Michael Ovitz

Michael Ovitz was born December 14, 1946, and grew up in Chicago before his family moved to Los Angeles, where he later attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), graduating in 1968. After college, he entered the talent-agency business by taking an entry-level job in the mailroom at the William Morris Agency, and he rose through the ranks to become an agent representing television and entertainment talent. In 1975, Ovitz left William Morris with four colleagues to found Creative Artists Agency (CAA), where his aggressive client recruitment, deal packaging, and entrepreneurial tactics helped transform the agency into a dominant force in Hollywood; under his leadership, CAA represented major stars, directors, and writers and negotiated landmark deals that shifted leverage from studios to talent. In 1995, Ovitz left CAA to become President of The Walt Disney Company, a high-profile corporate move that ended in his departure in 1997 after a controversial and much-publicized tenure and a large severance payment; the episode generated significant media and shareholder scrutiny. After Disney, Ovitz launched Artists Management Group (AMG) in 1999 and engaged in investment and advisory roles with venture funds and boards of companies, including involvement with Broad Beach Ventures and various tech and service startups. Ovitz has also served on multiple corporate and nonprofit boards and engaged in philanthropic activity, including involvement with UCLA Medical Center fundraising and healthcare boards, and he has been a private investor and adviser to venture capital firms and startups in the 2000s and 2010s.