When did Dana White buy the UFC? How much of the UFC does Dana White own?
When did Dana White buy UFC? Dana White is the key figure in UFC history, but does Dana White own any of the UFC? Here is everything you need to know about Dana White and his ownership in the UFC. Watch & Bet on Sports =>
Who is the original owner of UFC?
Founded as a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) organization in 1993, UFC® has transformed the fight industry and is now the world’s largest Pay-Per-View (PPV) event provider, premium global sports brand, and media content company.
Under the direction of founders Frank Fertitta III, Lorenzo Fertitta, and Dana White, Zuffa, LLC assumed ownership of the UFC in January 2001, and the UFC brand transformed mixed martial arts (MMA) into a highly regulated, sanctioned, and controlled combat sport. With a global workforce and headquarters in Las Vegas, UFC hosts over 40 live events a year that routinely sell out some of the most prominent arenas in the world.
A group led by Endeavor, then known as William Morris Endeavor (WME-IMG), which included Silver Lake Partners, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, and MSD Capital, purchased UFC’s parent company, Zuffa, in 2016 for US$4.025 billion. Endeavor paid $1.7 billion to acquire Zuffa’s other owners in 2021. As of January 2023, the group had contracted 578 fighters.
Who owns the UFC in 2024?
American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion organization The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. TKO Group Holdings, a subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings with a majority stake, owns and runs it. As of 2023, it’s the biggest MMA promotion worldwide. Followers of the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts, it organizes competitions across the globe with 11 weight divisions (three women’s and eight men’s). It hosted more than 700 events as of 2024. Since 2023, Dana White has served as its CEO and president since 2001. The company has expanded into a multibillion-dollar global operation under White’s leadership.
Endeavor Group Holdings announced in April 2023 that the UFC and the wrestling promotion WWE will combine to become TKO Group Holdings, a new public company that Endeavor owns a controlling stake in. White will continue to serve as UFC president, and Vince McMahon will serve as executive chairman of the new firm. September 12, 2023, marked the completion of the merger.
Who owns UFC?
TKO Group Holders
TKO Group Holdings is presently the owner of UFC. Zuffa, the parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) merged to form the corporation, which is a subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. On September 12, 2023, the merger was finalized, uniting two significant media firms in the sports entertainment sector.
Endeavor was anticipated to own a majority (51%), while WWE’s shareholders would own a minority (49%), holding in TKO Group Holdings following this deal. Due to this combination, WWE would have been worth $9.1 billion, indicating its enormous potential and worth.
TKO Group Holdings is home to prominent individuals, such as WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon. A 34% share in the new corporation was given to McMahon as part of the transaction. However, recent data indicates a decline in his ownership portion of the business.
In addition to McMahon, TKO Holdings has a wide range of shareholders. State Street Corporation, Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Co., Lindsell Train Ltd., BlackRock Advisors LLC, Ninety One UK Ltd., Darlington Partners Capital Management LP, Fidelity Management & Research Co. LLC, Eaton Vance Management, and Independent Franchise Partners LLP are a few of the major shareholders.
State Street Corporation owns 2.053% of TKO Group Holdings, while Vincent McMahon owns 13.98%. These stockholders have different ownership percentages. The total worth of their interests shows how much trust and money they have put into the new conglomerate.
When did Dana White take over the UFC?
Dana White, the president of the UFC, also plays a key role in the ownership structure of the business. White’s foresight, leadership, and spirit of entrepreneurship have been crucial in making UFC the dominant force it is today. His influence and decision-making are crucial in determining the organization’s course, even though he is not a majority stakeholder.
The UFC was in debt by millions of dollars when White and the Fertitta brothers took it, and several jurisdictions in the US still prohibited its events. The organization became professional under White’s direction, enacting laws that reduced violence in the sport and obtaining formal approval from state authorities. The Ultimate Fighter, a reality TV program, introduced the sport to new viewers in 2005. By 2010, the UFC was selling an average of 587,000 pay-per-view tickets per event.
UFC stars, notably Irish fighter Conor McGregor, began breaking into mainstream celebrity. In 2016, the talent agency WME-IMG bought UFC for $4 billion; White’s share as part owner was more than $300 million. He remained in his role as president until 2023, when the company merged with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), and he was named CEO of UFC.
Does Dana White own UFC?
Dana White, who owns stock in the UFC, has been a crucial component of its ownership structure. His original ownership position in the UFC was lowered to 9% when a Flash Entertainment subsidiary paid $175.7 million in 2009 to purchase a 10% stake in Zuffa. As the UFC President, Dana White continued to play a crucial role in determining the organization’s tactics and supporting its competitors, even after his ownership stake was reduced.
How much did Dana White buy UFC for?
The UFC was purchased by White, Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta, and Zuffa, LLC in January 2001 for $2 million. The purchase contained contracts for about a dozen fighters, the UFC trademark, and a wooden octagon.The UFC owed millions of dollars at the time of the acquisition.
White owns more than $300 million of the UFC, which was purchased by WME-IMG for $4 billion in 2016. Prior to his appointment as CEO of UFC following the company’s merger with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in 2023, White served as president. In 2001, Dana White and the Fertitta brothers paid $2 million to acquire the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
FAQ on Dana White and the UFC acquisition
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about Dana White and the UFC acquisition.
How did Dana White make his money to buy UFC?
Although Dana White was not the direct buyer of the UFC, he was instrumental in its acquisition and subsequent expansion. Instead of using his own money to purchase the UFC, Dana White’s greatest source of riches came from his contribution to its expansion following its acquisition.
How much is UFC worth now?
As of 2024, the UFC’s estimated valuation is over $12 billion, reflecting its dominance as the world’s largest mixed martial arts organization. This growth is part of its integration into TKO Group Holdings, formed in 2023 after the UFC merged with WWE.
More about UFC:
- UFC Live Stream Free? How To Watch UFC Streams Live Online Free!
- UFC On TV Tonight: What Channel, Time And Where To Watch UFC In UK?
- Best UFC Fighters of All Time
- Conor McGregor Next Fight In UFC
- UFC Results 2024
Table of Contents
