Dana White joins Facebook parent Meta board of directors

Posted: January 6, 2025, 07:35 pm.

Last updated: January 6, 2025, 07:35 pm.

UFC President and CEO Dana White is one of three new appointments to the Meta (NASDAQ: META) board of directors, marking the first time a UFC boss has joined a corporate board.

White, widely seen as the architect of the UFC's growth and one of the most influential figures in the sport, joins John Elkann and Charlie Songhurst as new appointees to the social media giant's board.

I never had any interest in joining a board of directors until I received the offer to join the board of Meta. “I'm a big believer that social media and artificial intelligence (AI) are the future,” White said in a press release. “I'm excited to join this incredible team and learn about this business from the inside.” So excited to learn more. There's nothing I love more than building brands and I look forward to helping take Meta to the next level.”

Founded by Mark Zuckerberg, California-based Meta is the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.,

White appointment signals new direction for Meta

White's appointment to the Meta board was announced just days after the social media company announced the promotion of Joel Kaplan to president of global affairs. Before joining META in 2011, Kaplan served under President George W. Served in various positions in the Bush administration.

Political pundits have speculated that White's addition to the board, as well as Kaplan's promotion, indicate that Zuckerberg is eager to work with the incoming Trump administration and that he wants to put the company's left-leaning reputation behind it. want.

“Under White's leadership, the UFC has become a global sports powerhouse, staging more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious territories around the world, while broadcasting to more than 975 million homes in more than 170 countries . “Throughout his career, White has received numerous industry and business accolades for his impact and influence in the game,” according to the Meta statement.

White's gaming ties run deep

In Las Vegas circles, White is not known as a UFC boss. He is also known to be a big bookie and is banned from several casinos in the city. White has a tendency to place six-figure bets and often leaves the casino after two or three consecutive wins, sometimes with a seven-figure payday.

Caesars Entertainment and Red Rock Resorts still accept White's business, although he claimed he “cut” Caesars Palace on the Strip for $26 million or $27 million in early 2024.

Speaking of Red Rock, that company is controlled by Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, who were early UFC investors. He's also a Trump donor.