A successful appeal by Gawker Media could leave Hulk Hogan with little, or any, of the $140 million he was awarded by a Florida jury. He says that doesn't matter.
"I made my point," Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, said during an interview Wednesday on "The View." "Even if I lost, I made people aware that this shouldn't happen to normal people, especially any kids that are on social media...Gawker is the ultimate bully and I just didn't want it to happen to you or anybody here."
Gawker will appeal the verdict returned by the jury, which found that Hogan's privacy was violated when the website published excerpts from his sex tape in 2012.
Asked if he expects to collect any of the damages, Hogan responded with a shrug.
"Who knows?" he said.
Gawker is confident that it will ultimately be vindicated, citing the fact that Florida's Second District Court of Appeals has already proven sympathetic to its argument that the publication of the excerpts is protected by the First Amendment.
Attorneys for the company also note that the jury was deprived of a huge number of recently unsealed documents, as well as crucial testimony from Bubba "the Love Sponge" Clem, the radio host who recorded his then-wife, Heather Cole, having sex with Hogan.
Related: Gawker's Nick Denton certain he will still beat Hulk Hogan
The unsealed documents, released to the public last week, indicate that Clem told federal investigators that Hogan was aware he was being recorded. Clem, who settled with Hogan for a mere $5,000, walked that back in subsequent depositions. The judge who presided over the trial, Pamela Campbell, quashed Gawker's subpoena for Clem to testify.
During a Wednesday morning appearance CNBC, Denton said he feels "a little bit poorer" than he did before the trial. But Denton said his company can "absolutely" stay in business.
"This was one of several rounds," he said. "There are still a few more to go."
Hogan was asked on "The View" if he wanted to put Gawker out of business, a question that drew a quick response from his longtime attorney, David Houston.
Related: Hulk Hogan juror: 'Video was worse than I expected'
"Look, if they're going to practice what they call journalism that way, they should be out of business, no question," Houston said.
Hogan was more magnanimous.
"There's a bunch of talented kids that work for [Denton]," Hogan said. "It would be great if they did a 180 and just did great stories, and good things."
