Wahlberg’s $400M Empire: It’s Not Just Hard Work
It is uncommon to come across a success story in Hollywood where the pursuit of fame and fortune is not accompanied by grueling, backbreaking hard work. However, Mark Wahlberg believes that his unshakable faith in God was more important in helping him build his $400 million empire (according to Celebrity Net Worth) than any blood, sweat, or tears.
The new film Arthur the King, starring the two-time Oscar nominee, opens on March 15. This week, Wahlberg was asked by Christian Headlines (via Crosswalk) why he has been so vocal about his faith. His response was as follows:
“I credit all of my personal and professional success to my faith and also dealing with all the difficulties in life, all the unexpected things that come your way constantly, especially if you’re lucky enough to get older — you experience a lot of death, a lot of suffering, a lot of loss.”
Wahlberg has never held back when discussing his strong religious beliefs. Before effortlessly switching to acting, he had a successful career as a rapper. He attributes his success to his work ethic and talent, as well as the support and encouragement he gets from his faith. He further told Christian Headlines:
“And in all of those things, I’m able to deal with those because I get great comfort from my faith. And so I just want to share that with people. People always want to know, ‘What do you credit your success to?’ And that is at the forefront of everything.”
In Simon Cellan Jones’ Arthur the King, Wahlberg plays sportsman Mikael Lindnord, whose team is taking part in a demanding adventure race in the Dominican Republic when they come across a stray dog that is seriously injured. The adventure film is inspired by Mikael Lindnord’s 2016 nonfiction book Arthur – The Dog Who Crossed the Jungle to Find a Home.
Mark Wahlberg: Religion ‘Isn’t Popular’ In The Entertainment Industry
According to Mark Wahlberg, faith is “not popular” in Hollywood. As a devoted Catholic, the Uncharted star acted in Father Stu in 2022. During his previous appearance on Today, Wahlberg clarified that he did not want to hide his religion in public (via Independent), saying:
“It’s a balance. I don’t want to jam it down anybody’s throat, but I do not deny my faith. That’s an even bigger sin. You know, it’s not popular in my industry, but I cannot deny my faith. It’s important for me to share that with people. But, I have friends from all walks of life and all different types of faiths and religions, so it’s important to respect and honor them as well.”
It’s clear that Wahlberg’s success has been fueled by his faith. From his modest beginnings to rising to prominence in Hollywood, he puts his success down to the power of prayer and belief in something greater than himself.
He will be seen next in Simon Cellan Jones’ Arthur the King, which Lionsgate is releasing on March 15, 2024.
