Ari Emanuel’s 2023 Pay Package: $65 Million KO

Ari Emanuel, the CEO of TKO Group Holdings, took home a hefty compensation package valued at nearly $65 million last year. This package included a $911,538 salary, a $24 million bonus, and $40 million in stock awards, as per TKO’s 2023 proxy filing. This comes after the $300 million-plus package he received in 2021, showcasing the company’s commitment to rewarding its top executives.

TKO’s president and COO, Mark Shapiro, earned a package valued at $16.1 million, while CFO Andrew Schleimer received an $8.8 million package. WWE president Nick Khan, who also serves on the board, took home $32 million in compensation.

The merger of UFC with WWE to create TKO Group Holdings has positioned the company as a live sports powerhouse. TKO will soon be Endeavor’s only exposure to the public markets, as the core Endeavor holding company is set to go private in a $13 billion deal with Silver Lake. This deal ensures that Endeavor’s controlling stake in TKO will not be sold.

Despite recent successes, TKO faced challenges as chairman Vince McMahon resigned from the board following a sex trafficking lawsuit against him. McMahon was paid $376,323 in 2023 for his executive work with the company.

Overall, TKO’s financial performance and strategic partnerships, such as the $5 billion deal with Netflix for “Raw” and the addition of Dwayne Johnson to its board of directors, have solidified its position in the sports and entertainment industry.