Who Is Michael Ovitz? - (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

If you're going to read one book about Hollywood, this is the one.

As the co-founder of Creative Artists Agency, Michael Ovitz earned a reputation for ruthless negotiation, brilliant strategy, and fierce loyalty to his clients. He reinvented the role of the agent and helped shape the careers of hundreds of A-list entertainers, directors, and writers, including Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Meryl Streep, Sean Connery, Bill Murray, Robin Williams, and David Letterman.

But this personal history is much more than a fascinating account of celebrity friendships and bare-knuckled dealmaking. It's also an underdog's story: How did a middle-class kid from Encino work his way into the William Morris mailroom, and eventually become the most powerful person in Hollywood? How did an agent (even a superagent) also become a power in producing, advertising, mergers & acquisitions, and modern art? And what were the personal consequences of all those deals?

After decades of near-silence in the face of controversy, Ovitz is finally telling his whole story, with remarkable candor and insight.

Review Quotes

"When the history of Hollywood is written, few people will have played a larger role than Michael Ovitz.... It is impossible to read such a chronicle and not see Mr. Ovitz as the Steve Jobs of agenting, possessing a version of Jobs's fanatical drive and a similar desire to remake an industry." --The Wall Street Journal

"A revealing retelling of his Hollywood career.... A study in the unusual personality traits required to pull this off, Who Is Michael Ovitz? represents a master class of sorts." --The New York Times

"Learn how to build an empire and transform an industry from the Jedi master of modern Hollywood." --Marc Andreessen

"This is one of the best books I've ever read. The meticulous detailing is as graphic and captivating as Michael's Jasper Johns 'White Flag' painting. The stories are vivid, educational, entertaining, and deeply satisfying." --LA Reid

"Who Is Michael Ovitz? is an unexpectedly good read....What makes [it] juicier than the average business memoir is that the author proves surprisingly willing to dish about the foibles of former clients and colleagues alike." --Michael Cieply, Deadline: Hollywood

"Michael is a legend and I don't use that term lightly. Learning from his journey is something that every entrepreneur and executive should do." --Gary Vaynerchuk

"Michael's brilliance and relentless drive clearly shine through in this entertaining memoir. You see the man behind the agency and how he built a global business empire. His life story has powerful lessons for us all." --Roger Goodell, NFL Commissioner

"It is truly rare to read a book this honest from a living legend. The Hollywood superhero lets us peak behind his mask and understand his weaknesses and methods.... I was shocked, thrilled, and surprisingly educated. A masterpiece of a memoir."--Ben Horowitz, co-founder and general partner, Andreessen Horowitz

About the Author

Michael Ovitz co-founded CAA in 1975 and served as its chairman until 1995. For most of the past two decades he has been a private investor and an advisor to Silicon Valley entrepreneurs. This is his first book.