Full Details Of The Rock’s TKO Deal Finally Revealed
Dwayne Johnson’s business relationship with TKO Group Holdings and WWE has been fully detailed in TKO’s latest SEC filing.
In January 2024, Johnson was officially appointed to TKO’s board of directors as WWE’s designated representative. One day earlier, WWE and Johnson entered into the DJ Services Agreement, under which Johnson provides promotional and business-related services.
TKO SEC Filing Reveals Full Details of The Rock’s WWE Agreement
As part of the deal, WWE transferred ownership of “The Rock” name and related trademarks to Johnson through one of his affiliates. Johnson then licensed that intellectual property back to WWE for a 10-year period, allowing continued use in merchandise and promotions.
Financially, The Rock was granted 193,115 Restricted Stock Units initially valued at $30 million. Through vesting in late 2024 and early 2025, he acquired 96,557 shares, bringing his total ownership to 289,673 shares.
He also earned approximately $900,000 annually in royalties for 2024 and 2025, along with travel and expense reimbursements totaling $2.6 million in 2024 and $0.6 million in 2025:
“On January 23, 2024, the Company’s board of directors appointed Mr. Johnson as a WWE director designee on the TKO Board.”
“On January 22, 2024, WWE and Mr. Johnson entered into the DJ Services Agreement, pursuant to which Mr. Johnson agreed to provide to WWE certain promotional and other services.”
“WWE assigned to Mr. Johnson (via one of his affiliates) ‘The Rock’ trademark and certain related trademarks, service marks, ring names, taglines, and other intellectual property assets.”
“Mr. Johnson received an RSU award for an aggregate value of 30 million.”
“The Company paid $0.9 million of royalties that were earned by Mr. Johnson during each of the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024.”
“Such reimbursable expenses totaled $0.6 million and $2.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.”
The Rock has acquired 96,557 shares of TKO stock in a new SEC filing today, worth $13.75 MILLION.
Rock now owns a total of 289,673 shares in TKO stock, worth an estimated $41.25 MILLION as of press time. pic.twitter.com/CmSsQJCbFS
— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) January 4, 2025