Former President/CEO of The Onion; media executive and investor · The Onion (former) · Waukesha, Wisconsin
Mike McAvoy
Former Onion/Gizmodo-group president; hometown Waukesha. Not Brendan Lee McAvoy (Waukesha attorney), not Michael J. McAvoy DO (Appleton ENT), not Eau Claire/McDonough sales Mike McAvoy.
Also known as Michael McAvoy
Net worth
$3 million+
September 3, 2026
About
Mike McAvoy grew up in Waukesha and went on to run one of America's best-known satire brands.
After early finance work at TCF Bank and Capella Education in Minneapolis, he joined The Onion as controller in the mid-2000s, rose to CFO and COO, and became president—and later CEO—of Onion, Inc.
Under his watch the company leaned hard into digital products and video as print advertising faded, culminating in the decision to end the print edition. When Univision sold Gizmodo Media Group and The Onion into what became G/O Media, McAvoy continued leading commercial and Onion operations until he departed in July 2019.
Since then he has worked as a Chicago-area self-employed executive and investor, including involvement in comedy and entertainment assets such as the 2022 UCB Theatre acquisition and a 2023 stake in Abso Lutely Productions. Waukesha remains the Wisconsin hometown he has publicly claimed.
Companies and affiliations
- The Onion
Notable facts
Hometown Waukesha, Wisconsin; University of St. Thomas (Minnesota); born January 7, 1980 per Mediabistro profile.
Joined The Onion in 2005 as controller, then rose to CFO, COO, and president of Onion, Inc.
Departed G/O Media / Onion leadership in July 2019 amid G/O restructuring.
Post-Onion activity includes the 2022 UCB Theatre acquisition and a 2023 Abso Lutely Productions investment.
What questions can this profile answer
- What makes Mike McAvoy notable?
- Mike McAvoy grew up in Waukesha and went on to run one of America's best-known satire brands. After early finance work at TCF Bank and Capella Education in Minneapolis, he joined The Onion as controller in the mid-2000s, rose to CFO and COO, and became president—and later CEO—of Onion, Inc.
- What is Mike McAvoy's estimated net worth?
- Mike McAvoy's estimated net worth is $3 million+ as of 2026-09-03.