WWE Rumors: Vince McMahon No Longer Highest-Paid Executive In World Wrestling Entertainment

WWE rumors have swirled around for years about how much people associated with the company are being paid. While much of the speculations are on the wrestlers, some are about the executives that run the corporation. According to Wrestling Inc, Vince McMahon is no longer the highest-paid executive in the company. Three people are making more than McMahon, and he’s also barely making more than Triple H.

Since World Wrestling Entertainment is a publicly traded company, the salaries of executives aren’t all that difficult to find. Since the company went public in 1999, we have all been privy to the amount of money that Vince McMahon pays himself on a yearly basis. While he is far from starving, McMahon actually doesn’t take home too much money. He prefers to keep it within the company, so that they can use the cash to grow.

Financial reports state that Vince McMahon, who operates as the chief executive officer of WWE, paid himself $3.3 million this year. His base salary as an executive is $1.325 million, so the remaining amount comes from extracurricular things. Stock options and bonuses were factored in. Some believe that McMahon also received some money for his role as an on-screen character, which he decided to resume after taking an extended break.

George Barrios is not a household name with WWE fans. However, he is one of the most important executives in the company. Officially, he is listed as the chief financial and strategy officer. Essentially, he is in charge of how World Wrestling Entertainment spends the millions of dollars in revenue that they make each year. Vince McMahon goes to Barrios to make sure if there’s room on the budget to try out some of his ideas, so it makes sense that the corporation paid him $4.5 million.

Another person who is not a household name among WWE fans is Michelle Wilson. Listed as the chief revenue and marketing officer, Wilson is the one that has to figure out how to keep the brand out in the public mind. Some underestimate her value because the company is a known entity, but even global companies like McDonald’s and Apple do marketing. Michelle was paid $4.5 million for her hard work.

A name that is known to the internet wrestling community is Kevin Dunn. It will unlikely sit well with fans to know that he was the highest-paid executive in WWE. Dunn pocketed $4.8 million, which is $1.5 million more than what Vince McMahon took home. Dunn has long been viewed as the right-hand man for McMahon, and many have used him as a scapegoat for whenever things go wrong in World Wrestling Entertainment.

It’s become a popular thing to blame Kevin Dunn. Even though he’s an executive producer, fans have blamed him for things that the creative department has done. Dunn has also been blamed when Vince McMahon decides not to push certain performers. While Dunn is allowed feedback, he ultimately does not make those decision. The belief is that the internet wrestling community blames Dunn because they are afraid to point the finger at McMahon.

Triple H and Stephanie McMahon are reportedly going to be taking over when Vince McMahon retires. HHH took home $3.1 million, which puts him right behind Vince McMahon. While he does have an official title in WWE, Triple H actually does all of the things that McMahon does. Stephanie McMahon chipped in on the bills with the $1.73 million that she took home.

At the end of the day, though, the highest-paid people in WWE are the top performers that draw in the audiences. Guys like Brock Lesnar and John Cena take home millions of dollars because they’re the ones that are generating that revenue.

[Featured Photo by WWE]