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Linda McMahon

Linda McMahon is an American business executive and politician best known as co-founder and former chief executive officer of WWE.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Linda McMahon is an American business executive and politician best known as co-founder and former chief executive officer of WWE. She has also served as the 25th Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration and, since March 3, 2025, as the 13th United States Secretary of Education.

Early life and education

Linda McMahon was born in New Bern, North Carolina, in 1948. She attended East Carolina University.

Business career

McMahon helped build WWE from a small regional wrestling company into a major public corporation. She served in senior leadership roles, including president and CEO, before leaving the company in 2009.

Political career

McMahon entered public service through Republican politics and later joined the first Trump administration as SBA administrator. In 2025, she became Secretary of Education.

Public roles and campaigns

McMahon was the Republican nominee in two Connecticut U.S. Senate races, in 2010 and 2012. She has also been associated with several Trump-aligned political and policy organizations.

Key facts

  • Co-founded Titan Sports with Vince McMahon in 1980, later renamed World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
  • Served as president of WWE from 1993 to 2000 and chief executive officer from 1997 to 2009.
  • Served as the 25th Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration from 2017 to 2019.
  • Was sworn in as U.S. Secretary of Education on March 3, 2025.
  • Ran as the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut in 2010 and 2012.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Linda McMahon?
Linda McMahon is an American business executive and politician best known for co-founding WWE and for serving in the Trump administration as SBA administrator and later education secretary.
What company did Linda McMahon help found?
She co-founded Titan Sports, which became World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), with her husband Vince McMahon.
What government jobs has Linda McMahon held?
She served as Administrator of the Small Business Administration from 2017 to 2019 and as U.S. Secretary of Education beginning March 3, 2025.
Did Linda McMahon run for the U.S. Senate?
Yes. She was the Republican nominee for Connecticut's U.S. Senate seat in both 2010 and 2012.
Where was Linda McMahon born?
She was born in New Bern, North Carolina, in 1948.

References

  1. U.S. Department of Education — http://www.ed.gov/about/ed-organization/meet-secretary-of-education/linda-e-mcmahon
    Supports: Sworn in as Secretary of Education on March 3, 2025; business background; WWE leadership
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Linda-McMahon
    Supports: Birth date and place; political and business career; SBA administrator; WWE roles
  3. U.S. Small Business Administration — https://www.sba.gov/person/linda-mcmahon
    Supports: Administrator of the SBA from 2017 to 2019; co-founder and former CEO of WWE; Connecticut Senate campaigns; East Carolina University
  4. Iowa State University Archives of Women's Political Communication — https://awpc.cattcenter.iastate.edu/directory/linda-mcmahon
    Supports: SBA administrator dates; education; co-founding Titan Sports; birth information
  5. University of Virginia Miller Center — https://millercenter.org/linda-mcmahon-2025
    Supports: Birth date; Titan Sports/WWE history; 2024 transition role; Senate confirmation and swearing-in date