Tyrus, the WWE wrestler known for his tough-guy persona, has more depth than just his strong appearance.
Smart, well-spoken, and insightful, he has faced personal challenges, including a difficult childhood where he once wanted to change his skin color.
The pain from that time never fully goes away, but instead of using it to hate, Tyrus turned it into strength. In this article, we look at Tyrus’ story and the famous wife who has stood by him. Keep reading to find out how she helped shape his amazing journey.
For anyone who follows wrestling, Tyrus, 51, is a name you’ve probably heard of. A former NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion, he made a major impact in the ring.
But today, he’s known for more than just wrestling. He’s become a cable news personality, often appearing on Fox News and Fox Nation, especially as a co-host on the late-night talk show Gutfeld!
His path to fame and success wasn’t easy, though. When you hear where he started, it’s hard to believe how far he has come.
A tough beginning
Tyrus’s childhood struggles Tyrus was born George Murdoch on February 21, 1973, in Boston, Massachusetts. His rise to fame is truly incredible.
But his life didn’t start easy. Born to teenage parents — his father was 19, and his mother was only 15 — Tyrus grew up in a chaotic home in Los Angeles. The situation worsened when his abusive father hurt him as a child, causing damage to his eye. This event led Tyrus’s mother to leave, taking him and his brother with her.
However, Tyrus and his brother weren’t accepted by their grandparents because of their mixed-race heritage, so they ended up in foster care. The rejection hurt deeply, and young Tyrus became fixated on changing his skin color, thinking it would help him reconnect with his family.
Eventually, Tyrus and his brother were able to be with their mother again, who worked long hours — often up to 80 hours a week — to support them. Stability was hard to find, as the family moved every six months to follow her job.
Things got worse when a stepfather came into the picture. Not accepting this new figure, 15-year-old Tyrus ran away from home. Homeless and determined, he refused to ask for help. He spent several nights hiding in his school’s locker room.
Salvation through sports
During the tough times, Tyrus found hope in sports, especially football.
“Football saved my life. No question. I’d be in jail or dead if it wasn’t for football,” he later shared with the Lexington Clipper-Herald.
Through football, Tyrus gained male role models, was held responsible for his actions, and made lasting friendships. But more importantly, he found something to fight for, a goal to work towards.
Coaches and teammates became his support system, providing not just a place to stay but also a sense of direction. His football skills also helped him get a chance at higher education.
The big offensive lineman caught the attention of college recruiters, earning him a spot at Antelope Valley College and later at the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK).
At UNK, Tyrus thrived as part of the Lopers football team, where he was known for his size and ability. The Lopers offensive line had an average weight of over 300 pounds per player — a team no one wanted to face.
While his athletics were successful, what mattered even more was how much Tyrus grew as a person at UNK. He became a man, learning the importance of structure, discipline, and keeping his promises.
However, financial struggles still followed him. Despite graduating with a bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1998, Tyrus couldn’t afford a cap and gown for his graduation ceremony. Staying true to his character, he refused to ask for help, a decision he later admitted was based on pride.
From bar brawl to wrestling star
Many people may not know this, but Tyrus actually had a few tryouts with the NFL. Unfortunately, those didn’t work out, and later, a ruptured appendix ended his hopes of a career in football.
After this disappointing news, Tyrus started working as a substitute teacher during the day and as a nightclub bouncer at night.
How Tyrus ended up in wrestling is quite an interesting story.
One night in the early 2000s, Tyrus was working as a bouncer when a fight broke out between two troublemakers. The situation quickly got worse, so Tyrus stepped in to stop it. As he describes it, he “clunked their little heads together and carried them out like a suitcase” — all while making jokes.
This caught the attention of professional wrestler Tommy Dreamer, who thought Tyrus’s natural charm and physical presence would look great on TV.
In 2006, Tyrus made his pro wrestling debut under the name Brodus Clay, later becoming known as The Funkasaurus. By 2014, he joined Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), where many fans began to recognize him simply as Tyrus.
How did Tyrus end up on Gutfeld! and Fox
Tyrus’s big personality didn’t just shine in the wrestling ring — it also grabbed the attention of TV producers.
It’s a funny story. It all started when Tyrus playfully called out host Greg Gutfeld on social media, sparking a fun back-and-forth between them. Enjoying their banter, Gutfeld invited Tyrus to appear on the show, which blends politics and satire in a late-night format.
Since 2016, Tyrus has been a regular on Fox News, appearing on shows like Fox & Friends and The Daily Briefing. Known for being talkative even during his football days, his outspoken personality turned out to be a great match for television.
Tyrus became known for speaking his mind and never holding back.
But that’s not all — Tyrus has also explored acting. He has appeared in TV shows like The Purge, MacGyver, and Syn, and in the horror film No One Lives.
In addition to co-hosting the podcast Tyrus & The Wise Men, this multi-talented individual has written two books. His 2022 autobiography, Just Tyrus: A Memoir, became a New York Times bestseller. He followed it up with Nuff Said, released in 2023.
Who is Tyrus’s wife?
Tyrus married his long-time partner, Ingrid Rinck Herbert, on January 7, 2024.
Ingrid, a successful entrepreneur and fitness trainer, has been a major part of Tyrus’ personal life for nearly ten years. Ingrid Murdoch created The Rinck Routine, a brand focused on holistic living and fitness.
She also started Sensible Meals, a company that prepares meals, using her 20 years of experience as a personal trainer to help others reach their health goals.
Tyrus occasionally talks about his wife, and whenever he does, he always speaks highly of her. He lovingly calls Ingrid his “chief of staff, top dog, number one, and queen of my tiny wild kingdom.”
At their home in Mandeville, Louisiana, they shared their special collection of exotic reptiles with others. These days, the couple lives on a farm in New Jersey.
Tyrus’s daughter Georgie
The couple has a daughter, Georgie Rose Murdoch, born on May 7, 2014.
As of 2024, Georgie is 10 years old and likely attending elementary school.
Tyrus and Ingrid have been together since at least 2014, and while they keep their family life mostly private, they sometimes share pictures of their daughter on social media.
One such moment was shared by Ingrid on August 6, 2024, when she posted a picture of Georgie riding a horse, writing a heartfelt message about her daughter’s love for horseback riding:
“The confidence and the poise this sport is bringing to my daughter is amazing. She gets her horse ready from top to bottom and loves every minute of it.
We are so grateful to the equestrian center that we have found here in New Jersey, and even the other moms who have girls competing with Georgie have been so welcoming and teaching us the sport. We have truly found a wonderful place.”
Tyrus has also spoken about his daughter’s natural talent for equestrian sports. Even though Georgie is still new to the sport, she has already won competitions with her loyal, older horse, Rosevelt, affectionately called Teddy.
How many children does Tyrus have?
According to different sources, Tyrus is a proud father of five, but Georgie is said to be his only biological child.
The former wrestler also has two adult sons, Rhett and Rock, from past relationships.
Rhett, one of Tyrus’ stepsons from his wife’s previous relationship, graduated from Mandeville High School in Louisiana in 2021. On May 6, 2021, his mother posted a heartfelt message on Instagram, congratulating him and thanking the school for its support and guidance.
Rock, Rhett’s younger brother, grew up in Mandeville, Louisiana. He was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2014. This condition affects his pancreas and is currently incurable. The healthy meals from Ingrid Rinck’s Sensible Meals company have been very helpful for Rock.
“[Friends] saw my success with portion-controlled meals that I created for my son and wanted me to replicate the meals for them. And that’s how my business started,” Ingrid told Sophisticated Woman in 2018.
While Tyrus sometimes shares parts of the boys’ lives on social media, it’s clear that his daughter with Ingrid holds a very special place in his heart.
Tyrus often posts about Georgie, sharing sweet moments between father and daughter that show just how much she means to him.
Tyrus’s net worth
Tyrus isn’t just a serious news commentator and TV personality—he’s also built up a great fortune over the years. As of 2024, this former wrestler turned actor and commentator has an impressive net worth of $3 million, showing he’s been grabbing opportunities just as well as he did opponents in the ring.
Known for his strong opinions and big personality, some sources say that he earns an annual salary of $45,700 as a political commentator at Fox News.
However, according to various salary websites like Zippia, the average earnings of Fox News contributors is $56,921 per year.
[Updated: 04/02/2025]
