Wrestling is one of the most dangerous sports in the world. The higher the risk, the wealthier the company. This brings us to a very interesting question. Right now, the world’s biggest wrestling promotions are WWE and AEW. But who is the richest of them all? Let’s find out.
History of WWE and AEW
WWE has been around for almost 70 years now. The current owner aka chairman and CEO is Vince McMahon.
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The company was originally a brainchild of Vince’s grandfather Jesse McMahon. WWE (then WWF) stood witness to lots of up and downs. However, the company remains a monument in the wrestling world.
In comparison, AEW is just an infant. Billionaires Shahid and Tony Khan founded the company last year.
However, in these few days, AEW established itself as a worthy competitor to WWE. This was all because of their financial backing. This brings us to the real question.
Who is Richer – Vince McMahon or Tony Khan?
In last year’s Forbes “The World’s Billionaires” list, Vince McMahon ranked on number 691 with an estimated net worth of $3.2 billion. Along with WWE, Vince is the owner of Alpha Entertainment. Vince’s Forbes profile says,
Vince McMahon is chairman and CEO of entertainment company World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), which hauls in nearly $1 billion in annual revenue.
A third generation wrestling promoter, McMahon grew up in a trailer park in North Carolina and joined his father’s small wrestling company in 1972.
McMahon purchased the business 10 years later, then transformed the World Wrestling Federation from a regional operation into a global phenomenon.
WWF (now called WWE) went public in 1999; today its programs are broadcast in roughly 150 countries and more than 30 languages.His foundation has gifted funds to the Boys & Girls Club of Stamford, CT, and Breast Cancer Alliance.
Although Tony Khan’s name did not feature in the list, his father and business tycoon Shahid Khan ranked as the 224th richest person with $7.2 billion.
His net worth is almost double that of Vince’s. Not only does Shahid own AEW, but he also owns teams in NFL and EPL. He is the richest man of Pakistani origin.
His profile says,
An engineer by trade, Shahid Khan bought auto parts supplier Flex-N-Gate from his former employer in 1980.
His design for a one-piece truck bumper was the basis for his success; the company now has 64 plants worldwide and over 24,000 employees.
Khan also owns the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars, which he bought in 2012, and UK’s Fulham football club, which he bought in 2013.
Khan’s 300-foot superyacht Kismet, which took 6 years to build, was delivered at the end of 2014.
He has donated over $25 million to his alma mater, the University of Illinois
So, in conclusion, Shahid and Tony Khan are way richer then Vince McMahon.
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However, this does not mean AEW is equal to WWE. Throughout the years, WWE has invested wealth into assets like the Titan Towers, Performance Centre, and state-of-the-art technology like the ThunderDome.
In terms of technology, WWE is always trying to be better. However, fans are often disappointed with the storylines and this is where AEW gains an advantage.
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At the same time, WWE feeds on nostalgia. AEW has tried to capitalize on the same by hiring former WWE wrestlers.
Let’s see who will be the last man standing in this ‘Battle of the Billionaires.’