The largest deal in sports history is poised to make UFC President Dana White one of the richest league officials in all of professional sports.
Following the $4 billion sale of the UFC to WME-IMG and partners, White is expected to stay on in his current position, according to ESPN. Reports are White signed on to a five-year deal that will reward him with 9 percent of the company’s net profits.
The promotion’s total revenue in 2015 was $600 million, according to former Chairman Lorenzo Fertitta. Using ballpark estimates, ESPN estimated this would put the UFC’s bottom-line profits somewhere in the range of $200 million, meaning White would make approximately $18 million a year to start.
The deal is contingent on net profits, so White’s salary will likely fluctuate from year-to-year. Still, this deal greatly incentivizes him to continue growing the sport.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell still netted almost twice as much last year as White projects to in 2016. However, White has more than one stream of cash coming in from this deal. Prior to the sale, White owned 9 percent of the fighting promotion. Thus, after some quick math, his share of the sale was worth $360 million.
So, not only did this sale give White a one-time cash out of $360 million, he also gets to stay on for at least five more years at starting salary of $18 million. Not bad work, if you can get it.
[ESPN]
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About Ben Sieck
Ben is a recent graduate of Butler University where he served as Managing Editor and Co-Editor-in-Chief for the Butler Collegian. He currently resides in Indianapolis.