Tesla guru Elon Musk is reportedly joining the board of Endeavor just as they are finalizing an agreement to buy out the UFC.
Alexandra Steigrad of the New York Post reported Elon Musk and Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel share some common connections, which could have propelled the move to add Musk to the board:
Article Continues Below“According to sources close to the situation, Musk and Emanuel have connections in common that include Egon Durban, the co-CEO of private equity firm Silver Lake. Musk consulted Durban, who helped bankroll Michael Dell’s buyout of his computer company, when he was mulling the idea of taking Tesla private. At the time, Musk also spoke to Dell, himself, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal.”
Meanwhile, reports also surfaced Wednesday that Endeavor–which previously owned a 50.1 percent stake in the UFC–has now purchased 100 percent of the premier mixed martial arts company.
Endeavor is preparing for a massive IPO. The company also owns the Miss Universe Pageant and oversees WWE and IMG talent agencies.
It seems unlikely UFC president Dana White will take issue with Elon Musk joining the Endeavor board or the acquisition, especially if the IPO is a big success. Actually, proceeds from said filing are expected to help fund the purchase.
Does this mean anything for the UFC in terms of current operational procedures? Probably not. White has basically run the show since the Fertitta brothers sold their ownership stakes a few years back. He remains the point man and figurehead for the company.