Tony Khan Shoots Down Any Talk of AEW Going Public

AEW may be bigger than ever, but don’t expect Tony Khan to take the company public anytime soon. Despite securing a major new media rights deal with Warner Bros. Discovery at the end of 2024—keeping AEW programming on TBS and TNT while adding a simulcast on Max—Khan made it clear that AEW will remain a family-run business.

Speaking with CNBC’s Alex Sherman, Khan shut down any speculation about AEW joining the stock market.

“I don’t want to. I think we have a great family business. I’m still a relatively young executive. Someday, I’d like to have a family and hopefully they can work in the business. It’s a family business,” Khan said.

Khan’s commitment to keeping AEW private means the company doesn’t have to disclose financial numbers like WWE, but it’s already secured its spot as the second most profitable wrestling promotion in U.S. history.

With AEW’s long-term partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery locked in, the company continues to expand without corporate shareholders dictating its next moves.