Hulk Hogan wants Gawker to put up $150M to appeal verdict

Hulk Hogan wants Gawker, its founder and an ex-editor to put up $150 million to appeal his successful invasion-of-privacy suit.

In court papers filed ahead of a Wednesday court hearing in Florida, the former pro-wrestling champ says he will fight efforts by Gawker, Nick Denton and A.J. Daulerio to forestall paying him $140 million by posting a bond of just $50 million or less.

Hogan will instead ask that the three losing defendants be forced to each put $50 million in escrow — although the filing includes the words “(as adjusted)” in an apparent nod to Daulerio’s lack of assets and $27,000 in college loans.

A Gawker spokesman scoffed at the demand.

“The notion that Hulk Hogan is owed $140 million for snippets from a sex tape made by his best friend . . . is as absurd as the notion that Gawker has been anything other than transparent with its finances,” he said.