Biographie

While a professional wrestler in the 1980s he began lobbying his fellow wrestlers to form a labor union. Once news of this reached Ventura's then friend Hulk Hogan, Hogan informed World Wrestling Entertainement owner Vince McMahon, who immediately put a stop to the proceedings. Hogan never bothered to tell Ventura what he did. Ventura eventually learned for himself in the 1990s, at which point he ceased to consider Hogan a friend.

Both of his parents are World War II veterans.

During the filming of the movie Predator (1987) became close friends with star Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Wrote his autobiography a couple of years back when he was still governor of Minnesota. The title of his book was "I Ain't Got Time to Bleed", which was also one of his memorable lines in Predator (1987).

Is a Vietnam veteran although he did not actually see combat.

[what he says his motto was as a wrestler (not as a politician)] Win if you can, lose if you must, but always cheat.

[interview in Minnesapolis Star-Tribune] You need to hunt something that can shoot back at you to really classify yourself as a hunter. You need to understand the feeling of what it's like to go into the field and know your opposition can take you out. Not just go out there and shoot Bambi.

[on the possibility of running for US President] I'm a great believer in destiny, and if I'm destined to be there, it will happen. If I'm not, it won't.

I think, in 2008, we need a pro wrestler in the White House.

[on the state of religion and politics in the US as of 2008] If Jesus came back today, I think he'd throw up.