In 2001, Vince McMahon, the former CEO of the WWE, purchased the WCW, a rival company of his pro wrestling promotion (two years later, he also brokered a deal for the ECW). Meanwhile, as a part of the company's televised storyline on Monday Night Raw and Monday Nitro, Vince's son, Shane, swooped in and bought the WCW along with the entire roster. Unbeknownst to the public was Shane McMahon's real-life attempt to buy the UFC just one year before when Dana White purchased the MMA company for just $2 million in 2001. Much like his father in 1982, Shane had the foresight to see the potential in an entertainment company and sport that not too many people thought would last. The only difference is Vince McMahon Sr. believed in his son's vision enough to sell him the WWE for $1 million. In contrast, Vince McMahon Jr. did not see eye-to-eye with Shane's plan for the UFC before ultimately making the decision to pass on what would become the most prominent MMA company in the world. Nevertheless, it all worked out. Today, Vince McMahon Jr. is worth upwards of $3 billion, Dana White is worth $500 million and Shane McMahon's net worth is approximately $100 million. Both companies now operate under the same umbrella as a part of the media conglomerate known as TKO Holdings.
In a recent interview on Big Boy's Neighborhood, Dana White talked about the risk he took in purchasing the UFC while also shedding some light on Shane McMahon's foresight in wanting to buy the company before it took off globally.
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