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Vince McMahon, the former WWE Chairman, has agreed to a hefty $1.7 million settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) following allegations that he failed to disclose payments tied to sexual assault allegations. The SEC accused McMahon of bypassing WWE’s internal accounting controls, resulting in inaccuracies in the company’s financial statements for 2018 and 2021.
The settlement includes a $400,000 civil penalty and a reimbursement of approximately $1.33 million to WWE. While McMahon has neither admitted nor denied the SEC’s findings, the allegations paint a troubling picture of his tenure at the helm of WWE.
“Company executives cannot withhold material agreement details from their company’s control functions and auditors,” stated Thomas P. Smith Jr., Associate Regional Director in the New York Regional Office, underscoring the seriousness of the claims.
The SEC’s investigation revealed that McMahon failed to disclose a $3 million payment to a former WWE employee and a $7.5 million payment to a female independent contractor, both tied to agreements ensuring they would not file claims against him. These payments led WWE to overstate its net income by 8% in 2018 and 1.7% in 2021, a significant misrepresentation of the company’s financial health.
This isn’t the first time McMahon has faced scrutiny over undisclosed payouts. In 2022, The Wall Street Journal reported that McMahon had paid a total of $12 million over 16 years to silence allegations of sexual misconduct and infidelity, further intensifying the spotlight on his leadership.
As McMahon steps further away from WWE, this settlement adds another layer of controversy to his storied legacy. For a man who built a wrestling empire, these scandals cast a long shadow over his contributions to the industry.
January 10, 2025 10:15 am
