Professional wrestling is all about thrilling storylines, drama, and intensity inside the ring. But the rivalry is not limited to wrestlers. The feud between Shane McMahon and her sister Stephanie McMahon remains one of the most contentious executive contests in the WWE.
While Stephanie McMahon has remained a constant in the executive spheres of the company, her brother, Shane, had a difficult relationship with her and their father, Vince McMahon. The two siblings are miles apart in their approach, demeanor, and leadership skills. With WWE now officially out of the control of the McMahon family, one might ask: how and why were the two McMahons so different?
Stephanie McMahon: The pillar of strength of her father’s ideals
As a fourth-generation promoter, Stephanie McMahon was born on September 24, 1976, and has dedicated her life to the professional wrestling industry. She has held a variety of positions over the years, including SmackDown General Manager and WWE Women’s Champion, Raw Commissioner, Chief Brand Officer, and even Co-CEO at a critical juncture in the company’s history.
According to CelebritiesNetWorth, the 48-year-old earned between $2.5 and $2.8 million a year before leaving her executive position in 2023. She also owned 2.5 million shares of WWE stock, which she sold during the 2024 merger with UFC to form TKO Group Holdings. Since then, Stephanie has remained close to the WWE industry despite being largely out of the spotlight.
Her relationship with Shane McMahon is a complicated and rather infamous chapter in the story of the McMahon family. Ever since the beginning, Shane was rumoured to be against his sister’s involvement with Triple H and the authority. But Stephanie decided to pursue her love regardless.
However, the relationship has warmed up with both of them now out of the WWE. Stephanie McMahon reminisced about her relationship with her brother during an interaction with Dana White, the president of UFC. On being asked about Shane’s love for Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), she shared:
There’s a little bit of truth in that. Shane’s always been a huge fan. I was usually on the receiving end of many practices, manuevers, ’cause I was like his little brother.
While Stephanie McMahon currently remains out of the helm of affairs at WWE, she remains active in other domains. She launched Stephanie’s Places, a WWE-themed documentary series on ESPN+, in 2025. She also keeps audiences interested with her podcast, What’s Your Story?
Stephanie McMahon has also made a name for herself in brand consulting and public speaking. She is widely recognized for spearheading significant charitable endeavors and advancing WWE’s Women’s Evolution. She has long backed groups like Susan G. Komen and Make-A-Wish, and she co-founded Connor’s Cure to combat pediatric cancer. She and her spouse, Paul “Triple H” Levesque, are estimated to be worth $250 million as of 2025.
Shane McMahon: The self-styled visionary of the WWE
Born on January 15, 1970, the 55-year-old Shane McMahon’s career has been among the most exciting and unpredictable in the WWE. Being the son of Vince McMahon, he tried to keep his legacy alive by playing a significant role in the company’s growth by securing international TV deals and launching WWE’s first website, which helped the brand become well-known throughout the world.
Shane gained notoriety for his daring wrestling style, frequently risking his life in intense matches against The Undertaker, Kurt Angle, and later on against modern-day superstars like AJ Styles as well. His legacy as an executive and a professional wrestler makes it evident that Shane can manage the company and his career simultaneously.
In order to concentrate on his business, he left WWE in 2010 and assumed leadership positions at You-On-Demand and Seven Stars Cloud Group. He even became a co-owner of the Indian Larry Motorcycle Shop in Brooklyn.
After making an unexpected comeback to WWE in 2016, he continued to make appearances intermittently until his final significant event at WrestleMania 39, where he suffered an injury during an unscheduled matchup with The Miz.
Shane’s relationship with his sister Stephanie McMahon had its own set of struggles and complications. Although it was reported that he was against Stephanie’s relationship with Triple H, Shane has gone above and beyond to clarify his stance on the issue. During an interaction with Mick Foley in 2017, Shane McMahon revealed his stance on the issue. The former WWE executive shared:
That didn’t change either. My relationship with Paul? He makes my sister happy and I’m very happy he does that.
Shane’s estimated net worth as of 2025 is $200 million. His salary, as per reports from CelebritiesNetWorth, suggests that in 2018, he received an annual salary of $955,175 solely for his role as a WWE performer, not including any compensation from his earlier executive or management positions within the company.
Although he no longer owns WWE stock, he had sold the majority of it before the TKO merger. While Shane may not have a successful career, he has certainly carried an unparalleled legacy in the company and is admired by WWE fans in an unprecedented manner.
With the McMahon siblings now out of the WWE, and Vince McMahon struggling with the Janel Grant lawsuit, will fans ever witness a McMahon being at the helm of affairs in the company? Only time has the answer to this question.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
