Dana White, Ari Emanuel featured on Variety500 list of most powerful people in entertainment industry

Ari Emanuel, Endeavor CEO and owner of the UFC, is a powerful man. So too is UFC President Dana White. As such, both have been added to the Variety500 list, which counts down the 500 post powerful businesspeople in the entertainment industry.

Here’s what the Variety500 list is all about, per the site itself (h/t MMA Mania):

The Variety500 reflects the accomplishments of its members over the previous 12 months. They were selected by the Variety editorial board, which conducted extensive research for its selections.

Here’s what the publication had to say about Dana White:

Dana on the Variety 500. pic.twitter.com/CVclTwMnUw

— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) October 30, 2018

Some might knock Ultimate Fighting Championship kingpin White for his penchant for feuding with everyone from fighters to competing promoters, but that scrappiness helped him transform UFC into the world’s leading purveyor of mixed-martial-arts competitions. A former boxer and manager, he convinced longtime friends Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta to purchase struggling UFC for $2 million in 2001. Fifteen years later, they sold the Las Vegas–based company to Endeavor for a reported $4 billion, on the condition that White remain at the helm. In May, he closed a new five-year media-rights deal with ESPN worth $1.5 billion that calls for 30 fight broadcasts a year spread across its TV networks and its new ESPN+ streaming service.

And here’s its blurb on Ari Emanuel.

Ari Emanuel on the Variety 500. pic.twitter.com/qlSgvSlUs8

— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) October 30, 2018

The CEO of Endeavor, which includes WME, IMG and UFC under its banner, has stood at the helm of the company’s continuing expansion from talent representation into content, sports, fashion and live events. Since 2009, Emanuel has made more than 25 acquisitions, including streaming leader NeuLion and branding agency 160/90 this year. Earlier in 2018, he closed a media-rights deal with UFC and ESPN, valued at $1.5 billion over the next five years. Last October saw the formation of Endeavor Content, which merged the company’s film financing and TV sales arms. Projects include the spy drama “Killing Eve” and the romcom “Book Club.” Former Uber exec Bozoma Saint John joined Endeavor in June to help increase the reach of the company’s brand.

Are you surprised to see Dana White and Ari Emanuel on this list?

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 10/31/2018.