One of the most powerful organizations in the entertainment industry, Endeavor is led by one of the highest-paid executives in the world, Ari Emanuel. The influence of Emanuel is not an exaggeration; Ari Gold from the TV show Entourage is based in part of him.
Endeavor has recently taken over the combat sports world. The organization acquired the UFC and, in 2021, took full ownership of the MMA giant. It was only a matter of time before MMA wasn’t the only thing it had in the palm of its hands.
Recently, there was a merger with Endeavor and Vince McMahon’s WWE. A new publicly traded company will form between the UFC and WWE, with Endeavor owning 51% of WWE.
“This is a rare opportunity to create a global live sports and entertainment pureplay built for where the industry is headed,” Endeavor CEO Emanuel said in a release. “For decades, Vince and his team have demonstrated an incredible track record of innovation and shareholder value creation, and we are confident that Endeavor can deliver significant additional value for shareholders by bringing UFC and WWE together.”
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UFC has a value of over $12.1 billion, while WWE has a market value of about $9.3 billion. The new company has a net valuation of about $21 billion. It is considered another successful business deal for Endeavor.
Here is a breakdown of Endeavor, and the man leading the machine, Ari Emanuel.
What is Endeavor?
Originally William Morris Endeavor and WME-IMG, Endeavor was founded in 2009 following a merger with the Endeavor Talent Agency, which formed in 1995, and William Morris Agency. The organization is a talent and media agency representing athletes, TV and movie stars, and all forms of digital media.
When William Morris Endeavor acquired IMG in 2014, it changed its name to WME-IMG. In 2017, it was named simply Endeavor.
“WME-IMG represented a pivotal moment in our company’s history, but it does not accurately reflect the extent of our diversity or indicate where we’re headed,” Emanuel said via The Hollywood Reporter. “In creating Endeavor, we now have a holding company that represents the very definition of the word itself, constantly striving to push boundaries on behalf of our clients and owned properties.”
Representing athletes in the NFL and NHL, WME-IMG has represented MMA and pro wrestling personalities Ronda Rousey and Conor McGregor.
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The organization acquired Global eSports Management and later the UFC. Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta sold a majority stake of the UFC to Endeavor in July 2016, and the company took full ownership of the UFC in 2021. Per an SEC filing, Endeavor raised at least $1.75 billion to buy out the remainder of the UFC. That same year, it had its initial public offering.
Who is Ari Emanuel
Born in 1961 in Chicago, Emanuel started his career as an agent for the Creative Artists Agency (CAA) in 1987. He was made a partner at InterTalent in 1990 and was a senior agent at ICM Partners.
In 1995, Emanuel founded Endeavor, along with three others from ICM, who got fired when they were planning to start an agency. The organization represented some of the top figures in the entertainment world, including Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Sacha Baron Cohen, and Christian Bale.
In 2009, former CAA talent head Patrick Whitesell and Emanuel became the architects of a merger between the William Morris Agency and the Endeavor Talent Agency.
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Emanuel’s brother Rahm served as Chief of Staff to President Barack Obama and later became Mayor of Chicago.
What is Ari Emanuel’s net worth?
Per Celebrity Net Worth, Emanuel has a net worth of about $450 million.
His salary is ranged to be at around $10 million. An SEC filing in March 2022 revealed that Emanuel earned $308 million in total compensation.