Michael Ovitz
Michael Steven Ovitz (born December 14, 1946) is an American businessman, investor, and philanthropist. He was a talent agent who co-founded Creative Artists Agency (CAA) in 1975 and served as its chairman until 1995. Ovitz later served as president of The Walt Disney Company for only 16 months, from October 1995 to January 1997.
Michael Ovitz
December 14, 1946
Co-founder of the Creative Artists Agency
3, including Kimberly
Early life and education[edit]
Ovitz was born to a Romanian Jewish family[1][2][3] in Chicago, Illinois, the son of a liquor wholesaler. Raised in Encino, California, he was student body president at Birmingham High School in Van Nuys, a classmate of Sally Field and Michael Milken. While a pre-med student at the University of California, Los Angeles and president of Zeta Beta Tau, he began his entertainment career as a part-time tour guide at Universal Studios.[4]
Personal life[edit]
Ovitz acts as a private investor. Active in philanthropy, he donated $25 million in 1999 to spearhead fund raising efforts for UCLA's Medical Center,[22] and has contributed significantly to numerous other philanthropic endeavors.[23] A private investor and businessman, his notable activities have ranged from attempts to bring an NFL team to the Los Angeles Coliseum[24] to ventures in online media.[25]
Ovitz is considered among the world's top 200 art collectors.[26] He owns works by Pablo Picasso, Jasper Johns, Willem de Kooning, Barnett Newman, Mark Rothko, and many others.[27]
He married Judy Reich whom he met in college;[28] they have three children, including New York fashion designer Kimberly Ovitz.[29]
In 2015, Ovitz became engaged to Tamara Mellon.[30]
Books[edit]
Who is Michael Ovitz? was a memoir published by Michael Ovitz recounting his time at the Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and his brief stint at The Walt Disney Company.[31][32][33][34]
