Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel received a staggering $84 million pay package last year, as disclosed in the company’s proxy filing. President Mark Shapiro and executive chairman Patrick Whitesell also saw significant paydays, with Shapiro receiving $38.8 million and Whitesell earning $13.2 million in 2023.
Emanuel’s pay package includes his compensation from TKO Group Holdings, the owners of WWE and UFC, where he received nearly $65 million last year. After three years as a public company, Endeavor is set to go private, with Emanuel, Whitesell, and Shapiro set to benefit from generous deal-related bonuses.
The executives are incentivized to be sellers, with Emanuel and Shapiro receiving asset sale bonuses. Emanuel could receive $25 million when certain assets are sold, while Shapiro could earn up to $100 million if all businesses on the block are sold. However, WME’s representation business and the majority stake in TKO cannot be sold.
Additionally, Emanuel and Whitesell will each receive a private plane from Endeavor’s fleet, with the company reimbursing them for business use. Whitesell will remain as chairman of Endeavor and continue his work with WME, while Silver Lake is committing $250 million to finance a new media company.
Emanuel and Whitesell will receive royalty payments from WME, with Whitesell having the option to receive a lump sum of $60 million if he chooses to leave. Shapiro will see a salary bump to $7 million, a guaranteed bonus of $15 million, and equity of 1 percent of the private company.
The go-private deal also includes hefty termination fees, with Endeavor having to pay Silver Lake $288.5 million if they receive a superior proposal, and Silver Lake having to pay Endeavor $705 million if they breach the deal.
