Dana White is a prominent figure not only in the United States of America, where he hails, but across the globe due to his resilience and unwavering spirit in business. He is the President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), a leading mixed martial arts (MMA) organization. He also founded “Power Slap“, a sport that promotes slaps.

One of the most notable things about him is his ardent relationship with Donald Trump; he has been at the forefront of the Trump campaign and supported his political ambitions without minding whose ox is gunned. Read below to find out what ignited his friendship with the 47th United States President, Donald Trump and also discover incredible things about him you probably didn’t know hitherto.

Profile Summary

Who is Dana White?

Dana Frederick White Jr., popularly known as Dana White, is an American business magnate who is the chief executive officer (CEO) and president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), a global mixed martial arts organization. Dana is also the founder and owner of Power Slap, a slap-fighting promotion initially frowned upon by the public due to its violent nature. However, it has been recognized as a mainstream sport today.

He has won the World MMA Leading Man of the Year Award twice, in 2010 and 2011, respectively. In 2016, he was famous for his outing during the United States presidential election, when he openly endorsed the then-Republican presidential flagbearer, Donald Trump, during the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio. His ultimate rationale for supporting Trump was his pivotal role in helping UFC find expression when others rejected them. White said that Trump helped the UFC at its beginnings, allowing the UFC to host its first event under Zuffa ownership (UFC 30) at the Trump Taj Mahal when other venues refused to host the UFC. That single act of kindness exhibited by Trump has won Dana White’s heart to date, as he has been his ardent supporter even in his subsequent elections.

Early Life

Dana White was born in Manchester, Connecticut, on July 28, 1969, and grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he also acquired his early education. He attended  Bishop Gorman High School, where his passion for boxing was birthed. Dana reportedly had a rough upbringing, even though tangible information about it seems scarce. However, it is evident from what Dana White has revealed about his parents.

Piers Morgan once engaged Dana White in an interview where he delved so deep into drawing out vital personal information White had hitherto refused to reveal publicly.‘the UFC head honcho’ was lured into talking about his parents, but he narrowly escaped again but hinted that he had put the relationship between him and his parents behind him, even though he refused to give detail of the dispute. He said, “I’ve sort of put my relationship with my parents behind me.”

Dana White’s Career

Dana White’s career is traceable to the relationship he had with his childhood friends who attended Bishop Gorman High School together; Lorenzo Fertitta and his older brother, Frank, used to watch boxing matches with Dana White while they were in high school, and their relationship continued to thrive even in adulthood. White was working for Ortiz and Liddle as a manager when he met Bob Meyrowitz, the owner of Semaphore Entertainment Group, the then-parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Bob disclosed to him that he wanted to sell the UFC; White quickly contacted his childhood friend Lorenzo Fertitta, who was the executive and one of the founders of Station Casino and also, erstwhile commissioner of the Nevada State Athletic Commission; and asked if he was interested in the deal, which eventually materialized.

Lorenzo and his older brother teamed up with White to purchase the company in 2001 for $2 million, and White was installed as the president. According to White’s reports, the previous owners stripped the company off before selling it to them. He alleged they could only boast of the company’s name, which was already very famous, as no asset was left when they purchased it. Under White’s leadership as president, running the company initially was not easy as they faced several challenges. The first UFC cards, UFC 30 and UFC were held in the Trump Taj Mahal, which led to the development of White’s long-term friendship with Donald Trump.

Just like it is to every normal business, the beginning always seems rough; the UFC looked promising in all its ramifications, but sadly, after the Zuffas purchased it, they spent over $40 million by 2004 without getting any tangible thing about it in return. White and the Fertittas and television producer Craig Piligian developed the idea of an MMA-based reality series, The Ultimate Fighter, to make the sport lively and exciting. The company self-funded the show as television networks refused to pay for the cost of production. The Ultimate Fighter, particularly the final fight between Stephan Bonnar and Forrest Griffin, is credited with ” saving the UFC”. The UFC subsequently developed into a highly successful business under White’s leadership and was valued by Forbes at $1.1 billion in 2008.

Who Is Dana White’s Wife?

UFC President Dana White and his wife, Anne White, have an incredible love story. The couple reportedly met when they were as young as 12 years old and grew to become husband and wife in 1996. They first crossed paths in middle school; the pair became friends before their relationship eventually turned romantic, leading to their marriage. They have been married for over two decades and are blessed with three children—Dana III, Aidan, and Savannah. One of the things Dana is known for is the ultimate privacy he has accorded his wife. He doesn’t quite speak about her nor bring their private matters to the public.

Although, in every marriage, there are occasions where misunderstanding sparks up, the ability to be in charge of the situation is what matters most. Dana and Anne had, on one occasion, demonstrated this assertion as they made the handling in 2023, not for a good reason but due to an incident that happened in a nightclub where they had a physical altercation and were videoed by another person who was present at the club. The person captured the duo exchanging slaps and decided to make the video public. Dana subsequently issued a public apology and told his fans that it had never happened before and would never happen again. The entrepreneur confirmed that his relationship with Anne would continue, and they were committed to working on their marriage daily.

Dana White’s relationship with Donald Trump

Dana White and Donald Trump have been friends for over three decades; White often ascribes Trump as the man who stood for him when there was no other. This traces back to when the Zuffas, alongside White, bought the UFC and faced challenges with venue. Donald Trump offered them the Trump Taj Mahal to hold the UFC 30 and UFC 31. That singular kind gesture led to the development of White’s long-term friendship with Trump.

White has been at the forefront, supporting Donald Trump’s political ambitions without any iota of misgiving. Speaking during the just concluded US election; White said, “Nobody deserves this more than Trump” he talked about his resilience and strength cum his relentless efforts even amidst unwarranted scrutiny and suppression. “He’s the most resilient, hardworking man I’ve ever met in my life,” White said.

What is Dana White’s Net Worth?

Dana White is a renowned American business mogul and sports promoter. He is the President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), a leading mixed martial arts (MMA) organization, and is also involved in several other businesses. As estimated in 2024, Dana White net worth is $500 million.