Ari Emanuel news
The gist
Ari Emanuel's memoir excerpt reveals the $44 million power play behind WME's takeover of William Morris.
The account details how he ousted two agency chiefs, reshaping Hollywood's talent business.
How it unfolded
- 2003Emanuel concluded Endeavor needed a merger to compete against CAA; during an initial meeting, he suggested Endeavor might buy William Morris, and Weintraub laughed at him, prompting an enraged Emanuel to insist Endeavor was more valuable before storming out.
- 2007Negotiations resumed.
- 2009The companies agreed that Wiatt would serve as chairman, while Emanuel, Whitesell and William Morris executive Dave Wirtschafter would become co-CEOs; the board's voting structure effectively gave the two sides equal power, creating William Morris Endeavor.