Where Is Vince McMahon Now? All About the Ex-WWE CEO's Life Amid Sexual Assault Allegations

Mar. 15, 2025

Vince McMahon in Mr. McMahon.Photo:Netflix

Vince McMahon in Mr. McMahon.

Netflix

Vince McMahonwas the architect ofWWEfor over four decades, but his reign was mired with serious allegations.

The WWE co-founder is known as one of the most influential figures in wrestling history, helping to launch the careers of many wrestlers includingThe Undertaker,Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson,“Stone Cold” Steve Austin,John CenaandHulk Hogan. However, lines became blurred between his role as the CEO of WWE and the fictionalized power-hungry boss he portrayed as his wrestling character: Mr. McMahon.

In June 2022,The Wall Street Journalrevealed that the WWE board was investigating allegations that Vincepaid $3 million to a former employeeto hide an affair they were having. Less than a month later,The Wall Street Journalreported on records that allegedly showedhe had paid over $12 millionto employees to keep similar sexual misconduct and infidelity allegations under wraps.

Amidst these reports,Vince retiredfrom being CEO and Chairman of WWE and his daughterStephaniereplaced him, only forVince to return as executive chairmanin January 2023. Things worsened for the business mogul in 2024, asVince was accused of sex trafficking and sexual assaultin a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut and he subsequently resigned from the company.

Vince is now speaking out for the first time since his resignation in the September 2024 Netflix docuseriesMr. McMahon, which covers his rise in shaping the landscape of professional wrestling to his fall and the allegations against him. The series features interviews with Vince, his family, many all-time great wrestlers and the journalists who uncovered his controversies.

Here’s everything to know about the rise and fall of Vince McMahon and where he is today.

Who is Vince McMahon?

Vince McMahon (center) in Mr. McMahon.Netflix

Mr. McMahon. Vince McMahon (center) in Mr. McMahon. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2024

Vince began his career as a wrestling commentator before purchasing the WWE — then known as the WWF — from his father in 1982 and turning it into wrestling’s premiere sports entertainment empire. Vince was largely responsible for the rise of wrestling in the 1980s, making Hulk Hogan the face of the company and creating the wrestling spectacle,WrestleMania.

Vince transitioned the WWE into the “Attitude Era” in the 1990s, which saw the rise of superstars including The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Undertaker,Joanie “Chyna” Laurer,Shawn MichaelsandTriple H. This was also the era in which Vince’s character Mr. McMahon debuted, who feuded with Austin, won a WWE Championship and won theRoyal Rumble.

He then transitioned the WWE into the “Ruthless Aggression era" in the 2000s where he developed stars like John Cena,Randy Orton, Trish Stratus, Brock Lesnar andDave “Batista” Bautista. Approaching his fourth decade at the helm, Vince transitioned the company once again, moving into the “PG era” during the 2010s, developing stars likeRoman Reigns,Seth Rollins,Becky Lynch,Bray WyattandCody Rhodes.

Vince continued to grow WWE as he changed the professional wrestling landscape from multiple companies to a near-monopoly.

Who is Mr. McMahon?

World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. Chairman Vince McMahon appears in the ring during the WWE Monday Night Raw show at the Thomas & Mack Center August 24, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada.Ethan Miller/Getty

LAS VEGAS - AUGUST 24: World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. Chairman Vince McMahon appears in the ring during the WWE Monday Night Raw show at the Thomas & Mack Center August 24, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

While Vince was the businessman who launched wrestling careers and built the WWE into what it is today, Mr. McMahon was a fictionalized version of himself involved in WWE storylines.

From his feuds with Austin to making wrestlers join his “kiss my a– club,” in which they were forced to kiss Vince’s bare butt on air, Mr. McMahon would go to any length to exert power. He was also known for constantly “firing” people.

“This Mr. McMahon characterization is just his natural personality amplified,” WWE broadcaster Jim Ross said onGrilling with JRin 2021.

Before the release of his Netflix documentary, Vince released a statement calling the series “deceptive” andcriticizing itfor focusing on the Mr. McMahon character.

“Unfortunately, based on an early partial cut I’ve seen, this doc falls short and takes the predictable path of conflating the ‘Mr. McMahon’ character with my true self, Vince,” he wrote onX (formerly Twitter).

Is Vince McMahon’s family still involved in the WWE?

Stephanie McMahon in the ring during Night Two of WrestleMania 40 at Lincoln Financial Field on April 7, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.WWE/Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 07: Stephanie McMahon in the ring during Night Two of WrestleMania 40 at Lincoln Financial Field on April 7, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by WWE/Getty Images)

WWE/Getty Images

The WWE was always a McMahon family affair during his tenure, but certain family members have remained active in the brand after his departure.

Vince’s wife Linda co-founded the company with him, serving as co-CEO until she left to run for a seat on the United States Senate in 2009. She was also involved in a fictional feud with Mr. McMahon.

Vince’s sonShanewas involved with the company as a wrestler, often a part of his father’s storylines — including a match against Vince at WrestleMania 17 — wrestling the Undertaker at WrestleMania 32 and wrestling his final WWE match atWrestleMania 39in 2023. Shane also served as an executive vice president of Global Media and a producer during his tenure before his contract expired and wasn’t renewed in 2024 after Vince resigned.

Vince’s daughter Stephanie has been involved with the company as a wrestler, wrestling Vince and winning theWomen’s Championship. In a business capacity, she has worked as the company’s head writer, director of creative writing and as chief brand officer.

In 2022, after her father’s retirement, she became the chairwoman and co-CEO of WWE. Upon her father’s return, Stephaniesubsequently resigned in 2023.

After a scripted romance between Stephanie and Triple H began in 2000, the two married in real life in 2003. Triple H has now taken a role similar to Vince as the chief content officer and head of creative, publicly introducing WrestleMania 40 — the first without Vince — as a new era.

What was Vince McMahon accused of during his WWE tenure?

Vince McMahon attended a press conference to announce that WWE Wrestlemania 29 would be held at MetLife Stadium in 2013.Michael N. Todaro/Getty

Vince McMahon attends a press conference to announce that WWE Wrestlemania 29 will be held at MetLife Stadium in 2013 at MetLife Stadium on February 16, 2012 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Lawsuits against Vince may have reached a new boiling point in 2022, but allegations against him began piling up long before then. In 1992, Vince was accused of raping WWE’s first female referee,Rita Chatterton, who officially filed a lawsuit against Vince in December 2022. The wrestling executive denied raping her, and the lawsuit resulted in a multi-million dollar settlement.

In 1993, Vince received a federal indictment for allegedly supplying steroids to wrestlers in the infamous United States vs. McMahon trial. The charges were ultimately dismissed against Vince, but WWE ringside doctor Dr. George Zahorian III was sentenced to three years in prison for distributing steroids to many wrestlers.

In 2006, Vince faced a sexual harassment accusation from a tanning bar employee in Boca Raton, Fla., with no charges being filed after the investigation. In 2011, a separate spa worker accused Vince of sexual assault in California.

Why did Vince McMahon resign?

WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon speaks at a news conference.Ethan Miller/Getty

LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 08: WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon speaks at a news conference announcing the WWE Network at the 2014 International CES at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas on January 8, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The network will launch on February 24, 2014 as the first-ever 24/7 streaming network, offering both scheduled programs and video on demand. The USD 9.99 per month subscription will include access to all 12 live WWE pay-per-view events each year. CES, the world’s largest annual consumer technology trade show, runs through January 10 and is expected to feature 3,200 exhibitors showing off their latest products and services to about 150,000 attendees. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Ethan Miller/Getty

In June 2022,The Wall Street Journalalleged that Vince had paid $3 million to a female paralegal under his employment. The outlet claimed that Vince began a sexual relationship with the paralegal, at which time he doubled her salary, but she left the company after becoming “scared” following the payments to stay quiet.

Less than a month later,The Wall Street Journalclaimed that Vince had paid $12 million to hide allegations of “sexual misconduct and infidelity” over the prior 16 years. The payments were allegedly made to four women who were formerly affiliated with the company,The Wall Street Journalreported, citing sources familiar with the agreements.

Vince briefly retired as chairman and CEO of WWE in July 2022 amidst the allegations, only to return as executive chairman in 2023. Later that year, WWE merged with Zuffa — the parent company of theUFC— to put both companies under a new conglomerate called TKO, with the agreement that Vince would stay on in his leadership role.

In January 2024, Vince’s former employee Janel Grant sued Vince and former senior vice president of talent relations John Laurinaitis, claiming that she experienced “physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault and trafficking” while working at the company between 2019 and 2022. Amidst evidence, including text messages between Vince and Grant, the wrestling executive shared a statement announcing his resignation and denying the allegations.

“I intend to vigorously defend myself against these baseless accusations and look forward to clearing my name,” Vince shared in a statement. “However, out of respect for the WWE Universe, the extraordinary TKO business … and all of the employees and Superstars who helped make WWE into the global leader it is today, I have decided to resign from my executive chairmanship and the TKO board of directors, effective immediately.”

In May 2024, Grant agreed to a six-month pause in her case to allow the federal investigation into Vince to continue.

What isMr. McMahonabout?

Vince McMahon in Mr. McMahon.Netflix

Vince McMahon in Mr. McMahon

Production on the documentary began two years before the investigation into Vince paying $3 million in hush money and features many interviews with Vince. In a message posted on X a day before the Netflix series premiered, Vince bemoaned the creators' covering the allegations against him.

“In an attempt to further their misleading account, the producers use a lawsuit based on an affair that I ended as evidence that I am in fact ‘Mr. McMahon,’ " he wrote.

Grant’s lawyer, Ann Callis, quickly responded, pushing back against Vince’s downplaying of what she and her client describe as serious abuse.

Where is Vince McMahon now?

Mr. McMahon. Vince McMahon in Mr. McMahon. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2024

In April 2024,NBC News and CNBCinterviewed 11 sources close to Vince about what he has been up to since the allegations and lawsuits as the WWE looks to move on from his era.

After his resignation, Vince soldhundreds of millions of dollars in TKO stock, cutting his financial ties to the company. He also no longer comes to WWE’s offices.

Since resigning, Vince has taken trips to Italy and returned from a trip to Turks and Caicos with seven kittens and a puppy for his friends to adopt. He also continues seeing friends at restaurants, working out regularly and visiting his barber.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go torainn.org.

source: people.com