Dana White Net Worth (Money & Salary)
Dana White Net Worth (Money & Salary)
October 30, 2024
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Exploring Dana White’s Earnings
Dana White boasts a net worth of $500 million as an American businessman and sports promoter. He is most recognized for his role as the current President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), a renowned mixed martial arts organization.
During UFC’s acquisition by William Morris Endeavor (WME) for $4 billion in 2016, Dana retained a 9% ownership stake. Having previously sold the majority to the Fertitta brothers, his share of the sale amounted to around $360 million after taxes.
White’s vision and leadership have led to the transformation of UFC from a struggling entity to a global powerhouse in mixed martial arts (MMA), credited with propagating the sport on a global scale. His tenure has ushered in UFC’s expansion into international territories, lucrative TV deals, and a substantial growth in fan following and revenues.
White’s innovative marketing strategies and the nurturing of star athletes have been instrumental in pushing MMA into the mainstream sports arena. By organizing high-profile fights and elevating the sport’s stature, he has solidified UFC’s dominance in the MMA realm. His contributions have not only reshaped the perception of MMA but have also played a vital role in its professionalization and regulation.
Aside from his UFC endeavors, White has ventured into boxing with Zuffa Boxing and engaged in various philanthropic initiatives. His dynamic persona and hands-on approach have established him as a prominent figure in the sports realm, garnering attention for his bold decisions and efforts in advancing MMA.
Dana White’s Background
Dana White entered this world as Dana Frederick White Jr. on July 28th, 1969, in Manchester, Connecticut, to parents June and Dana. His upbringing, primarily overseen by his mother and grandparents, involved transitioning between Las Vegas and Maine. He immersed himself in sports during his youth, particularly boxing, and has remained a steadfast fan of the Boston Red Sox baseball team. He completed his education at Hermon High School in Maine in 1987.
The Formative Years
Although White began his educational journey at the University of Massachusetts, he left before graduating. During this period, he initiated a boxing program for at-risk youth in urban areas and worked as an aerobics instructor to sustain himself. His permanent move to Las Vegas in 1992 marked the establishment of Dana White Enterprises.
At this juncture, White began managing fighters like Chuck Lidell and Tito Ortiz while expanding into various combat styles, notably Mixed Martial Arts and Muay Thai, which would redefine the UFC later on.
White’s fortuitous connection with Lorenzo Fertitta, a former high school comrade and executive at Station Casinos, proved pivotal. Reuniting in the mid-’90s at a wedding, they bonded over boxing and expressed their desire to collaborate in the future.
The UFC Journey
White’s entanglement with UFC stemmed from disputes while managing fighters. Upon uncovering Semaphore Entertainment Group’s financial woes, the parent company of UFC, he approached childhood friend Lorenzo Fertitta with a proposal.
Fertitta swiftly recognized the profit potential and sealed the deal to acquire UFC. Enlisting his brother Frank, the Fertitta brothers secured an 81% ownership share in UFC for $2 million in 2001 and appointed White as president. Since acquiring UFC, White and his team have catapulted the once perceived barbaric and illicit organization into a global phenomenon.
White’s tenure as president endured even after the company’s sale. Under his guidance, UFC’s popularity surged, transforming it into a multi-billion dollar enterprise. In May 2017, UFC announced White’s hosting role in “Dana White’s Contender Series,” exclusively available through UFC’s digital streaming platform, UFC Fight Pass. Featuring budding fighters, the show served as a platform for talent discovery aiming to propel athletes to UFC stardom. White inked a fresh contract with ESPN in March 2019, confirming his continued presidency for seven additional years.
In January 2023, White introduced “Power Slap” as a slap-fighting venture, which reportedly faced cancellation by TBS.
UFC’s Transition to WME
Prior to the company’s sale, Dana held a 9% UFC ownership. Reports in May 2016 hinted at the Fertitta brothers negotiating a sale of UFC for up to $6 billion, valuing Dana’s stake at $540 million. In July 2016, UFC’s acquisition by talent agency WME-IMG for $4 billion was confirmed, translating to $360 million pre-tax for White.
In 2023, Endeavor (formerly WME-IMG) orchestrated a merger between WWE and UFC under a new public entity, with White retaining his position as UFC president.
Controversies
In 2009, derogatory and explicit language was used by White towards reporter Loretta Hunt in response to a report she had published which upset him. He made use of anti-gay slurs when referring to her sources. Following this incident, GLAAD called for White and the UFC to issue an apology for the use of the anti-gay slur, which they subsequently did.
During a New Year’s Eve party in 2023 at a nightclub in Mexico, White was involved in an argument with his wife, Anne. The situation escalated when Anne slapped him, and he then retaliated by slapping her back. This altercation was captured on camera. Both parties took responsibility for their actions, attributing the incident to alcohol, and issued public apologies.
Personal Life
Since 1996, White has been married to his wife Anne, whom he met during their eighth-grade school years. Together, they have two sons, Aidan and Dana III, and a daughter named Savannah. White opts to maintain privacy regarding his family life.
In May 2012, White disclosed that he had been diagnosed with a neurological disorder called Ménière’s disease, which he attributes to a fight he was involved in during his youth. By 2022, he received a diagnosis indicating extremely high triglyceride levels and other irregularities. He stated that adhering to a keto diet has significantly improved his symptoms, rectifying his sleep apnea and alleviating leg pain.
Notably, White was a vocal supporter of Donald Trump during his initial presidential campaign. He actively endorsed Trump’s reelection bid in 2020, emphasizing the President’s early support for the UFC which allowed the organization to host one of its early major events at one of his properties.
White has engaged in philanthropic endeavors, such as donating $50,000 towards a liver transplant for Tuptim Jadnooleum, the daughter of a Tiger Muay Thai instructor, in 2010. Additionally, in 2011, he contributed $100,000 towards renovations at his former high school.
Real Estate
In 2006, White purchased a mansion in Pine Island Court, Las Vegas, for $1.95 million. Subsequently, between October 2016 and June 2017, he acquired three additional properties in the same vicinity, amounting to a total investment of approximately $6.2 million. Demolition permits were obtained for the original houses, and White and his family now reside in an opulent Las Vegas mega-mansion.
Accolades
In 2009, White received the Nevada Sportsman of the Year award. He secured the Promoter of the Year title for nine consecutive years at the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards. From 2008 to 2019, he was honored with the Leading Man of the Year distinction at the World MMA Awards. In 2019, the Patriot Award was bestowed upon him by the Armed Forces Foundation.
Data is from 2023 and 2024 with forecast data extending to 2025, 2026, 2027, and 2028.
* This information was taken from various sources around the world, including these countries:
Australia, Canada, USA, UK, UAE, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Indonesia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya, US, United Kingdom, United States of America, Malaysia, U.S., South Africa, New Zealand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates.
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antarctica, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan.
Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bouvet Island, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Territory, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi.
Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling Islands), Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Croatia (Hrvatska), Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic.
Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Faroe Islands, Fiji, Finland, France, Metropolitan, French Guiana, French Polynesia, French Southern Territories.
Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Heard and McDonald Islands, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy.
Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg.
Macau, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar.
Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, New Zealand (NZ), Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway.
Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Pitcairn, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe.
Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Helena, St. Pierre and Miquelon, Sudan, Suriname, Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria.
Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates (UAE), UK (United Kingdom), USA (United States of America, U.S.), US Minor Outlying Islands.
Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City State (Holy See), Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands (British), Virgin Islands (US), Wallis and Futuna Islands, Western Sahara, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Dana White Net Worth (Money & Salary)