Building on his tremendous success as a wrestler-turned-A-list Hollywood star, Dwayne Johnson made headlines earlier this year when he officially joined the board of directors at TKO Group Holdings — the company created following the merger of WWE and UFC under the Endeavor umbrella. In 2024, TKO Group also completed major acquisitions, bringing IMG, On Location, and Professional Bull Riders under its expanding portfolio.

Amid these sweeping changes, Johnson was officially granted full ownership of the trademark for his legendary nickname, ‘The Rock,’ which had originally been held by WWE. Before this, the pro-wrestling juggernaut had only partially licensed the name to Johnson for his entertainment ventures. As part of the board expansion, which grew from 11 to 13 members to accommodate new additions, ‘The Rock’ secured a lucrative compensation package reportedly worth over $30 million, $900,000 in royalty payments, and nearly $2.6 million in travel royalties, according to a recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Details of Johnson’s board earnings surfaced recently, after senior MMA journalist Damon Martin revealed on X that, “Meanwhile… Dwayne Johnson got nearly $30 million in stock compensation in 2024 after he joined the TKO Group Holdings board of directors,” responding to a discussion about NFL draft picks negotiating signing bonuses.

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Yet, Johnson’s substantial payday barely scratches the surface of TKO Group Holdings, Inc.’s ownership structure. In reality, his stake accounts for only around 0.17% of the company, with his stock rising slightly from 305k to 329k. The lion’s share of TKO’s ownership (around 61 percent) remains with Endeavor, under the leadership of CEO Ari Emanuel and a few other key figures. Meanwhile, a group of financial institutions collectively holds the second-largest block, representing approximately 28.27% of the company.

Despite selling WWE, company co-founder Vince McMahon still maintains a notable presence, owning approximately 4.06% of TKO’s shares. Several other smaller shareholders also make up part of the company’s ownership landscape. While the nearly $30 million stock compensation is impressive, many believe Johnson’s most significant achievement was regaining full ownership of his iconic nickname, ‘The Rock’ — a defining moment in his legendary career. Now, let’s hear it straight from Dwayne Johnson himself.

Dwayne Johnson reacted after getting ownership of his nickname

Dwayne Johnson’s iconic ring name, ‘The Rock,’ wasn’t just something he came up with. His father’s moniker inspired it, ‘Rocky Johnson,’ whose real name was Wayde Douglas Bowles. Initially, the trademark for the name ‘The Rock’ was owned by WWE. The name came into existence back in 1998, when WWE created it for Johnson’s wrestling persona. For the unversed, Johnson had initially debuted at Survivor Series 1996 with the name ‘Rocky Johnson’. The promotion then later used ‘The Rock’ to build a brand around him, including merchandise like clothing and toys.

WWE traditionally owned the rights to a wrestler’s stage name unless otherwise negotiated. When Johnson transitioned to acting in the early 2000s, WWE allowed him to use the moniker for his movie ventures, though it was still under the company’s ownership. However, earlier this year, after joining the TKO Group Holdings board, ‘The Rock’ was granted full ownership of his nickname.

In a statement about the achievement, Dwayne Johnson reflected on the significance of the moment: “My grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia, and my dad, Rocky ‘Soulman’ Johnson, would’ve never thought this day would come. Which is why I’m very humbled to have a seat at the table that has decades of history and family legacy for me — a table that my family helped to build. Being on the TKO Board of Directors, and taking full ownership of my name, ‘The Rock,’ is not only unprecedented but incredibly inspiring as my crazy life is coming full circle.”

With Dwayne Johnson finding new success at TKO Group Holdings Inc., would you like to see the WWE legend take on a significant role in the UFC? Share your thoughts below!