Levesque, who now holds the title of Chief Content Officer, saw his annual base salary increase from $730,000 to $900,000. Additionally, he continues to receive a guaranteed minimum of $1 million under his booking agreement. This boost reflects WWE’s confidence in his leadership of the creative team, a role crucial to maintaining WWE’s status as a premium content producer.
Stephanie McMahon, now co-CEO alongside Nick Khan, experienced a substantial salary increase from $730,000 to $1.35 million annually, complemented by her $750,000 minimum payment under a booking agreement. Khan also received a salary hike, now earning $1.35 million annually, up from $1.2 million. Meanwhile, Frank Riddick, the Chief Financial Officer who also holds the title of President, saw his salary rise from $850,000 to $950,000.
WWE introduced lucrative performance-based bonus targets for these executives. McMahon and Khan can earn bonuses at 160% of their base salaries, while Riddick is eligible for 125%, and Levesque for 100%. Beyond their salaries, annual stock grants further bolster their compensation packages, with McMahon and Khan receiving $3.575 million in stock, Riddick $2.4 million, and Levesque $1.6 million.
In 2022, McMahon and Levesque also received special one-time stock grants of $10 million and $8 million, respectively, with a three-year vesting period tied to performance metrics. These figures highlight WWE’s financial commitment to retaining its leadership team during a critical period of transition.
Despite stepping down, Vince McMahon remains WWE’s controlling stockholder. His financial controversies, including $14.6 million in personal payments and $5 million in charitable donations to the Trump Foundation, continue to cast a shadow over the company’s fiscal operations.
These leadership changes, coupled with enhanced executive compensation, underscore WWE’s strategy to leverage premium content creation to drive growth and sustain its global influence in the entertainment industry.
