The UFC, or Ultimate Fighting Championship, has become one of the most popular and lucrative sports organizations in the world, thanks in part to the efforts of its founders and CEOs. Let’s take a closer look at these individuals and their wealth.
Founders: The UFC was founded in 1993 by a group of businessmen, including Art Davie, Rorion Gracie, and Bob Meyrowitz. While they may have had a vision for the organization, it wasn’t an immediate success. In fact, the UFC struggled to gain mainstream acceptance and went through several changes in ownership before finding its current level of success.
Art Davie is often credited as the founder of the UFC, having come up with the idea for a tournament-style fighting competition. He left the organization after just one event, however, and hasn’t been involved since. His net worth is estimated to be around $300,000.
Rorion Gracie, a member of the famous Gracie family of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners, was also a founder of the UFC. He helped design the original rules of the competition and served as the organization’s first matchmaker. Gracie left the UFC in 1997 and has since focused on teaching martial arts. His net worth is estimated to be around $50 million.
Bob Meyrowitz was the CEO of the UFC’s parent company, Semaphore Entertainment Group, which owned the organization from 1993 to 2001. He oversaw the UFC’s rise to prominence during the 1990s but was eventually forced out by financial troubles. His net worth is estimated to be around $10 million.
CEOs: After Semaphore Entertainment Group sold the UFC to Zuffa LLC in 2001, the organization was led by brothers Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta. They brought in Dana White as the UFC’s president and together, the three of them oversaw the UFC’s explosive growth in the 2000s and beyond.
Lorenzo Fertitta was the CEO of Zuffa LLC from 2001 until 2016, when the organization was sold to talent agency WME-IMG (now Endeavor). Fertitta’s net worth is estimated to be around $2 billion, much of which he earned through his family’s ownership of the Station Casinos chain in Las Vegas.
Frank Fertitta, Lorenzo‘s brother, served as the chairman and CEO of Station Casinos before joining Zuffa LLC as its president. He left the UFC when it was sold to Endeavor but remains involved in the gaming industry. His net worth is estimated to be around $2 billion, just like his brother.
Dana White is perhaps the most recognizable face of the UFC, having served as its president since 2001. He has been instrumental in growing the organization into the global phenomenon it is today, with a net worth of $500 million. White has also been involved in other ventures, including boxing promotion and reality television.
In conclusion, the founders and CEOs of the UFC have played a significant role in building the organization into the powerhouse it is today. While some have moved on to other endeavors, they all played a critical part in the UFC’s success, and their wealth is a reflection of that.
