Growing up in the era of wrestling, there was no chance someone didn’t know of Vince McMahon. He was a prominent figure in the growth of WWE. He is the man behind transforming WWE from being an attraction just in the U.S. to a global sports entertainment movement. During his stint, he made a lot of superstars in WWE we know today, including some of the biggest in the industry, like The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, John Cena, and many more.
His vision for the wrestling industry was insane. He didn’t just want to uplift the entertainment industry—he sought to reshape it and make it one of the biggest shows. His influence was oozing into the storylines that shaped rivalries and also the way wrestling was presented to an audience.
But it looked like he was not going to last in the industry after an investigation was launched against him when a woman accused him of sexual assault and trafficking. Apparently, he made hush-money payments to multiple women in the industry, which led him to retire in 2022. He did return as Executive Chairman for WWE in 2023 but completely withdrew from the company in 2024 due to the backlash.
Since then, he has not been involved in anything surrounding the wrestling entertainment scene. There were recent developments about him getting fined by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for misusing company accounts. But let’s see what he has been doing since he left WWE.
Where is Vince McMahon now, and what is he up to?
Vince resigned as executive chairman and withdrew from the board of directors of TKO in January 2024, which he claimed was out of respect for the wrestling industry. His case is still going on, and while he has not been officially charged, he is still under investigation and has been fined by the SEC.
Despite the seriousness of the case, McMahon hasn’t exactly been laying low in misery. Instead, he’s been enjoying lavish vacations, meeting up with friends, and seemingly carrying on with life as usual. According to a report from CNBC, which interviewed multiple people from the industry to check on what he has been up to, most sources claim that since his resignation, he has not shown any interest in the wrestling company.
Even Mark Shapiro, the operating chief of TKO Group Holdings — also the parent company of WWE — claimed that he doesn’t work for the company anymore, and neither will he be returning, nor will he ever return to the company anymore. He was a prominent figure for the company, and his name has been right alongside the company for more than four decades since he took over from his father in 1982.
But if recent reports are anything to go by, he’s not dwelling on the past. Instead, McMahon appears to be moving on, sticking to his usual activities and showing little to no concern for his legal battles according to multiple sources.
He even met with Trump after he left the company behind. Vince and Trump have been friends for a long time, and their history goes way back. According to the same report by CNBC, since leaving, he was seen spending time with the President regularly. In another instance, in March 2024, he went on a trip to the Turks and Caicos Islands. And when he finally returned in a private jet, he brought home seven kittens and a puppy for his friends.
How permanent is Vince McMahon’s departure from WWE, and does he still hold shares in the company?
It might be quite tough to let go of a company one has spent more than four decades with. But when allegations are strong against you, and you get backlash for being a part of it, the best one could do is step down and let go of the company for their own and the company’s good.
And that is exactly what he did. After quitting the wrestling entertainment giant, he didn’t want to be related to the company in any way. So he went ahead and sold his shares in the company for millions of dollars. According to a report from Bleacher Report, he held on to the shares for more than 55 years but later sold all 8.02 million shares he had with TKO Group Holdings.
All shares were reported to be at $96.76 each, and the total sale of shares added up to a whopping $776 million. However, these are just filings to sell the shares, which means the shares are eligible for sale and do not directly mean that they are sold.
Vince selling all his shares was like doubling down on his departure from the entertainment industry. And while the allegations and lawsuits are still running hot despite his departure, he has talked about taking them head-on and working towards proving his innocence.
What is Netflix’s mini-series, Mr. McMahon?
Mr. McMahon’s legacy is something that will be talked about for a long time. From being a ringside announcer (for a long time, I thought he was Bruce Buffer) to a juggernaut of the Wrestling Entertainment Industry, and then having it all taken away is astounding.
And Netflix, being Netflix, swooped right in on the opportunity to make a show about one of the most prominent figures in wrestling. The streaming giant showcases his achievements and journey to becoming successful before diving into the controversial sections of his life. He has been vocal about not wanting to put too much out there, as he wants to protect his legacy.
The series contains numerous interviews with his family, work associates from WWE, and other close friends. Despite his involvement in the show’s making, he has asked viewers to keep an open mind while watching. According to him, Netflix has used its classic editing tricks to make scenes seem more than what they are.
The show finally aired on September 25, 2024. The goal of the mini-series was to show the growth of the empire from the time he joined. But after watching a few episodes, the production focused more on his controversial side. Several times, it felt like the show could have been better and focused more on the earlier aspects of his life before dwelling on the controversies.
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