CableFAX: 39. The Ring-Masters: Linda and Vince McMahon
Linda and Vince McMahon
Titles: CEO, WWE (Linda); Chmn, WWE (Vince)
Last Year: #69
Age: Wouldn’t you like to know (Linda); 63 (Vince)
Ed: (Linda) E Carolina U, BS, Education, major in French; trained as a paralegal in probate dept of Covington & Burling, Wash, D.C. (Vince) E Carolina U
Why Them? WWE’s power couple delivers top ratings to USA nearly every week. Is that Raw determination or what? While Vince remains the consummate showman, and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame this year, cable tongues still wag over the speech-without-notes Linda delivered at the Wonder Women lunch a few years back. Linda translates Vince’s glitz into dollars for publicly traded WWE and leads its global foray. She also spearheads WWE’s push on literacy and voting. One of Vince’s public efforts in ’08 was the Million Dollar Mania sweepstakes, where the prize reportedly came from his wallet; viewers spiked 25% on the contest.
Year Ahead: 
Though WWE rules, ratings have slipped a bit as other screens vie for viewers.
Linda
Favorite Restaurants: Vabella, Greenwich, CT; New York Prime, Boca Raton, FL
Favorite Music: Adult rock, Motown classics, new country
Favorite TV Show: Grey’s Anatomy
In ’09 I Resolve To: Serve in some way to improve our educational systems
Favorite Part of My Job: Mentoring
Best Business Advice Received: Nothing happens in business until a sale is made
I Wish My Grandkids Would: Bottle some energy and give it to me for Xmas
The Trait I Most Admire In People: The ability to listen and be open-minded
Favorite Sports Team: Yankees
Vince
Food: Meat
Drink of Choice: Water
Favorite Music: Classic Rock
Unnecessary Luxury I Like Most Is: All Luxuries are unnecessary
Last Book Read: The Bible
I Love: Filling out questionnaires
CO/SA