Endeavor Group Holdings

Who owns Endeavor?
Endeavor Group Holdings is owned by Silver Lake Partners, a technology-focused private equity firm that completed its acquisition of Endeavor in March 2025. The company is no longer publicly traded.

Does Endeavor own UFC and WWE?
No longer directly. UFC and WWE were combined into TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) in 2023, a separately publicly traded company. Endeavor held a majority stake in TKO but announced plans to divest this stake in 2024.

Is Endeavor publicly traded?
No, Endeavor was taken private by Silver Lake Partners in March 2025. It was previously traded on NYSE under ticker EDR from April 2021 to March 2025.

What is WME?
WME (William Morris Endeavor) is Endeavor's flagship talent agency and one of the world's two dominant talent agencies alongside CAA. WME represents artists, athletes, and brands across entertainment, sports, and media.

Endeavor traces its origins to 1995 when Ari Emanuel and several colleagues left the International Creative Management (ICM) talent agency to found Endeavor Talent Agency in Beverly Hills, California. Emanuel, the son of a physician and brother of former Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel, built Endeavor into one of Hollywood's top talent agencies.

In 2009, Endeavor merged with the William Morris Agency, one of Hollywood's oldest and most prestigious talent agencies (founded 1898), to form William Morris Endeavor (WME). The merger created one of the world's largest talent agencies.

In 2013, WME acquired IMG (International Management Group), a major sports and entertainment company founded by Mark McCormack in 1960. IMG represented athletes, managed sports events, and operated in fashion and media. The combined company was known as WME-IMG.

In 2016, WME-IMG led a consortium that acquired Zuffa, LLC (the parent company of UFC) for approximately $4 billion, one of the largest sports acquisitions in history. This gave Endeavor control of the world's premier mixed martial arts organization.

In October 2017, WME-IMG was reorganized and renamed Endeavor Group Holdings. Ari Emanuel became CEO and Patrick Whitesell became Executive Chairman.

Endeavor went public on the New York Stock Exchange in April 2021 under ticker EDR, raising approximately $511 million in its IPO.

In 2023, Endeavor combined UFC with WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) to create TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO), a new publicly traded company. Endeavor held a majority stake in TKO Group Holdings. The combination valued the combined entity at approximately $21 billion.

In October 2024, Endeavor announced it would sell its remaining stake in TKO Group Holdings and focus on its talent representation and marketing businesses.

In March 2025, Silver Lake Partners completed its acquisition of Endeavor, taking the company private at approximately $13 per share.

Endeavor has implemented sustainability and ethical practices focused on talent development, intellectual property rights protection, and corporate governance in the sports and entertainment industry. The company maintains ESG compliance frameworks and has established ethical standards for talent representation and business operations following its acquisition by Silver Lake Partners.

Corporate sustainability initiatives include comprehensive ESG reporting frameworks, transparent governance structures, and responsible business practices across all operating divisions. The company's private equity ownership under Silver Lake provides stability for long-term strategic planning while maintaining ethical business practices in the entertainment industry.

Talent sustainability focuses on artist development programs, career advancement opportunities, and fair compensation practices across all represented talent categories. Endeavor maintains strong ethical standards regarding talent rights, intellectual property protection, and transparent reporting in artist relationships and business dealings.

The company maintains strong ethical standards regarding intellectual property rights management, ensuring proper licensing and protection for artists, athletes, and content creators. Endeavor works to address copyright compliance, royalty distribution, and fair compensation practices while maintaining integrity in business operations.

Endeavor has received extensive recognition for its leadership in talent representation, sports and entertainment management, and business excellence in the global entertainment industry.

• Talent Agency Excellence: WME's recognition as one of the world's two dominant talent agencies alongside CAA
• Marketing Innovation: 160over90's awards for impactful brand partnerships and marketing campaigns
• Brand Licensing Leadership: IMG Licensing's recognition as the global leader in brand licensing
• Content Production Excellence: Pantheon Media Group's Emmy Award-winning nonscripted content production
• Business Achievement: Recognition for successful IPO execution and strategic business transformation
• Sports Management: Previous recognition for UFC and WWE operations before TKO Group separation

Endeavor and WME have faced scrutiny regarding talent agency practices. In 2019, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) ended its franchise agreements with major talent agencies including WME, alleging that agencies were prioritizing packaging fees (fees paid by studios for assembling entire productions) over their clients' interests. The dispute lasted approximately two years before being resolved.

Ari Emanuel, Endeavor's CEO, has been a prominent and sometimes controversial figure in Hollywood. He has been known for his aggressive business tactics and outspoken personality.

Endeavor's IPO in April 2021 was preceded by a failed IPO attempt in 2019, which was withdrawn amid concerns about the company's financial performance and valuation.