Ari Emanuel is still cashing major checks—but not quite like he used to.
According to Deadline, Emanuel’s compensation as TKO CEO took a sharp dip in 2024, pulling in $18.1 million compared to a staggering $64.9 million in 2023. The numbers surfaced in the company’s latest SEC proxy filing released on Friday.
Even with that decrease, Emanuel’s overall bank account didn’t suffer. Thanks to several lucrative business moves, he still hauled in serious cash elsewhere. After taking Endeavor private and stepping down as CEO to become executive chairman of the newly renamed WME Group, Emanuel scored $173.8 million from that transaction alone. On top of that, he previously pocketed $308 million from Endeavor’s 2021 IPO—most of it coming from stocks.
While Emanuel’s TKO paycheck shrank, TKO President and COO Mark Shapiro saw his fortunes soar. Shapiro’s pay doubled, jumping from $16.1 million in 2023 to $32 million in 2024.
Emanuel still holds the majority stake in TKO, the powerhouse behind both UFC and WWE, but his day-to-day role—and his yearly payout—looks a lot different now.
Do you think Ari Emanuel’s pay cut reflects where WWE and UFC are heading under TKO? Sound off in the comments and tell us if you think the big money moves are paying off for fans!