View source for Ted DiBiase

{{short description|American professional wrestler (born 1954)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2019}}
{{hatgrp|{{About|"The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase|his son who also competed as Ted DiBiase|Ted DiBiase Jr.}}
{{redirect|Million Dollar Man|the song by Lana Del Rey|Born to Die{{!}}''Born to Die''}}}}
{{Infobox professional wrestler
| name        = Ted DiBiase
| birthname   =
| image       = Ted DiBiase Photo Op GalaxyCon Raleigh 2021.jpg
| caption     = DiBiase in 2021
| image_size  =
| names       = Ted DiBiase<br />The Million Dollar Man
| birth_name  = Theodore Marvin Willis
| spouse      = {{marriage|Melanie DiBiase|December 31, 1981}}
| family      = [[Iron Mike DiBiase]] (father) (adoptive)<br />[[Helen Hild]] (mother)
| children    = [[Mike DiBiase (born 1977)|Mike DiBiase II]]<br />[[Ted DiBiase Jr.]]<br />[[Brett DiBiase]]
| height      = 6 ft 1 in<ref name=wwebio/>
| weight      = 260 lb<ref name=wwebio/>
| birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|1954|1|18}}
| birth_place = [[Omaha]], [[Nebraska]], U.S.
| alma_mater  = [[Creighton Preparatory School]]<br>(Omaha, Nebraska)
| billed      = Omaha, Nebraska<ref name="OWW"/> Seasonal residences (WWE)
| trainer     = [[Dory Funk Jr.]]<ref name="wwebio"/><br />[[Terry Funk]]<ref name="wwebio"/>
| debut       = 1974<ref name=god>{{cite book|last=Bonham|first=Chad|title=Wrestling with God|year=2001|publisher=David C. Cook|isbn=1589199359|page=57}}</ref>
| retired     = 1993<ref name="OWW"/>
| website     = {{URL|milliondollarman.com}}
}}
'''Theodore Marvin DiBiase Sr.''' ({{IPAc-en|d|iː|b|i|ˈ|ʌ|s|i}}; born January 18, 1954)<ref name="OWW"/> is an American retired [[professional wrestler]], [[manager (professional wrestling)|manager]], and [[color commentator]]. He is signed to [[WWE]] as of 2024, where he works in their Legends program. DiBiase achieved championship success in a number of wrestling promotions, holding thirty titles during his professional wrestling career. He is best recalled by mainstream audiences for his time in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), where he wrestled as "'''the Million Dollar Man'''" '''Ted DiBiase'''. He has been named as one of the best technical wrestlers,<ref>{{cite web|author=Jon Robinson|url=http://sports.ign.com/articles/456/456506p1.html|title=Ted DiBiase: Million Dollar Smackdown - PlayStation 2 Feature at IGN|date=October 24, 2003 |publisher=Uk.sports.ign.com|access-date=November 19, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/hacksaw-jim-duggan-character-personality-writing-promos/|title=Hacksaw Jim Duggan on How His Character Was an Extension of His Personality, Why You Can't Write Certain Wrestlers' Promos|last=Harris|first=Jeffrey|date=February 6, 2020|website=411Mania|access-date=August 2, 2020}}</ref> and greatest [[Heel (professional wrestling)|villains]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Top 50 villains in wrestling history |url=https://www.wwe.com/classics/classic-lists/top-50-wrestling-villains |website=WWE |access-date=September 2, 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=WWE's greatest villains: Ric Flair, CM Punk, 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper and more |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/zap-wwes-greatest-villains-hollywood-hulk-hogan-triple-h-rowdy-roddy-piper-and-more-photos-photogallery.html |access-date=September 2, 2019 |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> in pro wrestling history.{{Professional wrestling sidebar}}

Among other accolades in the WWF/E, DiBiase was the first [[WWF North American Heavyweight Championship|WWF North American Heavyweight Champion]], a [[List of World Tag Team Champions (WWE)|three-time]] [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE, 1971–2010)|WWF Tag Team Champion]] (with [[Mike Rotunda|Irwin R. Schyster]]), a [[List of WWE 24/7 Champions|one-time]] [[WWE 24/7 Championship|WWE 24/7 Champion]], and winner of the [[King of the Ring (1988)|1988]] [[King of the Ring tournament]]. DiBiase purchased the [[WWE Championship|WWF World Heavyweight Championship]] from [[André the Giant]]. DiBiase also awarded himself the [[Million Dollar Championship]], which was held by various associated wrestlers including DiBiase's onscreen proteges, [[Stone Cold Steve Austin]] and [[LA Knight]]. DiBiase headlined multiple WWF cards, including [[WrestleMania IV]] and the first-ever [[SummerSlam]] [[SummerSlam (1988)|in 1988]]. DiBiase is a member of several professional wrestling halls of fame: he was inducted into the [[Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame|''Wrestling Observer Newsletter'' Hall of Fame]] upon its inception in 1996, and headlined the 2010 [[WWE Hall of Fame]] ceremony.

== Early life ==
DiBiase was born Theodore Marvin Willis in [[Omaha|Omaha, Nebraska]]. He is the biological son of Ted Wills, an entertainer and singer; and [[Helen Hild|Helen Nevins]], a wrestler.<ref name="MillionDollar13">{{cite book|title=Ted DiBiase: The Million Dollar Man|last=DiBiase|first=Ted|page=13|publisher=[[Pocket Books]]|year=2008|isbn=978-1-4165-5890-3}}</ref><ref name="Price23">{{cite book|title=Every Man Has His Price|last=DiBiase|first=Ted|page=23|publisher=Multnomah Publishers, Inc|year=1997|isbn=978-1-57673-175-8}}</ref> He is the adopted son of wrestler [[Michael DiBiase|"Iron" Mike DiBiase]],<ref>{{cite book|title=Every Man Has His Price|last=DiBiase|first=Ted|page=39|publisher=Multnomah Publishers, Inc|year=1997|isbn=978-1-57673-175-8}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Ted DiBiase: The Million Dollar Man|last=DiBiase|first=Ted|page=21|publisher=[[Pocket Books]]|year=2008|isbn=978-1-4165-5890-3}}</ref> who married his mother when he was 4 years old.
His adoptive father Mike died of a heart attack in the ring when DiBiase was 15. Seven-time NWA World champion [[Harley Race]] rushed to the ring and performed CPR, but was unable to save Iron Mike's life. In response, his mother suffered from depression and alcoholism, so DiBiase was moved to [[Willcox, Arizona]], to live with his grandparents. He attended Creighton Preparatory high school in Omaha, Nebraska and attended [[West Texas A&M University|West Texas State University]] on a football [[scholarship]]. While there he became a member of the [[Alpha Tau Omega]] fraternity. However, due to an injury in his senior year, he later dropped out of college to begin a career in professional wrestling.<ref name=slambio>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/dibiase.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120629211133/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/dibiase.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=June 29, 2012|title=Ted DiBiase's bio at Slam Wrestling}}</ref>

== Professional wrestling career ==

=== Mid-South Wrestling (1974–1979) ===
Ted DiBiase was trained by [[Dory Funk Jr.]] and [[Terry Funk]]. He made his professional wrestling debut as a referee in June 1974 in the Amarillo territory owned by the Funks. He then went to the Mid-South territory of [[Bill Watts]] being promoted as the son of Iron Mike in 1975 where he wrestled for four years. His first match was a loss against [[Danny Hodge]].<ref name=god/> By February 1978, DiBiase would unseat Dick Slater to become Missouri State champion only to lose to Dick Murdoch after a few weeks on television.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.caulifloweralleyclub.org/2010/03/07/ted-dibiase-receives-2010-iron-mike/|title=Page not found - Cauliflower Alley Club|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120924054538/http://www.caulifloweralleyclub.org/2010/03/07/ted-dibiase-receives-2010-iron-mike/|archive-date=September 24, 2012}}</ref>

=== World Wide Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Federation (1979) ===
In the beginning of 1979, DiBiase came to [[Vince McMahon Sr.]]'s [[World Wide Wrestling Federation]] / [[World Wrestling Federation]]. 
On February 13, 1979, the WWWF North American Heavyweight Championship was created, and Ted DiBiase would be awarded the [[WWWF North American Heavyweight Championship]], becoming the first champion.<ref name="northamerican">{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwf/wwf-na-h.html|title=W.W.F. North American Heavyweight Title |access-date=October 14, 2007 |publisher=Hisa's Puroresu Dojo}}</ref><ref name="tedtitles"/>

In March 1979, the WWWF was renamed as the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). 
The newly established championship would be renamed the WWF North American Heavyweight Championship shortly after the company's name change.
On June 19, 1979, DiBiase would go onto lose the North American Championship to [[Pat Patterson (wrestler)|Pat Patterson]].

He was [[Hulk Hogan]]'s opponent in Hogan's first [[Madison Square Garden]] match.<ref>{{cite book|title=Every Man Has His Price|last=DiBiase|first=Ted|page=93|publisher=Multnomah Publishers, Inc|year=1997|isbn=978-1-57673-175-8}}</ref>[[File:Dusty Rhodes and Ted DiBiase, July 1981.png|thumb|298x298px|DiBiase during a 1981 match against [[Dusty Rhodes]]|left]]
===National Wrestling Alliance and return to MSW / Universal Wrestling Federation (1980–1987)===
{{more footnotes needed|date=January 2021}}
DiBiase also spent time in the Georgia area where he had an early [[Face (professional wrestling)|face]] run.  One legendary angle had DiBiase enduring four piledrivers (one on the concrete floor and three in the ring) administered in the WTBS studio arena by [[The Fabulous Freebirds]] before his tag team partner, [[Tommy Rich|Tommy "Wildfire" Rich]], threw in the towel (the angle of DiBiase being badly injured was so real the TBS studio audience could be seen crying). Rich and DiBiase later feuded, leading to a [[Professional wrestling match types#Loser Leaves Town match|loser leaves town match]] which DiBiase won, but instead of Rich leaving the area, he donned a mask calling himself "Mister R." The feud culminated in a match between Mister R and DiBiase, Rich appeared from backstage and distracted DiBiase. Mister R then rolled up DiBiase to get the win and unmasked as [[Brad Armstrong (wrestler)|Brad Armstrong]]. Both DiBiase and Rich left the territory shortly thereafter.

In the early to mid-1980s, DiBiase participated in [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#A|angle]]s in various territories feuding with the likes of [[Ric Flair]] best known from this point in his [[Universal Wrestling Federation (Bill Watts)|Mid South]] return with the likes of Bob Roop, Paul Orndorff, [[Dick Murdoch]], [[The Fabulous Freebirds]] and [[One Man Gang]]. DiBiase turned heel against the Junkyard Dog and formed a group called The Rat Pack with [[Jim Duggan]] and [[Matt Osborne|Matt Borne]], ran Mid-south for months. Aligning with [[Skandor Akbar]], Dibiase caused a rift within the group, namely Duggan. The two would feud until DiBiase lost a loser leaves town match.<ref name="OWW">{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/t/ted-dibiase.html|title=Ted DiBiase's OWW Profile|access-date=October 14, 2007 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref> He also held various championships<ref name="tedtitles"/> and made frequent trips to [[All Japan Pro Wrestling]] until his eventual departure from Mid-South Wrestling (which by this point was now the [[Universal Wrestling Federation (Bill Watts)|UWF]]). Typically, his matches ended with the use of a "loaded" black glove, which he pulled from his tights to "knock out" his opponent when the referee was not looking.

While locked in talks with the [[National Wrestling Alliance]] in 1987 after the UWF was acquired by [[Jim Crockett Jr.|Jim Crockett]], DiBiase received an offer from the WWF. DiBiase was eventually convinced by WWF to sign despite the fact that he would not be told his gimmick until after he agreed, under the promise that it was something that would receive a serious [[push (professional wrestling)|push]]. WWF official Pat Patterson informed DiBiase that if owner Vince McMahon were to go out to wrestle, it would be the [[Gimmick (professional wrestling)|gimmick]] that he would give himself.

=== All Japan Pro Wrestling (1983–1987, 1993) ===
DiBiase entered [[All Japan Pro Wrestling]] (AJPW) in 1983. He won the [[NWA United National Championship]] on October 14, 1983, in a tournament defeating [[Jerry Lawler]] by forfeit.<ref name="wrestling-titles.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/alljapan/un.html|title=NWA United National Heavyweight Title|publisher=Wrestling-titles.com|access-date=November 19, 2011}}</ref> Three months later, on January 28, 1984, DiBiase lost the title to [[Michael Hayes (wrestler)|Michael Hayes]].<ref name="wrestling-titles.com"/> DiBiase's mother Helen Hild died two months later on March 4, 1984.

In August 1985, DiBiase formed a tag team with fellow gaijin [[Stan Hansen]], and the two became the [[PWF World Tag Team Championship|PWF Tag Team Champions]] when Hansen chose DiBiase to replace [[Bruiser Brody]], who left for [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]] (NJPW).<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/alljapan/pwf-t.html|title=PWF World Tag Team Title|publisher=Wrestling-titles.com|access-date=November 19, 2011}}</ref> Later that year, DiBiase and Hansen entered the 1985 [[World's Strongest Tag Determination League]] and would emerge victorious, finishing in first place with 7 points.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.purolove.com/ajpw/history/rwtl85.php|title=Purolove.Com|publisher=Purolove.Com|access-date=November 19, 2011}}</ref>

On July 3, 1987, DiBiase and Hansen would lose the PWF Tag Team Championship to [[Jumbo Tsuruta]] and [[Mitsuharu Misawa|Tiger Mask]], ending their two-year reign as champions.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> Eight days later, on July 11, DiBiase and Hansen regained the title for a second time, but would be stripped of the title shortly after due to DiBiase leaving AJPW for the WWF.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

In September 1993, DiBiase returned to AJPW and reformed his team with Hansen. The two immediately saw success as they defeated [[The Holy Demon Army]] on September 3, 1993<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.puroresucentral.com/AJTitle-WorldTag.html|title=All Japan World Tag Team Championship|publisher=Puroresucentral.com|access-date=November 19, 2011}}</ref> for the [[World Tag Team Championship (AJPW)|World Tag Team Championship]]. Two months later, on November 13, 1993, DiBiase and Hansen would be stripped of the title so it could be put on the line for the 1993 World's Strongest Tag Determination League. DiBiase would enter the tournament, but would only wrestle one match, on November 14, where he and Hansen defeated [[Tracy Smothers|Tracey Smothers]] and [[Richard Slinger]]<ref name="purolove.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.purolove.com/ajpw/history/rwtl93.php|title=Purolove.Com|publisher=Purolove.Com|access-date=November 19, 2011}}</ref> before he suffered neck and back injuries which forced him out of the tournament (Giant Baba ended up replacing him).<ref name="purolove.com"/>

=== Return to the WWF (1987–1993, 1994–1996) ===
==== WWF Championship pursuits (1987–1988) ====
[[File:Bret Hart vs. Ted DiBiase - 1991-04-15 - 01.jpg|thumb|After failing to win the WWF Championship, DiBiase created his own title, the Million Dollar Championship.]]
DiBiase made his return to the WWF as a [[Face (professional wrestling)|babyface]] on May 15, 1987, at a [[house show]] in [[Houston|Houston, Texas]]. He came out to the ring to announce to those in attendance that it was only fitting that he was now competing in the WWF.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/87.htm |title=1987 |website=thehistoryofwwe.com|date=January 16, 2023 }}</ref> Moments later The One Man Gang and Slick came to the ring for Gang's scheduled match. The referee had to force DiBiase to leave before there was a confrontation. At the next house show on June 7, DiBiase would have his first match and lose to The One Man Gang.<ref>{{Citation|title=One Man Gang vs Ted DiBiase, WWF 1987|url=https://www.bitchute.com/video/naau13OxwCFE/|language=en|access-date=September 12, 2021}}</ref> He went on to lose two additional house show confrontations to The Gang. DiBiase would tag-team with [[Sam Houston (wrestler)|Sam Houston]] on June 26 against The One Man Gang and [[Ron Bass (wrestler)|Ron Bass]] (Houston had run in to assist DiBiase against The Gang at one of the earlier house show matches); towards the end of the match, DiBiase (kayfabe) turned on and attacked Houston after Houston missed a dropkick on Bass, leaving him to get double-teamed and pinned. His actions during the match served to effectively turn DiBiase heel, right before the onscreen debut of his new gimmick.

On a June 27 episode of ''WWF Superstars'', DiBiase had his first vignette. He would now be known as "The Million Dollar Man", a millionaire who wore a gold-studded, dollar-sign-covered suit and, in time, a custom-made, diamond-encrusted and self-awarded "[[Million Dollar Championship]]" belt. The Million Dollar Man character was based on the type of wrestler who Vince McMahon would want to be.<ref>Ted DiBiase: The Million Dollar Man, p. 147, Ted DiBiase with Tom Caiazzo, Pocket Books, New York, 2008, {{ISBN|978-1-4165-5890-3}}</ref> He was billed as having a spring residence in [[Palm Beach, Florida]], a summer residence in [[Hyannis Port, Massachusetts]], an autumn residence in [[Bel Air, Los Angeles|Bel Air, California]], and a winter residence in the [[Netherlands Antilles]].<ref name=slamtoronto>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/WrestleMania27/2011/03/11/17578856.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130115102437/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/WrestleMania27/2011/03/11/17578856.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=January 15, 2013|title=SLAM! Wrestling – DiBiase's Mania memories centre on Toronto}}</ref>

DiBiase had a bodyguard by the name of [[Mike Jones (wrestler)|Virgil]], who was by his side during his matches and vignettes. The idea for the name Virgil was based on then-NWA/WCW booker [[Dusty Rhodes]], whose real name was Virgil Runnels, though booker and producer [[Bruce Prichard]] disputes this. The name of DiBiase's finishing move, the Million Dollar Dream (a [[Cobra Clutch]]), was also supposedly meant to be a [[Rib (professional wrestling)|rib]] (inside joke) towards Dusty Rhodes, who was nicknamed "The American Dream".<ref>Ted DiBiase: The Million Dollar Man, p. 156f., Ted DiBiase with Tom Caiazzo, Pocket Books, New York, 2008, {{ISBN|978-1-4165-5890-3}}</ref> Virgil was often seen performing humiliating tasks, such as rubbing DiBiase's feet. DiBiase claimed "Everybody has a price" demonstrating his "power" through a series of [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#V|vignettes]] in which he did things such as bribe the manager of a local swimming pool to close for the day so he could have the pool to himself, or when the honeymoon suite in a hotel was already booked, he bribed the desk clerk to have the couple already in there thrown out. Other skits featured DiBiase traveling in limousines, giving $100 tips to waiters, and using $100 bills in convenience stores for small purchases like chewing gum. In reality, DiBiase's road travel was deliberately booked for first-class airplane flights and five-star hotel accommodations, and he was given a stipend of petty cash from the WWF Offices so that he could "throw money around" in public (i.e. pick up tabs and "overtip", buy drinks for entire bars, actually pay for small items with a $100 bill, etc.) in order to make the character seem more real. Other times, DiBiase invited fans (including a young [[Rob Van Dam]] and a then-unknown [[Linda McMahon]]<ref>Ted DiBiase: The Million Dollar Man, p.155, Ted DiBiase with Tom Caiazzo, Pocket Books, New York, 2008, {{ISBN|978-1-4165-5890-3}}</ref>) to perform humiliating acts (such as kissing his feet) for money. During one skit, he invited a young boy onto a stage and told him if he bounced a ball 15 times in succession, DiBiase would pay him $500. After the 14th bounce, DiBiase kicked the ball away, sending the boy home without pay; however, according to his autobiography, everybody who wasn't paid on-camera ''was'' paid off-camera. He frequently stuffed a $100 bill into the mouth of a wrestler on whom he had used the Million Dollar Dream move. Virgil, however, would more often than not surreptitiously retrieve the discarded bill from the wrestler's mouth.

His first big in-ring angle came in late 1987 on an episode of ''[[WWF Superstars of Wrestling|Superstars of Wrestling]]'', where he announced his plan to buy the [[WWE Championship|WWF World Heavyweight Championship]] from [[Hulk Hogan]], as Hogan refused and said that DiBiase would have to defeat him in the ring for the championship belt. Hogan got the upper hand in a series of matches, and a frustrated DiBiase approached [[André the Giant]] to win the title for him, which did happen on the February 5, 1988, edition of ''[[The Main Event I]]'' (which aired live on [[NBC]]), where André defeated Hogan under questionable circumstances for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship. This was the match of the infamous "who is the true Dave Hebner" debacle. Whom the crowd and viewers at home thought was the "real" Dave Hebner (it was actually his real-life twin brother Earl, whom many now mistake as being the original Hebner) counted the match finishing pin for André despite the fact that Hogan's shoulder was up at the count of one. Afterwards the real Dave Hebner came running into the ring to dispute the ruling his "evil twin" had made awarding the WWF world championship to Andre the Giant;<ref name="mainevent1">{{cite web |url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/tme.html#1|title=The Main Event results – February 5, 1988|access-date=October 14, 2007 |publisher=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments}}</ref> André then announced he was surrendering the championship belt and handed it to DiBiase.<ref name="andre1">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/304454122|title=Andre the Giant's first WWE Championship reign|access-date=October 14, 2007|publisher=WWE.Com|archive-date=June 24, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050624001310/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/304454122|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the following days, DiBiase was, in fact, billed as the WWF World Heavyweight Champion in three house shows, defending the title one time against Bam Bam Bigelow.<ref>{{cite web|title=DiBiase's short (and omitted) title reign|url=http://www.wrestlehistory.com/2011/08/dibiases-short-and-omitted-title-reign/|publisher=WrestleHistory.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.f4wonline.com/more/more-top-stories/96-wwe/33486-ted-dibiase-sr-on-his-son-coming-to-grips-with-why-his-father-didnt-want-him-to-be-a-wrestler|title= WON/F4W – WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, UFC News, UFC results|work= Wrestling Observer/Figure Four Weekly|last1= Meltzer|first1= Dave}}</ref>

However, WWF President Jack Tunney declared DiBiase was not the champion, as he did not win the title by pin or submission, and said that because Andre had surrendered the title, it was therefore vacant.<ref name="wwechampionship">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship|title=WWE Championship official title history|access-date=October 14, 2007|publisher=WWE.com}}</ref> André's world title win was still recognized, though it is still considered the shortest world title reign in WWF history. This angle was an amplification of an angle in the old [[Georgia Championship Wrestling]] (GCW), when [[Larry Zbyszko]] paid [[Killer Tim Brooks]] $25,000 for his [[NWA National Heavyweight Championship]] in 1983.

A tournament was announced to crown a new WWF World Heavyweight Champion at [[WrestleMania IV]], where DiBiase defeated [[Jim Duggan|Hacksaw Jim Duggan]] in the first round and [[Don Muraco]] in the quarterfinal before receiving a bye in the semi-finals to advance to the finals of the tournament. The reason for the bye was a double-elimination of Hulk Hogan and André the Giant when they both were disqualified in their match, with DiBiase meant to face the winner. In a backstage interview afterwards, André revealed that DiBiase paid him to make sure Hogan didn't advance in the tournament. DiBiase was defeated by [[Randy Savage|"Macho Man" Randy Savage]] in the finals, helped by Hulk Hogan negating André's repeated interference in the match.<ref name="wwechampionship"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm4/mainevent|title=Randy Savage vs. Ted DiBiase for the WWF Championship}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/304454124|title=Randy Savage's first WWF Championship reign|access-date=December 11, 2019|archive-date=February 28, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120228225645/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/304454124|url-status=dead}}</ref> DiBiase continued to feud with Savage over the WWF World Heavyweight Championship throughout the summer of 1988, even headlining in a tag team match pitting DiBiase and André the Giant vs. Hogan and Savage at [[SummerSlam (1988)|the inaugural SummerSlam]] (in a match billed as "Where [[The Mega Powers]] Meet [[The Mega Bucks]]"). Although pro-heel commentator [[Jesse Ventura|Jesse "The Body" Ventura]] served as the guest referee, Hogan pinned DiBiase to win the match. DiBiase then defeated [[Brutus Beefcake]], [[Ken Patera]], [[Ron Bass (wrestler)|Ron Bass]], and Randy Savage to win the [[King of the Ring#1988|1988 King of the Ring tournament]], receiving his first WWF success.

[[Bobby Heenan]] sold [[Hercules (wrestler)|Hercules]]'s contract to Ted DiBiase for his services as his personal slave. DiBiase claimed that Hercules was his slave, but started feuding with him after Hercules turned face. He eliminated Hercules from the main event at [[Survivor Series (1988)|Survivor Series]].

==== Million Dollar Champion (1989–1991) ====
At the [[Royal Rumble (1989)|Royal Rumble]] in 1989, DiBiase purchased the #30 entrance spot from Akeem to become the final entrant in the match.<ref>Ted DiBiase: The Million Dollar Man, p. 164, Ted DiBiase with Tom Caiazzo, Pocket Books, New York, 2008, {{ISBN|978-1-4165-5890-3}}</ref> [[Big John Studd]] and DiBiase were the final two participants in the match. DiBiase offered Studd a bribe to eliminate himself, but Studd eliminated him to win the match. DiBiase continued to feud with Hercules; the two had a series of matches including a match that DiBiase won on the February 3 ''[[The Main Event II]]''. He defeated [[Owen Hart|The Blue Blazer]] on the March 11 ''[[Saturday Night's Main Event XX]]''. After that match, he introduced the Million Dollar Championship, his own championship belt which was not recognized by the WWF. He created this belt because he was unable to buy or win the WWF World Heavyweight Championship from Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage.

DiBiase fought Brutus Beefcake to a double-count-out at [[WrestleMania V]]. DiBiase's next big feud was with [[Jake Roberts|Jake "The Snake" Roberts]]. A few weeks after WrestleMania, DiBiase attacked Roberts on ''[[WWF Superstars of Wrestling]]'' after Roberts defeated Virgil in a match. DiBiase put Roberts out of action for several months with a neck injury. (The storyline was created so Roberts could get surgery on his back from the guitar attack from [[The Honky Tonk Man]] a year earlier.) While Roberts recuperated, DiBiase defeated [[Jimmy Snuka|Jimmy "The Superfly" Snuka]] at [[SummerSlam (1989)|SummerSlam]] by count-out. On the October 14 ''[[Saturday Night's Main Event XXIII]]'', DiBiase faced Hulk Hogan in a match for the WWF Championship where DiBiase had the monster [[Tom Lister Jr.|Zeus]] by his side. DiBiase lost the match when he accidentally hit Zeus and was pinned by Hogan with a small package. At [[Survivor Series (1989)|Survivor Series]], DiBiase captained a team dubbed the "Million Dollar Team" consisting of himself, [[The Powers of Pain]] ([[The Warlord (wrestler)|The Warlord]] and [[The Barbarian (wrestler)|The Barbarian]]), and Zeus against Hogan's "Hulkamaniacs" consisting of Hogan, Jake Roberts, and [[Demolition (professional wrestling)|Demolition]] ([[Bill Eadie|Ax]] and [[Barry Darsow|Smash]]). DiBiase eliminated Roberts after pinning him with help from Virgil before being pinned himself by Hogan.

[[File:Ted DiBiase laugh.jpg|thumb|left|DiBiase performing his trademark evil laugh.]]

In 1990, he was punished for buying #30 in the previous year's Royal Rumble. For his punishment, he was forced to enter as entrant #1.{{citation needed|date=June 2015}} He broke the record at the time by lasting 45 minutes in the [[Royal Rumble (1990)|Royal Rumble match]] after entering as the #1 entrant. He eliminated two opponents before he was eliminated by [[The Ultimate Warrior]]. This may have foreshadowed Dibiase seeking revenge on Warrior after Warrior became WWF Champion, by facing him several months later at a co-promotional All Japan and New Japan event in the Tokyo Dome. He then continued his feud with Jake Roberts, who stole the Million Dollar Belt, leading to a match at [[WrestleMania VI]] where Roberts was counted out. Shortly after WrestleMania, he had a brief feud with [[Ray Traylor|Big Bossman]] which dated back to when DiBiase tried to bribe Bossman into retrieving the Million Dollar Belt. Bossman refused DiBiase's bribe and returned the Million Dollar Belt to Roberts. At [[SummerSlam (1990)|SummerSlam]], DiBiase bought the services of [[Sapphire (wrestler)|Sapphire]], who was the manager of [[Dusty Rhodes]] at the time. This led to Rhodes and DiBiase feuding throughout the end of 1990 into the beginning of 1991. On the October 13 ''[[Saturday Night's Main Event XXVIII]]'', he attacked Dusty's son [[Dustin Rhodes]] during Dusty's match with Randy Savage. DiBiase and Dusty captained rival teams at [[Survivor Series (1990)|Survivor Series]], with DiBiase's mystery partner turning out to be the debuting [[The Undertaker|Undertaker]].<ref>Ted DiBiase: The Million Dollar Man, p.177, Ted DiBiase with Tom Caiazzo, Pocket Books, New York, 2008, {{ISBN|978-1-4165-5890-3}}</ref> DiBiase wound up eliminating both members of [[The Hart Foundation]] and was the sole survivor of the match. He, however, was eliminated in the main event by Hogan. DiBiase said about Undertaker's debut "nobody knew him, at the time if you know how this works they were using my celebrity and me introducing The Undertaker was helping him get over. He wasn't 'The Phenom' then he was just a new kid on the card, this new character The Undertaker and of course he grew in to be one of the greatest attractions the WWE has ever had. At the time it wasn't a big deal to me, I was just doing my job."<ref name="wrestlingnewssource.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestlingnewssource.com/news/31395/Ted-DiBiase-Sr-on-Introducing-Taker-Working-For-Bischoff/|title=Ted DiBiase Sr. on Introducing 'Taker, Working For Bischoff in WCW, Ted Jr., More|date=September 28, 2013}}</ref> DiBiase then received a shot at the WWF champion: The Ultimate Warrior on a special Thanksgiving episode of Saturday Night's Main Event, which ended when DiBiase was disqualified after Virgil attacked Warrior, which was seemingly an interlude to Randy Savage further assaulting Warrior. During this time DiBiase started to develop a real-life disdain for the Warrior and would later become very vocal about it both in behind the scenes interviews and in his autobiography.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/5BkihZuD_5k Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20140804203529/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BkihZuD_5k Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Citation|last=Title Match Wrestling|title=What Jake the Snake Said to Ultimate Warrior at WWE Hall of Fame|date=August 1, 2014|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BkihZuD_5k|access-date=May 31, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

At the [[Royal Rumble (1991)|Royal Rumble]], Ted DiBiase and Virgil defeated Dusty and Dustin Rhodes in a tag team match. After the match, DiBiase ordered Virgil to put the Million Dollar Championship belt around his waist. Virgil instead hit DiBiase with the belt, turning face. At [[WrestleMania VII]], DiBiase lost by count-out to Virgil, who had help from [[Roddy Piper|'Rowdy' Roddy Piper]]. [[Sherri Martel|Sensational Sherri]], who earlier in the night had turned on a losing Randy Savage, came down midway through the match to help DiBiase and became his full-time valet. On the April 27 ''[[Saturday Night's Main Event XXIX]]'', DiBiase fought [[Bret Hart]] to a double count-out.

DiBiase lost the Million Dollar Championship to Virgil at [[SummerSlam (1991)|SummerSlam]] when Virgil smashed his head into an exposed turnbuckle and pinned him to get the victory. DiBiase participated in the 1991 [[King of the Ring 1991|King of the Ring tournament]] drawing with [[Ricky Steamboat]] in the first round. DiBiase and Steamboat would battle to a time-limit draw with neither man advancing in the tournament. DiBiase regained the Million Dollar Championship from Virgil with help from [[Barry Darsow|Repo Man]] on the November 11 edition of ''[[WWF Prime Time Wrestling|Prime Time Wrestling]]'' which was dubbed ''[[Survivor Series Showdown]]''. At [[Survivor Series (1991)|Survivor Series]], he was one of the contestants eliminated from his match. At [[This Tuesday in Texas]], DiBiase and Repo Man defeated Virgil and [[Tito Santana]].

==== Money Inc. and retirement (1992–1993) ====
{{Main|Money Inc.}}
[[File:Ted DiBiase in 1995.jpg|thumb|DiBiase in 1995.]]
Shortly after [[Royal Rumble 1992]], DiBiase quietly dropped Sherri as his valet (so she could manage [[Shawn Michaels]]) and officially formed the tag team Money Incorporated with [[Mike Rotunda|Irwin R. Schyster (IRS)]]. The duo, mostly managed by [[Jimmy Hart]], won the [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE, 1971–2010)|WWF Tag Team Championship]] three times between February 1992 and June 1993. Their first reign came on February 7, 1992, when they defeated [[The Road Warriors|The Legion of Doom]] for the titles. Money Incorporated then feuded with [[The Natural Disasters]] ([[John Tenta|Earthquake]] and [[Fred Ottman|Typhoon]]). They defended the title against the Natural Disasters at [[WrestleMania VIII]] and lost the match by count-out, thus retaining the title. On July 20, they lost the title to the Natural Disasters.

After losing a match to the Legion of Doom at [[SummerSlam (1992)|SummerSlam]], DiBiase and IRS regained the belts on the October 13 edition of ''[[WWF Wrestling Challenge|Wrestling Challenge]]'' from the Natural Disasters. This title change led to a feud with [[The Nasty Boys]], who were originally scheduled for the title shot. On the November 14 ''[[Saturday Night's Main Event XXXI]]'', they defended their titles against the Ultimate Maniacs (Ultimate Warrior and Randy Savage). DiBiase and IRS lost the match by count-out and thus retained the titles once more.

DiBiase participated in the [[Royal Rumble (1993)|Royal Rumble]] match, entering at #4 before eventually being eliminated by [[The Undertaker]]. Shortly after, DiBiase and IRS became involved in a major angle with the returning Brutus Beefcake. DiBiase faced Beefcake on one of the first episodes of ''[[WWE Raw|Monday Night Raw]]''. DiBiase and IRS attacked Beefcake after the match and slammed his face (which had been surgically repaired following a wind sailing accident) with a briefcase. Money Inc. also attacked their manager Jimmy Hart, who was disgusted by their actions. Beefcake's best friend Hulk Hogan came to Beefcake's defense and challenged Money Inc. to a tag team title match at [[WrestleMania IX]]. DiBiase and IRS retained their titles by disqualification after Hogan used Beefcake's protective face mask as a weapon.

Money Inc. dominated the tag team division of the WWF. They feuded with [[the Steiner Brothers]] ([[Rick Steiner|Rick]] and [[Scott Steiner|Scott]]) and had a series of title exchanges. DiBiase and IRS were defeated by the Steiners for the WWF Tag Team Championship on June 14 in a non-televised match at a Wrestling Challenge taping. They would regain the titles on June 16 at a [[House show|live event]] but lost them back to the Steiners three days later on June 19 at another live event, their feud culminated in a tag team steel cage match for the WWF Tag Team Championship at [[SummerSlam Spectacular (1993)|SummerSlam Spectacular]]. DiBiase last wrestled for the WWF in August, bowing out following an angle which saw [[Scott Hall (wrestler)|Razor Ramon]] turn face and [[Sean Waltman|1-2-3 Kid]] debut. The Kid had scored an upset pinfall against a cocky Ramon, causing DiBiase to mock Ramon and tell him he would show him how it was done. He then went on to also lose to the Kid, giving Razor a newfound respect for the Kid thus turning Razor face. This included a match at [[SummerSlam (1993)|SummerSlam]] between DiBiase and Ramon which DiBiase lost. This was DiBiase's last television appearance in the WWF during this run. He revealed in a shoot interview that his decision to leave the WWF at this point was motivated by a desire to resolve his marital problems.

After a few months back in AJPW, where he won the World Tag Team Championship with Hansen, he quietly announced his retirement due to sustaining an injury to two cervical discs in his neck and returned to the USA.<ref name=god/>

==== Million Dollar Corporation (1994–1996) ====
[[File:Ted DiBiase and Sycho Sid.jpg|thumb|left|DiBiase managed many wrestlers in his [[Million Dollar Corporation]] stable, including [[Sid Vicious (wrestler)|Sycho Sid]].]]
{{Main|The Million Dollar Corporation}}
DiBiase returned to the WWF at the [[Royal Rumble (1994)|Royal Rumble]] as a guest commentator. DiBiase then began working as a commentator and manager for the WWF. Later in 1994, DiBiase purchased the contracts of many wrestlers for his Million Dollar Corporation stable in the WWF, which over time included I.R.S., [[Bam Bam Bigelow]], [[Nikolai Volkoff]], [[Charles Wright (wrestler)|Kama]], [[King Kong Bundy]], [[Sid Eudy|Sycho Sid]], 1-2-3 Kid, and in a [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#S|swerve]], [[Tatanka (wrestler)|Tatanka]]. DiBiase also renewed his connection with the Undertaker after the latter's six-month hiatus after the January [[Royal Rumble (1994)|Royal Rumble]]. Saying that he had originally brought the Undertaker to the WWF, and he was going to bring him back, DiBiase debuted a new Undertaker under his control. This Undertaker, however, proved to be an impostor played by [[Brian Lee (wrestler)|Brian Lee]], and was subsequently defeated by the real Undertaker at [[SummerSlam (1994)|SummerSlam]].

DiBiase also had a place in the main event of [[WrestleMania XI]] as the manager of Bam Bam Bigelow in his match versus [[Lawrence Taylor]]. Surrounding the ring were members of DiBiase's corporation to offset Taylor's entourage of NFL All-Pros on the opposite side. After Taylor defeated Bigelow, DiBiase publicly referred to Bigelow as an embarrassment. This culminated in Bigelow quitting The corporation after DiBiase fired him following a loss to [[Kevin Nash|Diesel]] in a WWF Championship match. Bigelow aligned himself with Diesel in a feud versus members of DiBiase's corporation.

As a manager, DiBiase also later introduced "The Ringmaster", who eventually became [[Steve Austin|Stone Cold Steve Austin]], to the WWF in January 1996. Austin became the Million Dollar Champion and began wearing DiBiase's gold belt<ref>{{Citation|title=Steve Austin on the Brother Love show, WWF 1996|url=https://www.bitchute.com/video/bOtNuZFBCCzE/|language=en|access-date=September 10, 2021}}</ref> that was introduced in 1989.<ref>Ted DiBiase: The Million Dollar Man, p.193, Ted DiBiase with Tom Caiazzo, Pocket Books, New York, 2008, {{ISBN|978-1-4165-5890-3}}</ref> DiBiase's last appearance with the company was at [[In Your House 8: Beware of Dog|In Your House: Beware of Dog 2]] in 1996, where he was kayfabe forced to leave the WWF after Steve Austin lost to [[Savio Vega]]. In reality, he left for rival promotion [[World Championship Wrestling]] (WCW). DiBiase said in shoot interviews that the reason he left the company was because [[Vince McMahon]] wanted managers to start going on the road to take part at [[House show|house shows]] (DiBiase and [[Jim Cornette]] were only managing at house shows at [[Madison Square Garden]], [[Meadowlands Arena]] and [[Nassau Coliseum]]).

=== World Championship Wrestling (1996–1999) ===
DiBiase debuted in WCW on August 26, 1996, revealing himself as the fourth member of the [[New World Order (professional wrestling)|New World Order]], joining Scott Hall, Kevin Nash and Hollywood Hogan. DiBiase claimed to be financing the group (seemingly playing on his "Million Dollar Man" WWF persona).<ref>Ted DiBiase: The Million Dollar Man, p.200, Ted DiBiase with Tom Caiazzo, Pocket Books, New York, 2008, {{ISBN|978-1-4165-5890-3}}</ref> He was jokingly referred to by the members of the group as "Trillionaire Ted", satirizing "[[Billionaire Ted]]", which was itself a disparaging nickname WWF had given to WCW owner [[Ted Turner]]. DiBiase was the spokesperson for the nWo for 3 months until [[Eric Bischoff]] joined the nWo and replaced him in that role.

DiBiase quit the nWo shortly after [[Spring Stampede (1997)|Spring Stampede]]. A few months later, on the August 4, 1997, episode of ''[[WCW Monday Nitro|Nitro]]'', he made a face turn and began managing [[The Steiner Brothers]], leading them to two [[WCW World Tag Team Championship|World Tag Team Championships]]. DiBiase managed The Steiners until [[Scott Steiner]] turned heel via betraying [[Rick Steiner]] at [[SuperBrawl VIII]] on February 22 and joined the nWo (DiBiase still remained in Rick's corner thru April 1998). DiBiase also managed one-time WWF rival [[Ray Traylor]] for a while until he stopped managing altogether.

In 2013, DiBiase said about his time in WCW: "Eric Bischoff doesn't know that much about wrestling", "Eric took credit for the nWo, but that wasn't his idea, the nWo had already been done in Japan, so they had copied something that had already been done. It was a good idea, but originally I was supposed to be the mouthpiece of the nWo and reality is I think Eric saw how it was getting over and he saw how he could put himself in the role that he had hired me for. As each week went by pretty soon Eric isn't the announcer anymore, he becomes part of the nWo and I just went to him one day and told him I'm not just going to walk out there and be Hulk Hogan's Virgil, you hired me to be the spokesperson for this, so if that's not what I'm going to do you can send me home. The reason I said that was because they had to pay me one way or the other because I had a contract where they had to pay me for three years".<ref name="wrestlingnewssource.com"/>

=== Second return to WWE (2004–2008, 2009–present) ===

==== Backstage roles (2004–2008) ====
{{Quote box|width=30%|align=right|quote="I said, 'you know, that's not really me'. I'm not Clint Eastwood. I'm not good on both sides of the camera. I'm good in front of it. And they wanted me to come back and at least try, so I did for about a year and a half and I guess it took them that long to figure out I was right".|source=<small>DiBiase about his job as creative in WWE<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2013/0829/565245/ted-dibiase-sr-talks-working-in-wwe-creative/#SIzTt2tt5eDIrLmA.99|title=Ted Dibiase Sr. Talks Working in WWE Creative, How Ted Jr. Was Used in WWE, Religion, More |website= WrestlingInc.com|date=August 29, 2013}}</ref></small>}}
In late 2004, WWE offered DiBiase a job as creative. He accepted the job and worked as part of the creative team a year and a half.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2013/0829/565245/ted-dibiase-sr-talks-working-in-wwe-creative/index.shtml|title=Ted Dibiase Sr. Talks Working in WWE Creative, How Ted Jr. Was Used in WWE, Religion, More |website= WrestlingInc.com|date=August 29, 2013}}</ref> In April 2005, DiBiase was hired as a creative consultant and road agent for the [[WWE Friday Night SmackDown|SmackDown!]] brand of World Wrestling Entertainment. On October 3, 2005, at ''[[WWE Homecoming]]'', DiBiase appeared with other WWE legends in a ceremony. He eventually led the attack on [[Rob Conway]], who had come down to the ring to insult the legends.

[[File:TedDiBiaseRadio.jpg|thumb|right|200px|DiBiase at a radio program on July 15, 2006, at the International Wrestling Institute and Museum.]]
DiBiase inducted his former manager [[Sherri Martel|Sensational Sherri]] into the [[WWE Hall of Fame]] on April 1, 2006<ref>Ted DiBiase: The Million Dollar Man, p.171, Ted DiBiase with Tom Caiazzo, Pocket Books, New York, 2008, {{ISBN|978-1-4165-5890-3}}</ref> and made an appearance at [[WrestleMania 22]], offering [[Eugene (wrestler)|Eugene]] $1,000 to dribble a basketball 100 times backstage and kicked the ball away at the last second. DiBiase also appeared on the April 17 episode of ''Raw'' behind a newspaper doing his famous evil laugh as the camera went off air. DiBiase made an appearance at an IPW show in [[Newton, Iowa]], on July 14, 2006, where he watched his sons' tag team match. The following day, he accepted the [[George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame]] induction for his father, Mike, at the International Wrestling Institute and Museum. He also appeared at the ''Raw Family Reunion'' on October 9, 2006, aiding [[Ric Flair]] in his match with the [[Spirit Squad]]. On October 26, 2006, Ted DiBiase was released from his WWE contract.

DiBiase made his first in ring appearance in over five years at the ''Raw 15th Anniversary Special'' on December 10, 2007, by winning a 15-man battle royal, in which he was not even an active participant. [[Mike Rotunda|Irwin R. Schyster]], DiBiase's former tag team partner of Money Incorporated, had won the battle royal. DiBiase came down to ringside and offered Schyster a bribe to eliminate himself. Schyster accepted and hopped over the top rope, making DiBiase the victor. DiBiase then declared that even after fifteen years, everyone still had a price for the "Million Dollar Man."

On the May 19, 2008, edition of ''Raw'', he was seen alongside Mr. McMahon about to "discuss business", in [[William Regal]]'s office.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/05192008/|title=One night stood up|last=DiFino|first=Lennie|date=August 24, 2008|publisher=[[WWE]]|access-date=June 27, 2008}}</ref> On the following ''Raw'', DiBiase introduced his son [[Ted DiBiase Jr.]] to WWE as its newest member.

==== WWE Hall of Fame and sporadic appearances (2009–present) ====
[[File:Dibiase2011.jpg|thumb|left|200px|DiBiase making an appearance at a local indy show on August 20, 2011.]]
On the June 29 episode of ''[[WWE Raw|Raw]]'', [[Ted DiBiase Jr.]] announced in a segment with [[Cody Rhodes]] and [[Randy Orton]] that DiBiase would appear on ''Raw'' the following week as the special guest host, and DiBiase appeared as scheduled on July 6. On the show, DiBiase booked his son to face Randy Orton. After DiBiase Jr. lost the match, he accused his father of setting him up and trying to steal his time, even slapping his father across the face. DiBiase would later come out at the end of the show and sanctioned a triple threat match for Randy Orton's [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE, 2002–2013)|WWE Championship]] at [[Night of Champions (2010)|Night of Champions]] including [[John Cena]] and [[Triple H]] in his final act as the guest host. He is also a playable character in ''[[WWE Legends of WrestleMania]]'' and an unlockable superstar in ''[[WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010]]'' and ''[[WWE 2K14]]''. DiBiase was announced as the first inductee of the [[WWE Hall of Fame (2010)|WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2010]] on the February 8 episode of ''Raw''. DiBiase appeared again on the November 2 edition of ''[[WWE NXT (TV series)|NXT]]'', where he was the minister for [[Aksana (wrestler)|Aksana]] and [[Goldust]]'s wedding. Later in November 2010, DiBiase made an appearance on Raw, accompanied by [[Mike Rotunda|Irwin R. Schyster]], wherein Goldust returned the stolen Million Dollar Championship to him. DiBiase immediately offered to give the newly returned title to his son Ted DiBiase Jr., but was refused.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.f4wonline.com/content/view/18350/|title=WWE Old School Raw Report|date=November 16, 2010|last=Martin|first=Todd|access-date=September 25, 2021|work=[[Dave Meltzer#Wrestling Observer Newsletter|Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]}}</ref> On February 21, 2011, it was announced DiBiase would induct [[Jim Duggan]] into the Hall of Fame. He appeared on the [[Slammy Award]]s episode of ''Raw'' on December 12 alongside fellow legend [[Mick Foley]], and presented the "Holy %&@*# Move of the Year" award, which was won by [[Mark Henry]] and [[Big Show]]. On April 10, 2012, DiBiase made an appearance on ''Smackdown: Blast from the Past''. He returned on the March 4, 2013 ''Old School Raw'' at ringside with [[The Prime Time Players]] and agreed to be their manager if they won the match against [[Team Hell No]]. DiBiase, again accompanied by IRS, appeared at the 2014 ''Old School Raw'' special, encountering [[Big E (wrestler)|Big E Langston]] on his way to a match and told him everybody's got a price, to which Langston smiled.

On January 22, 2018, DiBiase made an appearance during the 25th Anniversary episode of ''Raw'' in which he played [[Poker]] with The [[Acolytes Protection Agency]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2018/01/21/wwe-raw-marks-25-years/|title=Are you ready for some wrestling? WWE's "Raw" marks 25 years.|date=January 22, 2018|work=The Denver Post|access-date=May 31, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

On July 22, 2019, DiBiase "bought" the [[WWE 24/7 Championship]] from [[Alundra Blayze]]. The 26-year space between his last title victory in 1993 is reportedly the longest in WWE history. He later lost the title to [[Drake Maverick]] in a limousine on the same night.

[[File:Ted DiBiase by Gage Skidmore.jpg|right|thumb|DiBiase at the 2024 Game On Expo in Phoenix, Arizona.]]
On the April 27, 2021, episode of NXT, DiBiase "was inside the jewelry store showing his Silver and Gold diamond watch in front of [[Cameron Grimes]] and his gold watch and made Grimes jealous.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.mandatory.com/wrestlezone/news/1116801-ted-dibiase-buys-wwe-247-title | title=Ted DiBiase Buys the WWE 24/7 Title from Alundra Blaze (Video), Drake Maverick Regains Belt| date=July 23, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/WWEStats/status/1153484093126057985|title=Longest gap between holding championship gold in @WWE: - @MDMTedDiBiase, 26 yrs (1993 - #RawReunion) - @Madusa_rocks, 23 yrs (1995 - #RawReunion) - Pat Patterson, 20 yrs - Pat Patterson, 19 years (2000 - #RawReunion) - @Fgbrisco, 19 yrs (2000 - #RawReunion) - Roddy Piper, 14 yrs|first=WWE Stats &|last=Info|date=July 22, 2019|access-date=December 11, 2019}}</ref> Throughout May 2021, DiBiase would continue to cost Grimes matches and outdo him during skits such as outbidding him during a house auction on May 11, and costing him a victory on May 18th, following this incident it was announced the pair would have a 'Million Dollar Faceoff' on the May 25 episode of NXT.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Million Dollar Faceoff between Cameron Grimes and Ted DiBiase to take place next week on NXT, On the NXT faceoff, L. A. Knight attacked Grimes in front of DiBiase and DiBiase humiliated Grimes.|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/article/ted-dibiase-cameron-grimes-million-dollar-faceoff|access-date=2021-05-19|website=WWE|language=en}}</ref> During the showdown, Grimes was attacked by [[L. A. Knight]], with DiBiase yelling him he's "never gonna get it" before laughing and leaving with Knight.<ref>{{Cite web|title=WWE Legend Ted DiBiase Chooses New Protege in NXT|url=https://comicbook.com/wwe/news/nxt-ted-dibiase-million-dollar-faceoff-la-knight-teamup/|access-date=May 26, 2021|website=comicbook.com|date=May 26, 2021 }}</ref> DiBiase put the Million Dollar Championship on the line in a [[ladder match]] between Knight and Grimes at [[NXT TakeOver: In Your House (2021)|NXT TakeOver: In Your House]], in which Knight was victorious. On June 15, 2021, episode of NXT, Knight turned on DiBiase and attacked him. Grimes saved DiBiase from Knight.  At [[NXT TakeOver 36|NXT Takeover 36]] Knight would face Grimes again,  If Grimes lost, DiBiase would have had to become Knight's butler.<ref>{{Cite web|title=LA Knight and Cameron Grimes set for high-stakes showdown|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/nxttakeover/article/la-knight-vs-cameron-grimes-million-dollar-championship|access-date=2021-08-21|website=WWE|language=en}}</ref> At the event, Grimes defeated Knight to become the Million Dollar Champion with the help of DiBiase.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Samoa Joe conquers Karrion Kross to reclaim the NXT Title at TakeOver 36|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/nxttakeover/08-22-2021|access-date=2021-11-25|website=WWE|date=June 14, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> On August 24, the storyline came to a conclusion on NXT, as they talked about Grimes' journey to the title and how he was now headed "Straight to the moon!". The celebration ended with fake $100 bills with Grimes' face raining down over the Capitol Wrestling Center.<ref>{{Cite web|title=WWE Doing Away With The Million Dollar Title Again?|url=https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2021/08/wwe-doing-away-with-the-million-dollar-title-again/|access-date=December 7, 2021|website=Wrestling Inc.|date=August 25, 2021 |language=en-us}}</ref>

Grimes later escorted DiBiase to his limousine and handed him the Million Dollar Championship. DiBiase handed the belt back, however upon checking it, Grimes realizes he has been handed a cheap replica. DiBiase leaves after giving his signature laugh.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ted DiBiase Bamboozles Cameron Grimes With Replica Million Dollar Championship {{!}} Fightful News|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/ted-dibiase-bamboozles-cameron-grimes-replica-million-dollar-championship|access-date=December 7, 2021|website=www.fightful.com|date=August 25, 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

On January 23, 2023, Dibiase made a backstage appearance at [[WWE Raw is XXX|Raw is XXX]] alongside [[Mike Rotunda|Irwin R. Schyster]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sukale |first=Aakaansh |title=WWE Hall of Famer brought popular championship on WWE RAW XXX after nearly two years of hiatus |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/wwe/news-wwe-hall-famer-brought-popular-championship-wwe-raw-xxx-nearly-two-years-hiatus |access-date=January 30, 2023 |website=www.sportskeeda.com |date=January 24, 2023 |language=en-us}}</ref>

== Christian ministry ==
DiBiase is now a [[Christianity|Christian]] minister.  In 1999, he founded ''Heart of David Ministry'' and travels the world ministering to churches, camps and conferences including [[Promise Keepers]] and [[Youth of the Nation Conference|Youth of the Nation]]. Ted is also the author of ''Every Man Has His Price'', a part-[[autobiography]] and part-Christian [[testimony]].

==Welfare fraud accusations==
{{main|Mississippi welfare funds scandal}}

In February 2020, it was reported that DiBiase's ministry received more than $2.1 million in welfare funds from the state of Mississippi after his son, Brett, was hired as deputy administrator of the state's Department of Human Services.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ted DiBiase's Nonprofit Got Over $2M in Welfare Amid Son's Embezzlement Probe|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2876297-ted-dibiases-nonprofit-got-over-2m-in-welfare-amid-sons-embezzlement-probe|access-date=February 14, 2020|website=Bleacher Report|language=en}}</ref> His son, Brett, pleaded guilty to creating fraudulent statements in what has been labeled as Mississippi's largest public embezzlement case in state history.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ted DiBiase's son pleads guilty to fraud in the largest Public Embezzlement Case in state history|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/wwe/news-ted-dibiase-s-son-pleads-guilty-fraud-largest-public-embezzlement-case-state-history|access-date=December 20, 2020|website=sportskeeda|date=December 18, 2020|language=en}}</ref> In October 2021, a court ordered Ted DiBiase Sr. to pay $722,299 of the misappropriated funds given to his Heart of David Ministries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2021/10/ted-dibiase-and-sons-ordered-to-repay-millions-of-dollars-in-misspent-welfare-money/|title=Ted DiBiase and Sons Ordered to Repay Millions of Dollars in Misspent Welfare Money|date=October 14, 2021 }}</ref> In May 2022, the Mississippi Department of Human Services sued DiBiase, his sons, and retired NFL quarterback [[Brett Favre]], and several others to recover more than $20 million in money "squandered" from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families anti-poverty program.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 9, 2022 |title=Mississippi Department of Human Services sues Brett Favre, others over welfare misspending |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/33888526/mississippi-department-human-services-sues-brett-favre-others-welfare-misspending |access-date=May 10, 2022 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref>

In April 2022, the Mississippi Office of State Auditor reported that DiBiase personally received a $250,000 check from the Family Resource Center, a Mississippi welfare grantee, to "provide services as a Motivational Speaker." DiBiase forwarded an email from the welfare grantee to his sons, Ted DiBiase Jr. and Brett DiBiase, stating: "Look what I got today!".<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 9, 2022 |title=MDHS TANF Forensic Audit 2022 - Expanded Email Review |url=https://www.osa.ms.gov/documents/Special_Reports/2022%20MDHS%20TANF%20Forensic%20Audit%20-%20Expanded%20Email%20Review.pdf |access-date=September 2, 2022 |website=OSA.MS.GOV|language=en}}</ref> DiBiase says his famous name made his family a target for federal investigators. “We’re caught in the middle of it. If I didn’t have a celebrity name they wouldn’t even be looking at me.”<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Scott |date=2023-06-13 |title='A bunch of garbage': 'Million Dollar Man' Ted DiBiase speaks about federal indictment of his son |url=https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2023/06/13/a-bunch-of-garbage-million-dollar-man-ted-dibiase-speaks-about-federal-indictment-of-his-son/ |access-date=2024-01-19 |website=WJXT |language=en}}</ref>

On February 22, 2024, Ted's ex-agent opened up in an exclusive interview to discuss his thoughts on Ted's involvement where eWrestlingNews quoted him as saying, "it just doesn’t match the man that I’ve known. Ted, is careful in the sense that he wouldn’t do that, he has a real love for God and his wife. He just wouldn’t do that in my honest opinion."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lowson |first1=Thomas |title=Exclusive: Ted DiBiase's Ex-Agent On Working With The WWE Legend, Ted Jr. Welfare Scandal |url=https://www.ewrestlingnews.com/news/wwe/ted-dibiases-ex-agent-on-working-with-the-wwe-legend-ted-jr-welfare-scandal |website=eWrestlingNews.com |date=February 22, 2024 |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>

== Books ==
* DiBiase, Ted. ''Every Man Has His Price''. Multnomah Publishers. 1997. {{ISBN|1-57673-175-8}}
* DiBiase, Ted. ''The Million Dollar Man''. Pocket Books. 2008. {{ISBN|978-1-4165-5890-3}}
* DiBiase, Ted (Foreword). Bruce, William J., III. ''Penholder''. Queensbridge Publishing. 2010. {{ISBN|978-0-9813183-1-8}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.penholder-thebook.com/p/synopsis.html|title=About|publisher=William J. Bruce III [Official Website]|access-date=October 3, 2022}}</ref>

== Documentaries ==
* ''Wrestling with Faith'' is a documentary film about Ted DiBiase. It went into production in February 2010.
* ''The Price of Fame'' is a documentary film directed by Peter Ferriero and executive produced by Ferriero, Ted DiBiase Jr. & Engage Media Partners. The film features Ted DiBiase Jr. following his father's story of redemption and faith. It was released on November 7, 2017, in 650 theaters through Fathom Events. The film was released on [[DVD]] and digitally on April 10, 2018.
* ''[[Nine Legends]]'' is a documentary in which Ted DiBiase is profiled as one of the nine wrestling or boxing legends.

== Personal life ==
DiBiase's sons, [[Mike DiBiase II|Mike]], [[Ted DiBiase Jr.|Ted Jr.]] and [[Brett DiBiase|Brett]] were formerly professional wrestlers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.milliondollarman.com/tedsbio.html|title=Ted DiBiase's Biography|access-date=October 14, 2007|publisher=Million Dollar Man.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013180441/http://milliondollarman.com/tedsbio.html|archive-date=October 13, 2007}}</ref>

DiBiase went to [[West Texas A&M University|West Texas State University]], where he was a member of [[Alpha Tau Omega]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.duke.edu/web/ato/alumni.html|title=Alumni – Alpha Tau Omega – Xi Chapter at Duke University|publisher=Duke.edu|access-date=November 19, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018053942/http://www.duke.edu/web/ato/alumni.html|archive-date=October 18, 2012}}</ref> [[Junkyard Dog]] was the best man at Ted DiBiase's wedding<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vicetv.com/en_us/video/the-junkyard-dog/6450288ee72886518a1a5612|title=Dark Side of the Ring Junkyard Dog}}</ref>

In a 2016 interview with [[ESPN.com]], DiBiase revealed that he and [[Virgil (wrestler)|Virgil]] had a falling out over Virgil trying to book himself and DiBiase on independent wrestling shows without DiBiase's knowledge. DiBiase stated that Virgil does not represent him for bookings.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/id/17539356/wwe-hall-famer-ted-dibiase-journey-million-dollar-man-preacher-man|title=From "Million Dollar Man" to preacher man|accessdate=October 2, 2022|first=Ben|last=Houser|publisher=ESPN|date=September 13, 2016}}</ref>

In June 2023, DiBiase admitted that he is suffering from a severe brain trauma in his ''Everybody's Got A Pod'' podcast.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lambert |first=Jeremy |date=June 1, 2023 |title=Ted DiBiase Says He's Dealing With Severe Brain Trauma {{!}} Fightful News |url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/ted-dibiase-says-he-s-dealing-severe-brain-trauma |access-date=June 2, 2023 |website=www.fightful.com |language=en}}</ref>

== Championships and accomplishments ==
[[File:Ted DiBiase as Mid-South North American Heavyweight Champion 1982.png|thumb|DiBiase is a four-time [[Mid-South North American Heavyweight Championship|Mid-South North American Heavyweight Champion]]]]
* '''[[All Japan Pro Wrestling]]'''
** [[NWA United National Championship]] ([[NWA United National Championship#Title history|1 time]])<ref name="tedtitles"/>
** [[PWF World Tag Team Championship]] ([[PWF World Tag Team Championship#Title history|2 times]]) – with [[Stan Hansen]]<ref name="tedtitles"/>
** [[World Tag Team Championship (AJPW)|World Tag Team Championship]] ([[World Tag Team Championship (AJPW)#Title history|1 time]]) – with Stan Hansen<ref name="tedtitles">{{cite web|url=http://www.milliondollarman.com/titlehistory.html|title=Ted DiBiase's Title History|access-date=October 14, 2007|publisher=Million Dollar Man.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013172840/http://milliondollarman.com/titlehistory.html|archive-date=October 13, 2007}}</ref>
** [[World's Strongest Tag Determination League]] ([[World's Strongest Tag Determination League#1985|1985]]) – with Stan Hansen
** Champion Carnival Technique Award (1980)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.purolove.com/ajpw/history/carnival80.php|title=PUROLOVE.com|website=www.purolove.com|access-date=September 27, 2018}}</ref>
** Champion Carnival Outstanding Performance Award (1982)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.purolove.com/ajpw/history/carnival82.php|title=PUROLOVE.com|website=www.purolove.com|access-date=September 27, 2018}}</ref>
* '''[[Cauliflower Alley Club]]'''
** Iron Mike Mazurki Award (2010)<ref name="Cauliflower2010">{{cite web|last=Johnson|first=Steve|title=Ross, DiBiase lead parade of honorees at CAC banquet|url=http://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2010/04/22/ross-dibiase-lead-parade-of-honorees-at-cac-banquet/|work=Slam Wrestling|date=April 22, 2010|access-date=September 27, 2020}}</ref>
* '''[[Heart of America Sports Attractions|Central States Wrestling]]'''
** [[NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship#Title history|2 times]])<ref name="tedtitles"/>
* '''Dutch Pro Wrestling'''
** Dutch Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
* '''[[Georgia Championship Wrestling]]'''
** [[NWA National Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA National Heavyweight Championship#Reigns|2 times]])<ref name="tedtitles"/>
** [[NWA National Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA National Tag Team Championship#Title history|2 times]]) – with [[Uncle Elmer|Stan Frazier]] (1), and [[Steve Olsonoski]] (1)<ref name="tedtitles"/>
* '''[[George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame]]'''
** Class of 2007<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2007/07/14/4339684.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170724081743/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2007/07/14/4339684.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 24, 2017|title=Emotions run high at Tragos/Thesz induction|last=Johnson|first=Steve|website=Slam! Wrestling|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]|date=July 14, 2007|access-date=November 6, 2018}}</ref>
[[File:Ted DiBiase and Steve Williams Mid-South Tag Team champions 1986.png|thumb|DiBiase (left) and Steve Williams as [[Mid-South Tag Team Championship|Mid-South Tag Team champions]], {{Circa|1986}}]]
* '''[[Universal Wrestling Federation (Bill Watts)|NWA Tri-State/Mid-South Wrestling Association]]'''
** [[Mid-South North American Heavyweight Championship]] ([[Mid-South North American Heavyweight Championship|4 times]])<ref name="tedtitles"/>
** [[Mid-South North American Heavyweight Championship|NWA North American Heavyweight Championship ''(Tri-State version)'']] ([[Mid-South North American Heavyweight Championship|1 time]])<ref name="tedtitles"/>
** [[NWA Tri-State Tag Team Championship|NWA United States Tag Team Championship ''(Tri-State version)'']] ([[NWA Tri-State Tag Team Championship|1 time]]) – with [[Dick Murdoch]]<ref name="tedtitles"/>
** [[UWF Tag Team Championship|Mid-South Tag Team Championship]] ([[UWF Tag Team Championship|6 times]]) – with [[Paul Orndorff]] (1), [[Matt Osborne|Matt Borne]] (1), [[Jerry Stubbs]] (1), [[Hercules (wrestler)|Hercules Hernandez]] (1), and [["Dr. Death" Steve Williams|Steve Williams]] (2)<ref name=god/><ref name="tedtitles"/>
* '''[[NWA Western States Sports]]'''
** [[NWA Western States Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA Western States Tag Team Championship#title history|2 times]]) – with Ervin Smith (1) and [[Tito Santana]] (1)<ref name="tedtitles"/>
* '''''[[Pro Wrestling Illustrated]]'''''
** [[List of Pro Wrestling Illustrated awards#Most Hated Wrestler of the Year|Most Hated Wrestler of the Year]] (1982)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pwi-online.com/pages/PWIawards.html|title=PWI Awards|work=[[Pro Wrestling Illustrated]]|publisher=[[Kappa Publishing Group]]|access-date=June 5, 2018|archive-date=January 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121172943/http://www.pwi-online.com/pages/PWIawards.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
** Ranked No. 17 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the ''[[PWI 500]]'' in 1991<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.profightdb.com/pwi-500/1991.html|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 1991|access-date=September 1, 2016|work=The Internet Wrestling Database}}</ref>
** Ranked No. 32 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi500yr.htm|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Top 500 Wrestlers of the PWI Years|access-date=March 26, 2009|publisher=Wrestling Information Archive|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707054220/http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi500yr.htm|archive-date=July 7, 2011}}</ref>
** Ranked No. 20, No. 24, and No. 61 of the top 100 tag teams of the ''PWI Years'' with Steve Williams, Stan Hansen, and [[Mike Rotunda|Irwin R. Schyster]], respectively, in 2003<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi100tg.htm|access-date=March 26, 2009|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Top 100 Tag Teams of the PWI Years|publisher=Wrestling Information Archive|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110921180439/http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi100tg.htm|archive-date=September 21, 2011}}</ref>
* '''[[Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum|Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame]]'''
** [[Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum#Inductees|Class of 2007]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pwhf.org/halloffamers/bios/ted_dibiase.asp|title=Ted DiBiase|last=Riedel|first=Bobby|publisher=Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum|access-date=April 8, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090516044514/http://www.pwhf.org/halloffamers/bios/ted_dibiase.asp|archive-date=May 16, 2009}}</ref>
* '''[[St. Louis Wrestling Club]]'''
** [[NWA Missouri Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA Missouri Heavyweight Championship#Title history|2 times]])<ref name="tedtitles"/>
** [[St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame]] (2014)<ref>{{cite web|title=St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame Official MySpace Page (Includes list of inductees)|publisher=MySpace|url=http://www.myspace.com/stlhall|access-date=May 15, 2009}}</ref>
* '''Texas All-Star Wrestling'''
** TASW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)<ref name="tedtitles"/>
* '''[[WWE|World Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Entertainment/WWE]]'''
** [[WWE Championship|WWF Heavyweight Championship]] ([[List of WWE Champions|1 time, unrecognized]]){{Efn|DiBiase was handed the belt by new champion [[André the Giant]], but WWF President [[Jack Tunney]] refused to recognize DiBiase's reign and declared the title vacant. However, in the subsequent days, DiBiase defended the title once against [[Bam Bam Bigelow]] at a February 8, 1988 house show. WWE does not officially recognize DiBiase's reign as champion.}}
** [[Million Dollar Championship]] ([[Million Dollar Championship#Reigns|2 times, inaugural]])
** [[WWF North American Heavyweight Championship]] ([[WWF North American Heavyweight Championship#Title history|1 time]])<ref name="northamerican" /><ref name="tedtitles" />
** [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE, 1971–2010)|WWF Tag Team Championship]] ([[List of World Tag Team Champions (WWE, 1971–2010)|3 times]]) – with [[Irwin R. Schyster]]<ref name="tedtitles"/> 
** [[WWE 24/7 Championship]] ([[List of WWE 24/7 Champions|1 time]])
** [[King of the Ring tournament|King of the Ring]] ([[King of the Ring (1988)|1988]])<ref name=god/><ref name="tedtitles"/>
** [[WWE Hall of Fame]] ([[WWE Hall of Fame (2010)|Class of 2010]])<ref name=wwebio>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/halloffame/inductees/themilliondollarman/|title=The Million Dollar Man's WWE Hall of Fame profile|publisher=[[WWE]]|access-date=March 31, 2011}}</ref>
** [[Slammy Award]] (2 times)
*** Humanitarian of the Year ([[Slammy Award#1987 Slammy Awards|1987]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/andthewinneris|title=And the winner is...|access-date=June 23, 2018|publisher=[[WWE]]}}</ref>
*** Best Manager ([[Slammy Award#1994 Slammy Awards|1994]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thewrestlinginsomniac.com/2015/11/wwf-1994-slammy-awards.html|title=WWF 1994 Slammy Awards|first=Michael J.|last=Labbe}}</ref>
* '''''[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]'''''
** [[List of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Best Gimmick|Best Gimmick]] (1987)<ref name="won">{{cite journal|last=Meltzer|first=Dave|author-link=Dave Meltzer|date=January 26, 2011|title=Biggest issue of the year: The 2011 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards Issue|periodical=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]|location=Campbell, CA|pages=1–40|issn=1083-9593}}</ref>
** [[List of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Best Heel|Best Heel]] (1987, 1988)<ref name="won" />
** [[List of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Best Technical Wrestler|Best Technical Wrestler]] (1979–1981)<ref name="won" />
** [[List of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Feud of the Year|Feud of the Year]] (1982) {{small|vs. [[Junkyard Dog]]}}<ref name="won" />
** Feud of the Year (1985) {{small|vs. [[Jim Duggan]]}}<ref name="won" />
** [[List of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Best Gimmick|Best Gimmick]] (1996) – nWo
** [[List of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Feud of the Year|Feud of the Year]] (1996) <small>New World Order vs. World Championship Wrestling</small>
** [[Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame]] (Class of 1996)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pwi-online.com/pages/hallofame.html|title=Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame|access-date=January 24, 2019|archive-date=July 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080714111434/http://pwi-online.com/pages/hallofame.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
** Nebraska Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame (2019)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Class of 2019 |url=https://www.prowrestling-nebraska.com/class-of-2019 |access-date=June 1, 2023 |website=Nebraskaprohof |language=en}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}
{{reflist|group=note}}
{{notelist-ua}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.heartofdavidministry.com HeartOfDavidMinistry.com (Official Ministry Website)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001162456/http://heartofdavidministry.com/ |date=October 1, 2016 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090516044514/http://www.pwhf.org/halloffamers/bios/ted_dibiase.asp Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame Profile]
* {{Professional wrestling profiles}}
* [https://www.cultofwhatever.com/2013/09/ted-dibiase-interview/ Ted Dibiase Interview] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250303192731/https://www.cultofwhatever.com/2013/09/ted-dibiase-interview/ |date=March 3, 2025 }}
* [http://wrestlingexaminer.com/everybodys-got-a-price-for-the-million-dollar-man-ted-dibiase/ Ted DiBiase Article]

{{Million Dollar Championship}}
{{NWA National Heavyweight Championship}}
{{WWE Hall of Fame}}
{{The Undertaker}}
{{World Tag Team Championship (WWE)}}
{{WWE 24/7 Championship}}
{{World Tag Team Championship (AJPW)}}
{{World's Strongest Tag Determination League}}
{{New World Order}}
{{WWE personnel}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dibiase, Ted}}
[[Category:1954 births]]
[[Category:20th-century male professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:20th-century American professional wrestlers]]
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[[Category:American male television writers]]
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[[Category:American television writers]]
[[Category:King of the Ring tournament winners]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Million Dollar Champions]]
[[Category:Million Dollar Corporation members]]
[[Category:New World Order (professional wrestling) members]]
[[Category:NWA National Heavyweight Champions]]
[[Category:NWA National Tag Team Champions]]
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[[Category:People from Willcox, Arizona]]
[[Category:American professional wrestling announcers]]
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[[Category:PWF World Tag Team Champions]]
[[Category:World Tag Team Champions (AJPW)]]
[[Category:World Tag Team Champions (WWE, 1971–2010)]]
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[[Category:WWF North American Heavyweight Champions]]
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