In a world transformed by A.I., Ari Emanuel is betting big on live experiences. But the legendary entertainment dealmaker, whose memoir comes out in September, hasn’t sworn off life online. He recently opened his first Instagram and launched a new podcast, Rushmore.
Name an influence of yours that might surprise people.
My mother. She was deeply involved in civil rights and had an enormous sense of moral clarity. That stays with you. Beyond that, my career has been shaped by relationships across very different worlds: technology, sports, politics, business. My currency has always been people.
What’s something people get wrong about you?
That I’m purely transactional. I’m very relationship-driven, but I also work intensely and expect results. People assume that means I don’t value fun or downtime. I do. When I’m working, I’m all in. When I step away, I recharge just as deliberately. Get me in the ocean or on a golf course. I like to surf and golf.
What’s been the hardest part of your career so far?
Being told repeatedly that something couldn’t be done and pushing forward anyway. Early on, while preparing to start what became Endeavor [which merged into WME], I was hit by a car and hospitalized. Getting back up, literally and professionally, was a defining moment.
What do you want to see more of in your industry? Less of?
More adoption of A.I., not fear of it. Every major technological shift has expanded opportunity, productivity, and creativity. A.I. will do the same. It will make us smarter and faster, and open up entirely new kinds of work. The winners will be the ones who adopt it.
What are you looking forward to this year?
The 250th anniversary of the United States is a historic moment, and we’ll be part of it in a very big way: with a UFC event on the South Lawn of the White House with the President and heads of state. It will be a global spectacle on a scale that hasn’t been attempted before.
Separately, I’m focused on building my new company, MARI, creating live experiences that bring people together in person.
What’s one work of art that got you through an important moment in your life?
When things are difficult, I turn to humor. It creates distance and reminds you not to take everything so seriously. Films like Annie Hall, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Ghostbusters, M*A*S*H, Harold and Maude, Stripes, and The Jerk reset your perspective.
I also live with work by artists including Mark Bradford, Kara Walker, and Noah Davis, artists who confront history and power directly. Being around that kind of work forces you to think differently.
What would you be doing if you weren’t working in your field?
Leadoff hitter for the Chicago Cubs.
What do you think is your biggest contribution to culture?
Identifying content and experiences that resonate with global audiences. That’s what I’ve spent my entire career doing: working with the creators, writers, actors, authors, and directors who can bring it all to life in ways that leave a lasting emotional impact on millions of people year after year. Talent is the starting point; platforms are what allow culture to travel at scale.
To read more from the 2026 CULT100 honorees, see the full list here.
in your life?
