Scooter Braun is an American entrepreneur and music industry executive. He is the founder of RBMG Records and CEO of HYBE America. Braun is best known for discovering Justin Bieber and managing successful artists like Ariana Grande, Kanye West, and Demi Lovato.
In 1956, following the Holocaust, Scooter Braun's grandparents, who were living in Hungary, immigrated to the United States. This move played a significant role in shaping the future for Braun's family.
Scott Samuel "Scooter" Braun was born on June 18, 1981. He would grow up to become an influential American entrepreneur and record executive, known for his role as the CEO of HYBE-America and for discovering Canadian singer Justin Bieber in 2008.
In 2002, while studying at Emory University, Scooter Braun began organizing parties. He was hired to plan after-parties for the Anger Management Tour, which featured Ludacris and Eminem. This opportunity marked the beginning of Braun's career in the entertainment industry.
In 2003, Scooter Braun organized parties for the NBA All-Star Game, showcasing his growing influence and skills in event planning within the entertainment industry.
In 2004, Scooter Braun organized after-parties for Britney Spears' Onyx Hotel Tour, further establishing his presence and reputation in the music and entertainment industry.
In 2005, Scooter Braun left his position at So So Def Records. Shortly after, he brokered a $12 million campaign deal between Ludacris and Pontiac and was hired as an entertainment consultant for the Atlanta Hawks.
In 2007, Scooter Braun established SB Projects, an entertainment and marketing company that included ventures like Schoolboy Records, SB Management, and Sheba Publishing. This marked a significant expansion of his entrepreneurial activities.
In 2008, Scooter Braun discovered Canadian singer Justin Bieber, which led to the establishment of his record label RBMG Records, a joint venture with R&B singer Usher. This discovery marked a significant milestone in Braun's career.
In 2010, Ithaca Holdings, Scooter Braun's holding company, raised $120 million in venture capital. This funding allowed the company to expand its investments and acquisitions in the entertainment industry.
In 2011, Scooter Braun produced the documentary 'Never Say Never' about Justin Bieber. The film became one of the highest-grossing music documentaries in domestic box-office history, earning over $100 million worldwide on a $13 million budget.
In 2012, Scooter Braun was awarded the ACLU Bill of Rights award, recognizing his contributions to civil liberties.
On April 20, 2013, Scooter Braun appeared on the cover of Billboard magazine alongside Guy Oseary and Troy Carter. This recognition highlighted his influence in the music industry.
Scooter Braun began dating Yael Cohen in 2013.
In 2013, Scooter Braun signed Ariana Grande to his record label, marking another significant milestone in his career as a music manager.
Scooter Braun married Yael Cohen on July 6, 2014, in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada.
From 2014 until 2018, Scooter Braun was the executive producer of the CBS drama 'Scorpion', further showcasing his versatility and influence in television production.
Scooter Braun and Yael Cohen welcomed their first son in 2015.
Scooter Braun hosted a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton at his home in 2015.
In 2016, SB Projects handled the endorsement deal for Justin Bieber's Calvin Klein campaign during his Purpose World Tour, showcasing the company's influence in branding and marketing.
In 2016, Scooter Braun received the Humanitarian Award at the Billboard Touring Awards for his support of various charities, including Pencils of Promise, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and Fuck Cancer.
Scooter Braun and Yael Cohen had their second son in 2016.
In 2017, SB Projects brokered a partnership between Kanye West and Adidas, highlighting the company's role in major music licensing and branding deals.
In 2017, Scooter Braun received Grammy nominations for his work on Justin Bieber's albums "Purpose" and "Justice." He also appeared on the cover of Variety magazine's Hitmakers issue.
Scooter Braun's philanthropic efforts continued to be recognized in 2017. He received the Humanitarian Award at the Billboard Touring Awards and was involved in organizing "Hand in Hand," a telethon for hurricane relief.
Scooter Braun's philanthropic efforts in 2017 earned him recognition and awards.
Scooter Braun was recognized for his philanthropic work in 2018 with the Harry Chapin Memorial Humanitarian Award and the Save the Children's Humanitarian Award.
Scooter Braun and Yael Cohen's daughter was born in 2018.
In 2018, Scooter Braun joined David Maisel, founding chairman of Marvel Studios, to form Mythos Studios. The company aimed to produce comic book movie franchises in live-action and animated formats.
As of 2018, Ithaca Holdings, with $500 million under management, financed GoodStory Entertainment, a collaboration between Braun and J. D. Roth to acquire live event content, unscripted programming, and documentary films.
In 2018, FX ordered a pilot of the comedy 'Dave', executive-produced by Scooter Braun. The show, featuring actor Kevin Hart and rapper Lil Dicky, became the most-watched show in FX history in its first season.
In July 2019, SB Projects, Scooter Braun's company, signed a first-look deal with Amazon Studios for television and film scripts. This deal included projects at Netflix, Hulu, and Fox, expanding Braun's influence in the entertainment industry.
In 2019, Ithaca Holdings acquired Big Machine Label Group, including the masters to the first six albums of Taylor Swift. This acquisition led to a public denouncement from Swift regarding the transfer of ownership of her album masters.
In 2019, Scooter Braun hosted a fundraiser for Kamala Harris's 2020 presidential campaign.
Scooter Braun was inducted into the Midem Hall of Fame in 2019.
In May 2020, an email revealed that Scooter Braun was open to selling the master recordings of Taylor Swift's albums back to her. This was part of the ongoing dispute following Ithaca Holdings' acquisition of Big Machine Label Group.
In 2020, Ithaca Holdings sold the Big Machine album masters to Shamrock Holdings for a reported $405 million, earning Ithaca $265 million from the sale.
In 2020, Scooter Braun was named to Fortune magazine's "40 Under 40" list in the media and entertainment category.
Scooter Braun's support for Kamala Harris's presidential campaign continued in 2020.
In April 2021, South Korean company Hybe acquired Ithaca Holdings in a deal estimated to be around $1.05 billion. As part of the sale, Braun became Hybe America's CEO and joined Hybe's board of directors.
Scooter Braun filed for divorce from Yael Cohen in July 2021.
Scooter Braun was named Variety magazine's "Music Mogul of the Year" in 2021.
In 2021, the acquisition of Ithaca Holdings brought Scooter Braun's net worth beyond $1 billion. This milestone reflects his success as an entrepreneur and investor.
On May 31, 2022, Scooter Braun met with BTS and US President Joe Biden at the White House to discuss the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes. This meeting underscored Braun's involvement in significant social issues.
Scooter Braun's divorce from Yael Cohen was finalized in September 2022.
Scooter Braun supported developer Rick Caruso in the 2022 Los Angeles mayoral election.
Scooter Braun was nominated for a Grammy Award for his work on Justin Bieber's album "Justice" in 2022.
In January 2023, Scooter Braun was named the sole CEO of Hybe's American division, reaffirming his significant leadership role within the company.
As of August 2023, Scooter Braun no longer managed major artists including Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato, and Idina Menzel, marking a shift in his career management focus.
As of 2023, Scooter Braun had netted nearly $400 million from the Big Machine deal. This financial success highlights the significant impact of the acquisition and subsequent sale of the album masters.
In 2023, Hybe acquired Quality Control Music for $300 million, with Kevin “Coach K” Lee and Pierre “P” Thomas maintaining control of the label under Braun's leadership.
In 2023, Scooter Braun and Clive Davis presented Hybe's Chairman Bang Si-Hyuk with the Visionary award at Billboard's Power 100 Party. This event highlights Braun's continued influence in the music industry.
Scooter Braun coordinated the charity single "Stuck with U" to benefit the First Responders Children's Foundation in 2023. He also joined the board of directors of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
In March 2024, Scooter Braun launched a fundraising project with Care.org and the Hostages and Missing Families Forum in Israel.