History of Linda McMahon in Timeline

Linda Marie McMahon is an American politician and business executive, notable for her role in professional wrestling and subsequent government service. A Republican, she served as the 25th Administrator of the Small Business Administration from 2017 to 2019. Since 2025, she has served as the 13th United States Secretary of Education.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles

October 4, 1948: Linda McMahon's Birth

On October 4, 1948, Linda Marie Edwards (later McMahon) was born. She is an American politician, business executive, and former professional wrestling executive.

Others born on this day/year

August 26, 1966: Married Vince McMahon

On August 26, 1966, Linda Edwards married Vince McMahon. Linda was 17 and Vince was 21.

1969: Graduated from East Carolina University

In 1969, Linda McMahon graduated from East Carolina University with a degree in French.

1969: Moved to Gaithersburg, Maryland

In 1969, the McMahons moved to Gaithersburg, Maryland, where Linda worked at a corporate law firm.

1970: Birth of Son Shane

In 1970, Linda and Vince McMahon's son, Shane, was born.

1976: Birth of Daughter Stephanie

In 1976, Linda and Vince McMahon's daughter, Stephanie, was born.

1976: Filed for Bankruptcy

In 1976, after failed business ventures, including financing Evel Knievel's Snake River Canyon Jump, and while pregnant with Stephanie, Linda McMahon and her husband filed for bankruptcy.

1979: Started Promoting Wrestling Events

In 1979, Vince McMahon decided to start promoting wrestling events at the Cape Cod Coliseum.

1980: Co-founded Titan Sports Inc.

In 1980, Linda McMahon and Vince McMahon co-founded Titan Sports, Inc., later known as WWE. Many workers in the company referred to her as the "co-chief executive".

1983: Moved to Greenwich, Connecticut

In 1983, the McMahons moved to Greenwich, Connecticut.

1984: Established Action Figure Line

In 1984, Linda McMahon established WWE's first line of action figures, Wrestling Superstars, which expanded the company's popularity with children.

1986: Started Supporting Special Olympics

In 1986, the McMahons began supporting the Special Olympics.

December 1989: Linda McMahon Memo

In December 1989, Linda McMahon wrote a memo.

1989: Directed Firing of Physician

In 1989, Linda McMahon directed Pat Patterson, the company's vice president, to fire on-call physician George Zahorian and inform him of imminent legal charges related to steroid distribution.

1993: Became President of Titan Sports

In 1993, Linda McMahon became the president of Titan Sports.

1995: Appointed to Governor's Council

In 1995, as Connecticut Governor, Lowell Weicker appointed Linda McMahon to the Governor's Council for the World Special Olympics.

1997: Became CEO of Titan Sports

In 1997, Linda McMahon became the CEO of Titan Sports.

May 3, 1999: WWF TV Debut

On May 3, 1999, Linda McMahon debuted on WWF TV during the Corporate Ministry storyline, on the episode of Raw during the Attitude Era.

August 2000: Launched SmackDown! Your Vote Campaign

In August 2000, Linda McMahon initiated WWE's non-partisan voter registration campaign, "SmackDown! Your Vote".

2000: Negotiated TV Deal with Viacom

In 2000, Linda McMahon was the primary negotiator for the World Wrestling Federation's TV deal with Viacom.

2000: American Library Association Top Selling Poster

In 2000, the American Library Association reported the WWF's Know Your Role poster was its highest-selling poster for two straight months.

November 2004: Member of Board of Trustees

In November 2004, Linda McMahon became a member of the board of trustees of Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut.

2005: Won Appointment to The Make-A-Wish Foundation

In 2005, Linda McMahon won appointment to The Make-A-Wish Foundation of America National Advisory Council and received the Arthur M. Sackler Award from the Connecticut Grand Opera and Orchestra for WWE's support of its arts education program.

2006: Wrestlers Tested Positive for Drugs

In 2006, documents showed that 75 wrestlers, roughly 40 percent, had tested positive for drug use, most commonly for steroids.

2006: Construction of Tennis Facility

In 2006, the McMahons paid $2.5 million for construction of a tennis facility in Ebensburg, Pennsylvania.

2006: Distributed Posters to Libraries

Since 2006, thousands of posters featuring WWE superstars have been distributed to libraries and reading facilities.

January 29, 2007: Named to Multichannel News' "Wonder Women"

On January 29, 2007, Multichannel News named Linda McMahon to its class of "Wonder Women" for 2007, recognizing her contributions to the cable and telecommunications industries.

May 2007: Keynote Speaker at Girl Scout Breakfast

In May 2007, Linda McMahon appeared as the keynote speaker at the Girl Scout Council of Southwestern Connecticut's Women of Achievement Leadership Breakfast.

2007: Steroid Investigation

Following the murder-suicide of Chris Benoit in 2007, the Oversight and Government Reform Committee investigated steroid usage in the wrestling industry, including WWE. The McMahons both testified.

2007: Secretary of Defense Exceptional Public Service Award

In 2007, WWE received the Secretary of Defense Exceptional Public Service Award for its support of deployed service members in Iraq and Afghanistan.

2007: Donated to the Donald J. Trump Foundation

In 2007, after Donald Trump's appearance at WrestleMania 23, the McMahons donated $5 million to the Donald J. Trump Foundation in addition to the payment for the appearance.

2007: Donation to Trump Foundation

In 2007, the McMahons donated $4 million to the Donald J. Trump Foundation through WWE.

2007: Received USO Legacy of Hope Award

In 2007, under Linda McMahon's leadership, WWE was the recipient of the USO of Metropolitan Washington's first ever "Legacy of Hope" award for its support of U.S. troops and the USO's Operation Care Package program.

July 2008: Changed TV Rating to TV-PG

In July 2008, WWE changed its TV parental guidelines rating from TV-14 to TV-PG.

December 2008: Marketing Strategy for Younger Audience

In December 2008, Linda McMahon described the change to a TV-PG rating as a marketing strategy to attract a younger generation of wrestling fans and create brand loyalty.

2008: Voter Registration Partner Organizations

As of the 2008 election, WWE's Smackdown Your Vote! listed 14 voter registration partner organizations.

2008: Received GI Film Festival's Corporate Patriot Award

In 2008, WWE received the GI Film Festival's Corporate Patriot Award.

2008: Donations to Various Universities

In 2008, the McMahons donated over $8 million to Fishburne Military School, Sacred Heart University, and East Carolina University.

January 2009: Appointed to Connecticut State Board of Education

In January 2009, Linda McMahon was appointed to the Connecticut State Board of Education by Governor Jodi Rell.

September 16, 2009: Resigned as CEO of WWE

On September 16, 2009, Linda McMahon resigned from her position as CEO of WWE to run as a Republican for a seat in the United States Senate from Connecticut.

2009: Criticized for Layoffs

During her 2010 Senate campaign, Linda McMahon was criticized by Blumenthal's campaign for WWE accepting tax credits while laying off workers in 2009.

2009: Left WWE to Run for Senate

In 2009, Linda McMahon left WWE to pursue a seat in the United States Senate from Connecticut as a Republican.

2009: Donation to Trump Foundation

In 2009, the McMahons donated $5 million to the Donald J. Trump Foundation through WWE.

January 20, 2010: CBS Face the State Interview

On January 20, 2010, Linda McMahon was interviewed on CBS Face the State and discussed the follow-up to inquiries regarding steroid use in WWE.

April 1, 2010: Resigned from the State Board of Education

On April 1, 2010, Linda McMahon resigned from the State Board of Education after a state election commission's legal opinion disallowed board members from soliciting campaign contributions, as she had entered the race for U.S. Senate.

2010: Served on Board of Close Up Foundation

As of 2010, Linda McMahon served on the board of the Close Up Foundation, a nonprofit which offers youth field trips to Washington, D.C.

2010: Lost Senate Election

In 2010, Linda McMahon, running as a Republican, lost the Senate election in Connecticut to Democrat Richard Blumenthal.

2010: "Tip-Off Memo" During Senate Campaign

In 2010, the 1989 memo became publicly known as the "Tip-Off Memo" during Linda McMahon's campaign for Senate and became a political liability.

September 20, 2011: Announced Candidacy for U.S. Senate

On September 20, 2011, in Southington, Connecticut, Linda McMahon officially announced her candidacy for U.S. Senate.

April 13, 2012: Linda E. McMahon Commons Building Dedication

On April 13, 2012, Sacred Heart University officially dedicated and opened the Linda E. McMahon Commons Building on its main campus in Fairfield, Connecticut.

May 18, 2012: Earned State Republican Party Endorsement

On May 18, 2012, Linda McMahon earned the endorsement of the state Republican Party at the Connecticut State Republican Convention.

August 14, 2012: Defeated Chris Shays in Primary

On August 14, 2012, Linda McMahon defeated Chris Shays in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate.

2012: Lost Another Senate Election

In 2012, Linda McMahon was the Republican nominee for Connecticut's other Senate seat but lost to Democrat Chris Murphy.

2012: Hinted at Running Again for Senate

In 2012, immediately after her loss to Blumenthal, Linda McMahon hinted that she would run again for Senate. She maintained a high profile, running television ads, campaigning for politicians, and making frequent media appearances.

2015: Donated to Future 45

In 2015, Linda McMahon donated $1.2 million to Future 45, a Super PAC which funded anti-Bernie Sanders advertisements.

2015: Attended Meeting Hosted by Joe Ricketts

In early 2015, Linda McMahon attended a daylong meeting near Jackson, Wyoming, hosted by TD Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts, along with other donors and prospective political candidates.

2016: Donated to Rebuilding America Now and Future 45

In 2016, Linda McMahon donated $6 million to Rebuilding America Now, a Super PAC with the purpose of electing Trump as U.S. president, and $1.2 million to Future 45, a Super PAC which funded anti-Bernie Sanders advertisements.

2016: Attended Meeting Hosted by Joe Ricketts

In early 2016, Linda McMahon attended a daylong meeting near Jackson, Wyoming, hosted by TD Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts, along with other donors and prospective political candidates.

January 24, 2017: Confirmation Hearing

On January 24, 2017, Linda McMahon's confirmation hearing for the position of Small Business Administrator occurred.

February 14, 2017: Confirmed as SBA Administrator

On February 14, 2017, Linda McMahon was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the 25th Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA).

June 17, 2017: Interview with CNBC

On June 17, 2017, Linda McMahon stated in an interview with CNBC that as administrator of the SBA she was learning how to develop business plans and grow businesses, and that she was working to address challenges to the agency's goals.

2017: Visited Cities to Support Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

Throughout 2017, Linda McMahon visited 68 cities to hear from small business owners and to support the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 backed by President Trump.

January 29, 2018: SBA's Progress Assessed by The Washington Post

On January 29, 2018, Linda McMahon's first anniversary as head of the SBA, The Washington Post assessed the SBA's progress under her leadership as "so far, so good".

March 29, 2019: Resigned as SBA Administrator

On March 29, 2019, it was announced that Linda McMahon would step down as the Administrator of the SBA in April to work on President Trump's re-election campaign.

April 12, 2019: Departure from the SBA

On April 12, 2019, Linda McMahon officially departed from the Small Business Administration to work for President Trump's 2020 reelection efforts.

2020: Chaired America First Action and America First Policy Institute

In 2020, Linda McMahon chaired America First Action, a pro-Trump Super PAC, and served as chair of the board for the America First Policy Institute.

2021: Founded America First Policy Institute

In 2021, Linda McMahon became the founding chairwoman of the America First Policy Institute.

October 2024: Named as Defendant in Lawsuit

In October 2024, Linda McMahon was named as a defendant in a lawsuit accusing her, her husband, and the WWE of negligence regarding the ring boy scandal. The lawsuit alleged that the McMahons fostered a culture of sexual abuse within the WWE.

December 2024: Lawsuit Paused

In December 2024, a federal judge paused the lawsuit against McMahon, her husband, and the WWE, pending the outcome of a legal challenge to a state law that could impact the case.

January 20, 2025: Nomination Received in U.S. Senate

On January 20, 2025, Linda McMahon's nomination was received in the U.S. Senate and referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP).

March 3, 2025: Sworn in as U.S. Secretary of Education

On March 3, 2025, Linda McMahon was sworn in as the 13th U.S. Secretary of Education after being confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

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