UFC head honcho Dana White’s success continues to soar with no end in sight. Over the past two decades, he has transformed the world’s premier MMA promotion from a modest organization into a multi-billion-dollar global powerhouse. With his sharp business acumen, the UFC boss has amassed a net worth of $500 million.  With the ushering in of 2025, tech conglomerate Meta made an announcement about Dana White joining its board of directors, alongside John Elkann, CEO of Exor, and tech investor Charlier Songhurst.

Meta CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg praised Dana White’s appointment, stating that his expertise will “add depth of knowledge and perspective that will help us (Meta) tackle the massive opportunities ahead with AI…human connection.” This move presents another significant opportunity for the 55-year-old, who has long been associated with powerful figures like Elon Musk and the newly elected POTUS Donald Trump. With this new connection to Meta, the UFC boss is undoubtedly securing an even larger slice of the pie, already earning over $20 million per year.

So, how much is he set to gain? According to a document recently shared by renowned MMA journalist Jed I. Goodman on X, which includes the following statement: “According to recent SEC filings, White and Meta’s two other new board members were granted 1,999 restricted stock units (RSUs) as part of their compensation. These RSUs were valued at approximately $1.28 million as of Friday morning.” However, there’s a catch: while a portion of the stock will vest on May 15, 2025, “subject to continued service,” the majority will vest in quarterly installments over the next few years.

In addition to his financial success, Dana White undeniably earned his place among the most influential figures in the US. Last year, he made headlines for his vocal support of his friend and Republican presidential contender, Donald Trump, during the 2024 election campaign. His endorsement played a key role in Trump’s successful bid to return to the White House. However, in an interesting turn of events, Trump offered the UFC boss a position, but Dana declined, calling politics “gross and disgusting” and choosing to stay away from any political office.

Why did Mark Zuckerberg bring Dana White to Meta’s board?

Mark Zuckerberg’s passion for MMA is no secret. Once a self-proclaimed “geek” from Harvard, Zuckerberg, who amassed billions and now holds a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, even considered stepping into Dana White’s UFC ring to face off against Tesla CEO Elon Musk. But fate had other plans for him. Zuckerberg’s training sessions with UFC stars have frequently made headlines, drawing attention from fans and media alike. His connection with the UFC boss began in 2022, when Zuckerberg’s growing interest in MMA led to a friendship with the UFC CEO.

This bond eventually sparked a new business venture, bringing UFC streaming services to Meta’s Horizon Worlds, its virtual reality platform. Now, Mark Zuckerberg is collaborating with Dana White to overhaul UFC’s outdated ranking system, possibly integrating AI. Last week, during an appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience #2255, Zuckerberg revealed that bringing Dana White onto Meta’s board was an easy decision. But what made this decision so straightforward for Zuckerberg?

According to him, it was Dana White’s remarkable journey as UFC president. The Meta CEO told Rogan, “What Dana’s done with the UFC is like one of the most legendary business stories, and the brand is beloved. I think he’s a world-class entrepreneur and he’s got a strong backbone. I think part of the conversation I had with him around joining our board was, OK, we have a lot of governments and folks around the world putting a lot of pressure on our company, and we need some strong people who are going to basically help advise us on how to handle some of these situations.”

What are your thoughts on Dana White’s success in the business world? Given his extensive achievements, do you think he should consider a role in Donald Trump’s administration, potentially taking his career to even greater heights? Share your opinion below.