Giant González, born Jorge González, was an Argentine professional basketball player turned professional wrestler, best known for his appearances in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) as El Gigante and in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) as Giant González.
Standing between 7 feet 6 inches and 7 feet 7 inches tall due to gigantism, he was billed as nearly 8 feet tall during his wrestling career and remains recognized by Guinness World Records as one of the tallest professional wrestlers in history.
Before entering professional wrestling, he represented Argentina at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and became the first Argentine player ever selected in an NBA Draft.
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Giant Gonzalez Biography
He was born on January 31, 1966, in El Colorado, Formosa, Argentina. Giant González developed gigantism, a condition caused by excessive growth hormone production, which resulted in his extraordinary height.
He reached 6 feet 4 inches by the age of 14 and approximately 7 feet 2 inches by 16, continuing to grow into adulthood before eventually reaching a documented height of approximately 7 feet 6 inches to 7 feet 7 inches.
Career
Jorge González began his athletic career in basketball, playing for the youth team at Hindú Club de Resistencia. Former Argentine national team coach León Najnudel recommended him to Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata, where González helped the club earn promotion to Argentina’s top division in 1986.
He later played for Sport Club, although injuries limited his playing time. González represented Argentina at the 1988 Seoul Olympics as a member of the national basketball team.
That same year, he was selected by the Atlanta Hawks in the third round of the 1988 NBA Draft, becoming the first Argentine player ever selected in an NBA Draft, alongside fellow Argentine Hernán Montenegro, who was also drafted that year.
The Hawks paid his Argentine club to acquire his rights. Still, a serious knee injury and difficulty adapting to the speed and physicality of the NBA prevented him from ever appearing in a regular-season NBA game.
Wrestling Career
In 1989, Atlanta Hawks owner Ted Turner, who also owned World Championship Wrestling (WCW), offered González an opportunity to join the promotion.
After roughly a year of training, he made his public debut as El Gigante at the WCW pay-per-view Capital Combat on May 19, 1990.
Wrestling in shorts as a fan favorite, he was billed as being nearly 8 feet tall and quickly became a popular attraction, feuding with stars including Sid Vicious in a memorable 1991 stretcher match and competing in WCW’s Chamber of Horrors match later that year.
González left WCW in 1992 and signed with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), debuting under the ring name Giant González in January 1993.
He made an immediate impact by eliminating The Undertaker from that year’s Royal Rumble, despite not being an official entrant, while being managed by Harvey Wippleman.
González became known for wearing a distinctive full-body suit featuring airbrushed muscles and thick body hair.
At WrestleMania IX, González faced The Undertaker in a match that ended in disqualification after he used chloroform to knock his opponent unconscious.
The bout remains the only WrestleMania match in The Undertaker’s legendary streak that did not end in a clean victory for him. The rivalry continued for several months before González’s WWF run ended in October 1993.
Following his departure from the WWF, González wrestled in Japan for approximately two more years before returning permanently to Argentina around 1995, effectively ending his in-ring career.
During this period, he also appeared in more than five film and television productions, including a guest role as a sideshow giant on Baywatch in 1993.
In 2000, Guinness World Records recognized him as the World’s Tallest Professional Wrestler, listing his height at 7 feet 6 inches.
After retiring from professional wrestling, González returned to Argentina and reconnected with basketball by serving as an assistant coach for Belgrano San Nicolás around 2000.
In 2001, he was honored during the Argentine Basketball League All-Star Game in recognition of becoming the first Argentine player ever selected in an NBA Draft.
This milestone remains a significant part of his sporting legacy. González was married and had one stepdaughter.
Giant González’s Death
By the mid-2000s, González’s health had declined significantly due to Type 1 diabetes. He began using a wheelchair regularly in late October 2009 and soon afterward started dialysis treatment for kidney failure.
Giant González died on September 22, 2010, in San Martín, Chaco Province, Argentina, at the age of 44. Complications related to diabetes and heart problems were reported as the cause of his death.
His passing was widely mourned throughout the wrestling community, with tributes from figures including longtime WWE announcer Howard Finkel, who remembered him as an awe-inspiring presence in the ring.
Giant Gonzalez’s Net Worth
Giant Gonzalez’s net worth at the time of his death is estimated to be between $1 million and $5 million. His earnings came primarily from his careers in professional wrestling and basketball, along with occasional acting roles and public appearances.
Before entering professional wrestling, González was a standout basketball player in Argentina and was selected by the Atlanta Hawks in the 1988 NBA Draft.
Although injuries prevented him from playing in the NBA, his extraordinary height and athletic profile led to a career in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) as El Gigante and later in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) as Giant Gonzalez.
In addition to his wrestling income, González earned money through film appearances, promotional work, and endorsement opportunities that capitalized on his unique stature and international recognition.