In a new interview, UFC CEO Dana White revealed when he might walk away from the company and enjoy the fruits of his impressive success.
While the Gracies and men like Campbell McLaren and Art Davie deserve credit for creating the UFC and the sport of MMA, the industry would not be where it is right now without Dana White. The former boxing promoter took over the UFC in 2001 and slowly turned the company into the biggest brand in fight sports.
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However, over the last decade, White has been a part of two major achievements. First in 2016, the promotion he convinced the Fertitta brothers to buy for $2 million over 20 years ago was sold for a whopping $4 billion. Then in 2023, he was a massive part of the UFC and WWE merging under TKO Group Holdings.
With so much success and hundreds of millions made, it would make sense if the 55-year-old saw a finish line for his career. So he can enjoy the fruits of his labor and the massive wealth he has accumulated. However, in a chat with Tucker Carlson this week, White claimed he will be the UFC CEO until the day he dies.
Dana White wants to be UFC CEO forever
“When we sold in 2016, 99 percent of the people said that I was going to retire and walk away,” White said on Tucker Carlson’s podcast. “I’m not wired like that. I’m still out building new brands and doing shit that I don’t need to be doing. But I do it because I love it.
“… I will never retire. Ever. I will keep dogging this out until the day I drop dead. I love it, 100 percent. Hopefully [I’ll be 80 years old ringside].”
Dana White pointed to long-time boxing promoter Bob Arum as an example of what he aims to be. While admits he “hates” Arum, being 93-year-old and still active in the business is something the UFC boss hopes to mirror 30 years from now.
