Dana Frederick White Jr. (born July 28, 1969) is an American businessman best known as the CEO and president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the world's leading mixed martial arts (MMA) organization. White joined the UFC in 2001 after he and the Fertitta brothers acquired the struggling promotion for $2 million. Under his leadership, the UFC evolved from a niche, controversial sport into a globally recognized and highly profitable enterprise, expanding its reach to over 30 countries and securing major television deals with networks like ESPN and FOX. The organization was sold in 2016 to WME-IMG (now Endeavor) for $4.025 billion, one of the largest sports transactions ever, but White remained as president and CEO[1][3][6]. Before his UFC career, White worked as a boxing instructor and MMA manager in Las Vegas, where he connected with fighters Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell. He also trained in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Outside of the UFC, White founded Power Slap in 2022, a slap fighting promotion that airs on digital platforms[1][3][4]. White has been a controversial figure, facing criticism over fighter pay, antitrust lawsuits (including a $375 million settlement in 2024), and his defense of certain fighters' contentious behaviors. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he was noted for downplaying the virus's severity and leading UFC to be the first major sport to resume events. He is closely associated with commentator Joe Rogan and has longstanding ties with former U.S. President Donald Trump, supporting Trump politically[2][4]. In 2025, White joined the board of directors of Meta Platforms, reflecting his growing influence beyond sports entertainment[1][2][7]. As of 2019, his net worth was estimated at $500 million[1][3].