Quick Facts: WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment)
| Owner | TKO Group Holdings (Endeavor Group + WWE merger) |
| CEO | Mark Shapiro (TKO Group Holdings) |
| Founded | 1952 (as Capitol Wrestling Corporation) |
| Headquarters | Stamford, Connecticut, USA |
| Ownership Type | Public |
| Stock Ticker | NYSE: TKO |
| Publicly Traded | Yes |
Who Owns WWE?
WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) is owned by TKO Group Holdings, a publicly traded sports and entertainment conglomerate formed in September 2023 through the merger of WWE and UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) under the umbrella of Endeavor Group Holdings. TKO Group Holdings trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol TKO. The entity that effectively controls TKO is Endeavor Group Holdings, led by talent agency powerhouse Ari Emanuel, who serves as TKO’s Executive Chairman. Mark Shapiro serves as TKO’s CEO, overseeing both the WWE and UFC divisions under the combined company.
The WWE-UFC merger through Endeavor was announced in April 2023 and closed in September 2023, creating one of the most powerful combat sports and entertainment entities in the world. The combined company controls two of the most valuable combat sports brands globally — WWE’s professional wrestling content library and live events, and UFC’s mixed martial arts programming — along with vast libraries of historical content, global distribution relationships, and lucrative television deals. Endeavor Group Holdings, led by Ari Emanuel (brother of former Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel), had acquired the UFC in 2016 for approximately $4 billion and then engineered the WWE combination to create TKO.
The WWE brand was built over decades by the McMahon family. Vince McMahon took control of the World Wrestling Federation (as it was then known) from his father in 1982 and transformed it from a regional territory into a global entertainment empire. McMahon drove the Hulkamania era in the 1980s, WrestleMania’s launch in 1985, and the Attitude Era of the late 1990s that made WWE a cultural phenomenon. He returned from retirement to oversee the Endeavor deal in 2023 but resigned from all WWE and TKO-related roles in January 2024 following serious allegations of sexual assault and trafficking detailed in a federal lawsuit.
About TKO Group Holdings and Endeavor
TKO Group Holdings was structured so that Endeavor Group Holdings holds approximately 51% of TKO, while former WWE public shareholders received the remaining approximately 49%. Ari Emanuel, whose Endeavor company also owns WME (William Morris Endeavor), the world’s largest talent agency, has positioned TKO as a sports media powerhouse. The company has multi-billion dollar television deals with USA Network, Netflix, and Fox Sports, and the revenue potential of combining WWE’s global wrestling audience with UFC’s MMA fanbase has made TKO one of the most closely watched entities in sports media.
Key Ownership Highlights
- TKO Group Holdings was formed in September 2023: WWE merged with UFC under Endeavor Group Holdings to create TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) in September 2023. The merger combined two of the world’s most valuable combat sports and entertainment brands under one public company.
- Endeavor/Ari Emanuel controls TKO: Endeavor Group Holdings, led by CEO Ari Emanuel, holds approximately 51% of TKO Group Holdings, giving Endeavor effective control. Emanuel also serves as TKO’s Executive Chairman, while Mark Shapiro is CEO.
- Vince McMahon built WWE over 40 years: Vince McMahon transformed WWE from a regional wrestling territory into a global entertainment empire over four decades, creating WrestleMania, launching the Attitude Era, and taking WWE public. He resigned from all WWE/TKO roles in January 2024 following legal allegations.
- WWE and Netflix signed a landmark deal: Following the TKO formation, WWE signed a landmark multi-year deal with Netflix to stream Monday Night Raw beginning in January 2025, one of the most significant television rights deals in WWE’s history and a major step in the streaming era for sports entertainment.
- The McMahon family no longer controls WWE: The McMahon family, which controlled WWE for decades through supervoting shares, no longer has operational or ownership control following the Endeavor merger. Stephanie McMahon (Vince’s daughter) also stepped down from her WWE board role as part of the transition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns WWE?
WWE is owned by TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO), formed through the September 2023 merger of WWE and UFC under Endeavor Group Holdings. Endeavor, led by Ari Emanuel, controls approximately 51% of TKO. Mark Shapiro is CEO of TKO Group Holdings.
Is WWE publicly traded?
Yes. WWE operates under TKO Group Holdings, which is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol TKO. TKO Group Holdings began trading in September 2023 following the WWE-UFC merger.
Does Vince McMahon still own WWE?
No. Vince McMahon, who built WWE into a global entertainment empire, resigned from all WWE and TKO Group Holdings roles in January 2024 following serious legal allegations. The McMahon family no longer controls WWE, which is now under TKO Group Holdings/Endeavor.
What is the relationship between WWE and UFC?
WWE and UFC are sister brands under TKO Group Holdings, the publicly traded company created by their September 2023 merger under Endeavor Group Holdings. Both brands retain their separate identities, programming, and talent rosters while sharing corporate parent company resources and infrastructure.
