Dana Frederick White Jr. (born July 28, 1969) is an American businessman and the CEO and president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), a global mixed martial arts organization. He is also the owner of Power Slap, a slap fighting promotion. In August 2019, White’s net worth was estimated at $500 million.
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Table of Contents
Dana White Net Worth
Dana White has a net worth of $500 million. Before selling the company, he owned 9% of the UFC. When the UFC was sold to William Morris Endeavor (WME) for $4 billion in 2016, Dana’s 9% stake earned him around $360 million after taxes.
The Fertitta brothers had previously sold the majority stake in the organization. In 2023, Endeavor (formerly WME-IMG) merged WWE with UFC, with White continuing as UFC president.
Early Life
Dana White was born in Manchester, Connecticut, to June and Dana White Sr. He grew up in Ware, Massachusetts, before relocating to Las Vegas with his family.
White attended Bishop Gorman High School and later graduated from Hermon High School. After brief stints at Quincy College and UMass Boston, he worked various jobs before opening a boxing gym in Boston. Due to threats from mobster Whitey Bulger, White moved to Las Vegas, continuing his training and entering the fight business.
Career
While managing fighters, Dana White discovered that Semaphore Entertainment Group, the parent company of the UFC, was financially struggling. He approached his childhood friend, Lorenzo Fertitta, who saw potential profit and made a deal to buy the UFC.
In 2001, the Fertitta brothers purchased an 81% stake for $2 million and appointed White as president. Under his leadership, the UFC transformed into a global phenomenon. White continued to lead, launching Dana White’s Contender Series in 2017 and signing a new contract with ESPN in 2019. In January 2023, he debuted Power Slap, later canceled by TBS.
Personal life
Dana White met his wife, Anne (née Stella), in eighth grade, and they married in 1996. They have two sons and one daughter. In 2006, White purchased a mansion in Pine Island Court, Las Vegas for $1.95 million from Frank Fertitta III. Between 2016 and 2017, he bought three more mansions in the area for around $6.2 million, with plans for a mega-mansion.
Raised Catholic, White is now an atheist. In 2011, his mother, June, released an unauthorized biography, claiming he had “turned his back” on his family.
Was Dana White ever a fighter?
Dana White developed a love for fighting at a young age and competed as an amateur boxer. He eventually shifted his focus to the business side of combat sports, managing MMA fighters before becoming president and later CEO of the UFC.
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Conclusion
Dana White’s financial success story is intertwined with his passion for mixed martial arts and his visionary leadership in sports entertainment. His journey from a boxercise coach to a multimillionaire UFC president is a testament to his entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen, making him a prominent figure in the sports world.
FAQs about Dana White Net Worth
- What is Dana White’s estimated net worth? Dana White’s estimated net worth is approximately $500 million.
- How did Dana White accumulate his wealth? His wealth stems from his successful tenure as UFC president and his strategic business decisions in the sports industry.
- What role does Dana White play in UFC? Dana White serves as the president of UFC, guiding its strategic direction and growth.
- Has Dana White been involved in other business ventures? Yes, White has been involved in various ventures, including health and wellness, and played a role in the merger between WWE and UFC’s parent company.
- What impact has Dana White had on UFC? Dana White transformed UFC into a global sports phenomenon, increasing its value and popularity worldwide.
