Who is Ari Emanuel, who slammed Benjamin Netanyahu at a Jewish gala dinner? The Hollywood mogul, who owns UFC and WWE, said Israel’s PM is a ‘failure’, but has also called out Kanye West and Mel Gibson
He’s a friend to presidents and agent to powerful Hollywood players including Oprah Winfrey and Mark Wahlberg … and his name is Ari Emanuel.
The boss of Endeavor, a media agency that owns the UFC and WWE, is considered one of the most influential and powerful men in Hollywood. So when he accepted an award from a Jewish organisation and used his speech to slam Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the incident naturally dominated headlines.
Emanuel is famous for speaking his mind and publicly calling out what he thinks is wrong. Here’s what you need to know about the 63-year-old.
What did Ari Emanuel just say about Benjamin Netanyahu?
Last week, Emanuel attended the gala dinner of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre, a Jewish global human rights organisation, where he was presented with the humanitarian award. The Endeavor boss, who comes from a Jewish family with strong ties to Israel, slammed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his acceptance speech.
“Israel is being led not by a problem solver, but by a problem creator,” he said. “He is an agent of chaos and hatred and division and destruction. And enough is enough. Bibi Netanyahu is a failure.”
He added, “This is a painful and crucial moment for all of us who are Jews and who love Israel. It is not a moment to stay silent.”
His comments drew polarised reactions, with some audience members applauding his speech, while others walked out of the hotel where the event was being held. Attendees included TV producer Larry David, New England Patriots boss Robert Kraft, Wahlberg and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
Emanuel’s comments came in the wake of the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel last year, which left around 1,200 Israelis and foreigners dead, and about 250 people kidnapped. Israel responded with military intervention, which has left more than 30,000 Palestinians dead, per Reuters.
Ari Emanuel’s celebrity connections
In 1995, Emanuel founded Endeavor, an entertainment and media agency, out of a small office above a burger joint, per Financial Times. He later went on to represent big names including Winfrey, Wahlberg, Martin Scorsese and Charlize Theron. At one point, he was former US president Donald Trump’s agent.
He was also behind the merger between Endeavor and his rival William Morris, and was instrumental in buying the sports media group IMG, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and WWE.
In 2022, he married fashion designer Sarah Staudinger, 35, in St Tropez in front of celebrity guests including Elon Musk, Sean “Diddy Combs” and Wahlberg. He was previously married to Sarah Hardwick Addington and has three sons with her.
He’s called out stars for being anti-semitic, too
Emanuel led much of the criticism against Kanye West when the musician made anti-semitic remarks in 2022. He wrote an op-ed in The Chicago Tribute calling on businesses to boycott Ye, leading to major companies including Adidas and the Gap pulling their business arrangements with him.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Emanuel also called for boycotts of Mel Gibson when the star made anti-semitic comments during a drunken rant in 2006.
Did Ari Emanuel really inspire Ari Gold on Entourage?
He did. Jeremy Piven played the character on popular TV show Entourage, portraying him as over-the-top and aggressive.
During an interview on the podcast On Purpose with Jay Shetty, Emanuel admitted that there were aspects of the character that were accurate: “I was very aggressive. When we started the business, we couldn’t compete on price because commissions were commissions. There were five other big players and we just had to, one, be more creative, and two, be more aggressive and fight.”
Who is Ari Emanuel’s family?
His father Dr Benjamin Emanuel was born in Jerusalem and arrived in New York in the early 1950s, according to the New Yorker. He eventually met radiology technician Marsha Smulevitz, and proposed to her after only a week.
Emanuel has two well-known brothers: Zeke, a respected doctor, and Rahm, a former congressman, White House chief of staff and mayor of Chicago.
How much is Ari Emanuel worth?
Emanuel has an estimated net worth of US$450 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Variety reports that his salary package in 2023 amounted to nearly US$65 million, as CEO of TKO Group Holdings, the parent company of UFC and WWE. Another article by the publication adds that Emanuel received US$83.9 million in 2023 Endeavor CEO.
Ari Emanuel’s wellness routine
Emanuel is known for his focus on his health, per the Financial Times, which includes adhering to a strict vegan lifestyle, getting up before the sun rises, and taking ice baths. In an interview on Freakanomics Radio, he admitted to taking daily live microbes for his gut and said he usually does not eat from Thursday night to Friday night, as a ritual.
In 2022, Emanuel was snapped on a yacht in Mykonos with his pal Musk. The paparazzi shots during the holiday revealed the incredible shape Emanuel is in as a 60-something, with his ripped frame.
