The Rock’s SmackDown promo had fans rushing to Google, not just about his WrestleMania plans, but also about how much power he actually holds in WWE. While he declared himself “the most powerful man in WWE” on live television, the reality of his ownership stake in TKO Group Holdings, Inc. tells a different story.

The Rock currently owns about 0.23% of TKO stock—which, based on today’s market value, is worth around $61 million. That might sound like a lot, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s a fraction of the company’s ownership.

For comparison, Vince McMahon still holds nearly 5% of TKO stock as of September 2024, which translates to a market value of roughly $1.27 billion. Meanwhile, controlling ownership of TKO—and therefore WWE—is held by Endeavor, the powerhouse talent agency that merged UFC and WWE into TKO Group Holdings in 2023.

TKO Group Holdings, Inc. Ownership Breakdown (as of April 24, 2024):

  • Endeavor / Silver Lake – 54% (Controlling interest)
  • Vince McMahon – 4.7%
  • BlackRock, Inc. – 3.7%
  • The Vanguard Group – 3.5%
  • Lindsell Train Limited – 3.5%
  • Ninety One Plc – 2.6%
  • Morgan Stanley – 2.5%
  • Numerous other owners (each under 2.5%) – 26%
  • Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson – 0.23% (vesting by year-end, valued at $61M)

Before the merger, Vince McMahon controlled WWE with a minority stake, thanks to a dual-class stock system that gave Class B shares—held only by Vince, Linda McMahon, and their descendants—ten times the voting power of Class A common shares available to other investors. This setup, used by major companies like Facebook and Google, allowed Vince to maintain control without needing a majority of shares.

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Now, under TKO, that system no longer exists, and Endeavor has full control of WWE’s direction. While The Rock is a shareholder and a powerful voice in the company, his 0.23% stake means he doesn’t hold any significant influence over major business decisions.

So, while The Rock might be calling the shots in the storyline, when it comes to real boardroom power—he’s still a small player compared to Endeavor and Vince McMahon.

Does this change how you see The Rock’s influence in WWE? Should he try to acquire more control in TKO? Drop your thoughts below!

Steve Carrier is the founder of Ringside News and has been reporting on pro wrestling since 1997. His stories have been featured on TMZ, Forbes, Bleacher Report, and more.

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