Who is Ari Emanuel? Meet the super agent reinventing Meghan Markle after Spotify CEO's 'f*****g grifter' comment
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Meghan Markle faced criticism from Spotify employees, who branded her as "lazy" and referred to her and Prince Harry as "f**king grifters," after their $20M deal with the podcasting network was terminated. Bill Simmons, the head of Spotify's international sports content and a sportscaster, expressed his opinion on his personal podcast, suggesting that Markle's podcast should have been titled 'The F*****g Grifters' instead of 'Archetypes'.
Meanwhile, the mission to reinvent Markle is already well underway by her talent agency, William Morris Endeavor (WME), led by Ari Emanuel. The Duchess of Sussex might be on the verge of securing a significant partnership with the renowned French couture house, Dior. The deal would potentially position her as one of the brand's ambassadors, alongside global celebrities including Rihanna, Johnny Depp and Jennifer Lawrence.
'Ari is the best in the business'
"Meghan is all anyone is talking about," a prominent Beverly Hills socialite, who did not want to be named, told Daily Mail, adding, "There have been rumours for weeks that she's about to sign a deal with Dior which has put the gossip mill into overdrive. If she pulls that off, then no one will remember that her silly little podcast got cancelled after one season." Since joining forces with Emanuel, Markle has been actively engaged in various meetings with brands.
"We knew the Spotify announcement was coming," sources at WME said, addimg, "It might be a shock to everyone else but we've been working on the rebranding of Meghan for weeks. Ari is the best in the business when it comes to corporate deals and making money. He's excited to be representing Meghan and has thrown all his energy into it. The offers have been pouring in, including from other podcast platforms."
Who is Ari Emanuel?
Born in 1961, Emanuel is an American businessman and CEO of Endeavor, a prominent entertainment and media agency renowned for its ownership of major entities including the UFC and the WWE. His journey began as a founding partner of the Endeavor Talent Agency, where his sharp business acumen quickly propelled the agency to new heights. Recognizing the potential for growth and innovation, he orchestrated the pivotal merger between Endeavor and the William Morris Agency in 2009, creating a powerhouse in the industry.
Widely regarded as a true powerhouse and influential figure in Hollywood, Emanuel has cemented his reputation through his unwavering commitment to his clients and his remarkable leadership skills. His ability to foster strong relationships with top-tier talent has garnered him immense respect within the industry, earning him a place on Fortune's prestigious Businessperson of the Year list alongside his co-CEO, Patrick Whitesell.
Outside his professional pursuits, Emanuel is a philanthropist with a passion for supporting the arts and education. He has been actively involved with organizations including PS Arts, which strives to bring art education programs to schools in Southern California. Additionally, his contributions to the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, including the establishment of MOCAtv, have further demonstrated his commitment to promoting and nurturing creativity.