SUMMARY
- Despite several controversies, AEW is currently the second most-valuable pro-wrestling promotion in the world.
- A recent Forbes report evaluated AEW to be worth $2 billion.
Professional wrestling promotion All Elite Wrestling (AEW), based out of Jacksonville, was founded in 2019. AEW has become one of the biggest wrestling firms in the world in just five years. Tony Khan shares the ownership of the company with his father Shahid Khan.
Tony Khan is involved with AEW in multiple capacities. This covers the roles of Chief Executive, President, General Manager, Executive Producer, and Head of Creative. He appears on AEW television on a regular basis.
Tony Khan’s company’s quick success has made him one of the most talked-about people in the industry. He is the son of industrialist Shahid Khan, who is the owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL) and Fulham of the Premier League.
Forbes has named AEW as the third Most Valuable Combat Sports Promotion of 2024, over five years after the company was founded. Despite intense criticism of their product, Khan’s organization is in the top three, trailing only the UFC and WWE. It demonstrates the amount of effort and commitment Tony has put into the business throughout the years.
The most valuable pro-wrestling promotions in 2024:
WWE — $6.8 Billion / Est. 2023 revenue: $1.33 Billion
AEW — $2 Billion / Est. 2023 revenue: $250 Million
(Source: @Forbes) pic.twitter.com/hlus2WsE9c
— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) April 18, 2024
With a $2 billion valuation, AEW has repositioned itself and might pose a serious threat to WWE in the years to come.
Partnerships with AAA, Impact, and NJPW helped AEW create a bigger brand value
In the United States, the five-year-old company that Tony owns and produces consistently draws 1.5 million people every week to its three primary television shows. At least 130,000 copies of five 2023 pay-per-views have already been purchased, while 72,265 people attended the AEW All In live event at London, England’s Wembley Arena.
AEW has collaboration arrangements with numerous global promotions. Furthermore, because Ring of Honour Wrestling (ROH) and AEW are both under Tony Khan, wrestlers from AEW businesses frequently appear on ROH, and vice versa. AEW signed two collaboration agreements with Mexican Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA), NJPW, and Impact Wrestling over the years.
Roughly 60% of overall revenue comes from AEW’s media division, which includes pay-per-view and weekly TV broadcast revenue. The selling of merchandise, such as t-shirts, action figures, and other branded goods also drive the revenue.
Former WWE stars gave AEW the legitimacy it needed
Recognizing the star power and potential to attract large crowds, AEW has made major investments in acquiring top-tier wrestlers. Prominent additions not only improved AEW’s programming but also made it more appealing to advertisers and investors.
With jumbo signings like Jay White, Adam Copeland, Mercedes Mone, Kazuchika Okada, Jon Moxley, CM Punk, and several other top-tier talents, Tony has made a skilled roster throughout the company’s existence. It has surely attracted a lot of new viewers who are always eager to see these veterans in action. Despite the controversies, Tony is focused on giving fans what they want, and with a little more determination, he might reach his target.
Tony strives to improve his financial situation and his net worth keeps becoming bigger every year. His astounding $1.5 billion net worth as of 2023 is expected to increase in the future. Some refer to it as inherited, while others describe him as self-made. What do you think of the AEW’s valuation? Let us know in the comments below.