UFC Reports $30m Loss On White House Event Despite Revenue Growth

President Donald Trump (L) and UFC CEO Dana White

 

UFC’s parent company, TKO Group Holdings, has revealed that staging the historic Freedom 250 event at the White House resulted in a loss of approximately $30 million (£22 million), despite the event attracting a global audience of around 34 million viewers.

Held in June as part of celebrations marking 250 years of American independence, the invite-only event took place on the South Lawn of the White House and was attended by about 4,300 guests, including US President Donald Trump and Vice-President JD Vance.

UFC had anticipated the financial loss due to the event’s high production costs, which were initially estimated to exceed $60 million (£44 million).

According to TKO Chief Financial Officer Andrew Schleimer, the company offset part of the expense through sponsorships, media exposure and commercial partnerships, although the event still significantly affected UFC’s operating margins.

Despite the one-off loss, UFC enjoyed a strong second quarter financially. TKO reported a 29% year-on-year increase in UFC revenue, reaching $535.7 million (£398.7 million).

The growth was largely driven by a new seven-year, $7.7 billion (£5.7 billion) media rights agreement with Paramount, which became UFC’s exclusive US broadcast partner from 2026. The deal contributed an additional $64.7 million (£48.2 million) in media rights revenue.

The White House event ultimately became one of the most-watched mixed martial arts shows in history, highlighting UFC’s expanding global reach despite the significant financial investment.

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