Michael S. Ovitz

Age: 48

Creative Artists Agency

9830 Wilshire Blvd.

Beverly Hills, CA 90212

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Career objectives:

To maintain and expand his position as the most powerful man in Hollywood, brokering major deals to build the new entertainment industry that blends film, television, cable, multimedia and telephone companies. Would consider running a major entertainment company and taking an equity stake.

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Experience: Creative Artists Agency (1975 to present). Founded the literary and talent agency, of which he is now chairman and majority stockholder, 20 years ago with four colleagues from rival William Morris Agency and turned it into the largest agency in town. Brought the concept of the “package deal”--whereby one agency represents a project’s screenwriter, director and top actors--to feature filmmaking. Clients include Steven Spielberg, Tom Cruise, Kevin Costner, Demi Moore, Robert Redford and Sylvester Stallone. Reportedly earns tens of millions of dollars a year from CAA and has an estimated $200-million stake in the business.

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William Morris Agency (1969-75). Joined the Beverly Hills talent agency straight out of college, starting as a mail room clerk. Promoted to talent agent, specializing in television clients such as Merv Griffin, Bob Barker and Chuck Barris. Also developed game shows.

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Universal Studios Hollywood (college years). Guided tours of the park while driving a tram.

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Deals:

Brokered $5.7-billion sale of MCA to Seagram and before that to Matsushita. Orchestrated sale of Columbia and TriStar to Sony. Advised Edgar Bronfman Jr. on purchasing 15% stake in Time Warner. Advising Pacific Telesis, Nynex and Bell Atlantic on Tele-TV venture, which is seeking to reinvent television as an interactive medium. Won Coca-Cola ad account. Worked with Nike to create celebrity sporting events.

Positions turned down:

Declined offer to head MCA under new owner Bronfman.

In 1989, turned down offer to head Sony’s TriStar and Columbia studios.

May have been offered leadership positions at MCA after Matsushita bought the studio.