Here is an interesting breakdown of WWE’s finances, according to Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter this week.
Profits
Here is a breakdown of WWE’s profits in millions for each category in 2016, 2015 and 2014.
| Category | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
| Live events (tickets & merch) | $51.6 | $46.9 | $35.5 |
| PPV/Network | $43.0 | $48.4 | -$1.8 |
| Television | $119.8 | $97.0 | $61.9 |
| Licensing | $27.4 | $28.8 | $21.0 |
| Home video | $5.3 | $4.6 | $15.0 |
| Web (web/YouTube/shop) | $12.3 | $9.5 | $3.8 |
| WWE Films | -$0.2 | -$1.5 | $0.5 |
| Corporate expenses | -$178.7 | -$172.1 | -$151.4 |
Notes
Here are a few notes of interest:
– 2016 was the highest revenue year in WWE history. However, their expenses have also gone up, so it is not as profitable as most of 1998-2010.
– In 2016, WWE generated $729,216,000 in revenue with $33,725,000 in profits. Both up from 2015, which saw $658,768,000 in revenue and $23,927,000 in profits.
– The $33.725 million in profits were still not enough to cover the annual dividend payment to shareholders, which was $37,218,720. 46.5% of that ($17,306,700) went to Vince McMahon. Because of this, WWE had to go into their cash reserves last year.
– Live event revenue was $144.4 million in 2016, up from $124.7 million in 2015.
– WWE shows (not including NXT) had an attendance of 2,101,000 people on 344 events in 2016.
– NXT event revenue was $6.98 million on 189 shows, with an average attendance of 995.
– Merchandise sold at live events brought in $24.2 million.
– WWE Shop brought in $34.6 million in revenue last year, averaging 2,108 orders per day.
– WWE spends around $1.1 million for each episode of Raw and Smackdown.
– WWE is the second biggest seller of action figures in the US, behind Star Wars.
WWE Profits 1994-2016
Here is a yearly breakdown of WWE’s profit/loss history. Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter
| Year | Total Revenue | Profit/Loss |
| 1994-95 | $87,352,00 | -$4,431,000 |
| 1995-96 | $85,815,000 | $3,319,000 |
| 1996-97 | $81,863,000 | -$6,505,000 |
| 1997-98 | $126,231,000 | $8,446,000 |
| 1998-99 | $251,474,000 | $56,030,000 |
| 1999-00 | $373,100,000 | $68,973,000 |
| 2000-01 | $456,043,000 | $15,987,000 |
| 2001-02 | $409,622,000 | $42,233,000 |
| 2002-03 | $374,364,000 | -$19,455,000 |
| 2003-04 | $374,909,000 | $48,192,000 |
| 2004-05 | $366,431,000 | $39,147,000 |
| 2005-06 | $400,051,000 | $47,047,000 |
| 2006 (5/06 to 12/06) | $262,937,000 | $31,617,000 |
| 2007 | $485,655,000 | $52,137,000 |
| 2008 | $526,457,000 | $45,416,000 |
| 2009 | $471,161,000 | $50,303,000 |
| 2010 | $477,655,000 | $53,452,000 |
| 2011 | $483,921,000 | $24,832,000 |
| 2012 | $484,000,000 | $31,400,000 |
| 2013 | $508,000,000 | $2,800,000 |
| 2014 | $542,600,000 | -$30,100,000 |
| 2015 | $658,768,000 | $23,927,000 |
| 2016 | $729,216,000 | $33,725,000 |
2001: WWE lost $68,994,000 on the XFL. NBC lost another $68,994,000.
2003: WWE lost $35,557,000 on “The World” / WWF New York restaurant.
2011-2014: WWE lost $40 million+ on its movie division and several millions in start-up costs for WWE Network.
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