Who is Scooter Braun?
Scooter Braun is an American music executive, business magnate, investor, and entrepreneur. He was born in New York City in the US to Ervin Braun and his wife, Susan Braun.
Known as the manager for artists such as Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, J Balvin, Demi Lovato, The Kid Laroi and other artists, he is the founder of SB Projects, Schoolboy Records and Ithaca Ventures, co-founder of TQ Ventures, Mythos Studios, and RBMG Records, and co-owner of esports team 100 Thieves.
After selling his entertainment company Ithaca for $1.05 Billion in 2021, he is now the CEO of media conglomerate HYBE America, home of Korean sensation BTS. The sale of Ithaca brought Braun’s net worth to over $1.1 billion according to reports. Braun at the time was 39 years old.
Many came to know of the successful entrepreneur when major US artist Taylor Swift accused him of buying her masters without her knowledge.
However, Braun contested this as did the seller of said masters Scott Borchetta, pointing out that Swift’s father and manager, Scott Swift, was on the board of Big Machine at the time of the sale and received $16 million dollars himself in the transaction.
Swift later claimed that she was never given the option to buy the masters from Braun and was instead told she would have to sign an egregious NDA to do so. However, it was later discovered that Swift‘s team had already signed an NDA with Braun at the time of this claim and instead turned down multiple offers to buy Swift her masters.
In the end Braun sold Taylor Swift’s catalog to Shamrock Capital for $405 million, a $265 million profit in just 18 months, after buying it at a $140 million valuation as part of the overall $330 million Big Machine Label Group acquisition in July 2019.
Apart from this online scandal, Scooter Braun enjoys an excellent reputation in the American music industry. Being of Jewish origin, his grandparents were survivors of the Holocaust, and his father later fled to the US as a refugee of the Hungarian revolution in 1956, where Scooter was born on June 18th, 1981 in New York City.
Where did Scooter Braun go to school?
Scooter Braun was born in New York City, USA, as his family resided in the borough of Queens. He was privileged to have four siblings, 3 brothers and a sister. Two of his brothers were adopted from Mozambique.
The family raised their children in Cos Cob, CT and Scooter attended Greenwich High School. His leadership skills started showing up in his school life. At Greenwich high school, the young man served as the class president.
Later on, Scooter joined Emory University, located in Atlanta. He was a good basketball player playing till his sophomore year. He, however, didn’t complete his degree at Emory University after he dropped out and started working for Jermaine Dupri.
Jermaine had a label named So So Def, where Scooter began working as the head of marketing after Dupri discovered Braun as a young party promoter in the streets of Atlanta. The successful American entrepreneur had his star shining from this unique work experience at just 20 years old.
Scooter Braun’s Successful Journey History
Scooter Braun, whose real name is Scott Samuel Braun, has become a renowned artist manager. Having managed top musicians like Kanye West, Usher, Justin Bieber, J Balvin, and Ariana Grande, amongst many others.
But Scooter Braun’s unique ability to have success in many different areas beyond media such as tech and real estate and even philanthropy has made him become famous just like his artists. Nevertheless, let’s see how Scooter Braun became a significant public figure in American society and culture.
At only 19 years, Mr. Braun had made himself famous by planning after-parties with Ludacris and Eminem. Soon many celebrities were turning to the 19 year old for his ability to bring a diverse crowd.
These parties garnered him much attention within Atlanta’s hip-hop culture and soon around the nation. This led to Jermaine Dupri recognizing Scooter Braun and wanting him to join his So So Def label. At 20 years old, Scooter was made the head of marketing at Jermaine’s label.
He never looked back ever since, and he ended up dropping out of Emory University his sophomore year and never graduating with a college degree.
Scooter’s Career Breakthrough
Mr. Braun started his own private marketing business, a music label, and artist presentation after quitting So So Def label at 24 years old. After learning from Jermaine Dupri for 4 years Scooter had many forward thinking ideas of how to use social media to break artists and revolutionize the music business.
The previous work at So So Def label gave Scooter enough skills to venture into business independently. Who would think that a university dropout would later be such an entrepreneur and his ideas would change an entire industry?
His managerial and marketing skills had grown to unimaginable levels making him start his business with a broker-deal. He began by brokering Ludacris and Pontiac in a $12 million deal campaign. In this deal, Ludacris’s video ‘two miles an hour’ would feature Pontiac while Pontiac was to feature Ludacris in their commercials.
With famous American Rapper Ludacris in the picture, Scooter Braun made a big name for himself. With his reputation as a great dealer and business manager, most artists looking to market their songs started to recognize him.
Scooter Braun’s Eye for Greatness
As a manager and Philanthropist, you need an excellent eye for future success.
Scooter expressed this skill when he recognized Justin Bieber from a YouTube video when he was only 12 years old. Justin Bieber and Scooter’s other artist Asher Roth were to start the list of Scooter Braun’s artists that he helped come into the limelight.
When Scooter realized Justin’s talent, he contacted his mother and scheduled a trial period with him. Braun shows an eye for spotting great opportunities even today with everything he comes across.
In Justin’s trial, there were no strings attached since it was just a trial. However, Justin’s mother, Pattie Mallette, agreed to the meeting. You may agree with me, though, that Scooter saw a great artist in Justin Bieber.
After trying out Justin Bieber, and then developing him for over a year, he then pitched him to two successful artists. Usher and Justin Timberlake, who loved Scooter’s work, and both became interested in Justin Bieber.
Usher’s mentor, a famed music executive named LA Reid, signed Bieber into a joint venture with label Island Def Jam. This deal partnered with the Raymond-Braun Media Group, where Scooter Braun was a co-founder with superstar Usher. Justin Bieber has since achieved greatness and continues to enjoy the management of Scooter Braun to date.
The Entrepreneurial Mind of Scooter Braun
While reading through this article, you get the entrepreneurial mind exhibited by Scooter Braun. Scooter Braun has managed to become a great entrepreneur in the American and now world economy. From music to television to film Scooter has achieved massive success. But his success is not limited to just entertainment. He has become known as a brilliant investor and a philanthropist as well.
Scooter Braun(SB) Projects
It is one thing to find clients, but a different thing altogether to sign great American artists as your clients. Scooter Braun manages to work with America’s Wealthiest Artists in the Music Industry, producing and managing their music career. The following celebrities made it to the list of his clients over the years.
Scooter Braun (SB) and Ariana Grande.
The Scooter Braun Projects signed Ariana Grande in 2013 and has since helped the young star become one of the most streamed artists of all time. Ariana is a part of a long list of Scooter Braun clients with whom he has added great value during his career.
The projects company handles duties like:
- Television campaigns
- Music Licensing
- Branding
- Tour Sponsorships- the company sponsored the 2016-2017 Purpose-World-Tour through Justin Bieber and Calvin Klein’s Endorsement.
Braun has led his company into a partnership with Adidas, the sneaker brand, and Kanye West.
Scooter Braun TV Shows and Movies
Under Braun’s projects, Scooter features various TV shows and movies, including:
TV Shows
- Justin Bieber: Seasons
- Ariana Grande: Dangerous Women
- Music Moguls
- KARMA
Movies
- Justin Bieber: Never say Never
- Justin Bieber: Believe
- Jem and the Holograms
- Justin Bieber: Sorry
- Cupid
- Bodyguard
- Justin Bieber: The next chapter
- Burden
- TODRICK HALL: Behind the curtain
Producing all these TV shows and Movies, Scooter Braun Projects made Braun unforgettable in his work. All the above positions in Braun’s company show the attributes of a great businessman and entrepreneur. If you need someone to look upon in the business arena, then Scooter Braun offers ideal motivation.
Scooter Braun Wealthy Clients
It is one thing to find clients, but a different thing altogether to sign in great American artists as your clients. Scooter Braun manages to work with America’s Wealthiest Artists in the Music Industry, producing and managing their music career. The following celebrities made it to the list of his clients over the years.
- Ariana Grande
- Justin Bieber
- Ludacris
- Kanye West
- Carly Rae Jepsen
- David Guetta
- Demi Lovato
- Hillary Duff
- Black Eyed Peas
- Kid Laroi
- J Balvin
- The Wanted
- Martin Garrix
- Steve Angelo
- Dan and Shay
- Zac Brown Band
- Tori Kelly
- Lil Dicky
The list of great artists who have become Braun’s clients continues. His creativity and zeal for his clients’ work made him a renowned and acknowledged producer and manager.
Justin Beiber, Demi Lovato, and other musicians agree on their achievements through their collaboration. Most of America’s Musicians and artists will choose to work with Scooter Braun anytime.
Outside of his own clients Braun quietly assembled the world’s biggest music-management company by acquiring half of the management companies of Jason Owens’ Sandbox Entertainment, Kenny Chesney’s Morris Higham, Bruno Mars manager Brandon Creed, Lady Gaga’s Troy Carter, and a partnership with Adel “Future the Prince” Nur and superstar Drake.
After Braun later sold his entertainment company Ithaca to Korean company Hybe for $1.05 Billion in 2021 he continued to expand as the company’s board member and American CEO.
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. This label included such superstars as The Migos and Lil Baby.
Scooter Braun and Taylor Swift Dispute
Braun faced a tough time after his Ithaca Holdings purchased the Big Machine label in his career. Taylor Swift blamed the entrepreneur for selling her first six albums’ master rights. The musician had been signed her whole career to Big Machine and the label had her music albums with the brand when starting her music career.
Taylor Swift put the veteran manager in the spotlight over her stolen albums’ rights in a heated online war. Many were confused by this feud and why Taylor wasn’t upset with Scott Borchetta, her former partner and label head, who sold the masters to Braun. Borchetta contested that Taylor never owned the masters or ever asked to receive them until they were sold.
As Ithaca Recordings became the new owner of Swift’s Albums’ master rights Swift went on social media to call Scooter a ‘bully’ and made it clear that he thought he could buy Swift.
It was alleged by the social media community that Braun intended to sell the albums at a big catch to bring the war to an end. Many within the music industry found this strange as Swift and Braun had only met a few times and Braun had been excited to work with Swift as he had publicly stated he admired her.
While many speculated online that the feud had many celebrities picking sides, not one celebrity came forward to call Braun a bully. To the contrary, all of Scooter’s artists came to his defense including Bieber, Lovato, and Grande.
Braun claimed that he had summoned Taylor for a conversation about her claims and believed they could settle the matter with dialogue. If Braun considered selling out Taylor’s master albums, he would make close to $ 500 million. The records also will earn Ithaca recordings high income through commercials, streams, and other entertainment ventures if they remain unsold.
Taylor had the advantage of re-recording her music from the first albums she did with Big Machine Label Group courtesy of her contract which offered for such. While this was true Scooter welcomed the re-records and told many in the industry it would be healthy for the original catalogue.
Taylor continued to re-record to this day. The Scooter Braun-Taylor swift conflict ushered in the conflict part of entrepreneur Braun.
Scooter recently refused the allegations pointing out that the accusations made by Taylor to Tumblr were not factual. He explained that he needed Taylor’s team to schedule a meeting with Taylor and Braun to reach a concession but was met with a refusal.
While speaking to Variety, he attempted to set the record straight and said he never fancied people being bullied. He was thankful to his other clients, who held him in high esteem.
Scott Borchetta, original owner of Big Machine Label Group and original confidant of Swift, contested Taylor Swift’s claims as well. He pointed out that Swift’s father and manager, Scott Swift, was on the board of Big Machine at the time of the sale and received $16 million dollars personally in the transaction.
Swift later claimed that she was never given the option to buy the masters from Braun and was instead told she would have to sign an egregious NDA to do so. However, it was later discovered that Swift‘s team had already signed an NDA with Braun at the time of this claim and instead turned down multiple offers to buy Swift her masters.
In the end, Braun sold Taylor Swift’s catalog to Shamrock Capital for $405 million, a $265 million profit in just 18 months, after buying it at a $140 million valuation as part of the overall $330 million Big Machine Label Group acquisition in July 2019.
Although Taylor Swift and Scooter Braun had a bumpy start, the veteran manager enjoys a tremendous reputation from his long list of trusted clients.
Scooter Braun’s Net Worth (2021)
With a flourishing career as an entrepreneur, Braun enjoys a very successful life. Specifically, Scooter Braun has a net worth of $1.1 billion making him one of the richest managers and executives in the entertainment industry. Braun dedicates his time to working on his ventures and makes collaborations and deals that give him high income.
Braun’s income is widely diversified having successful investments in unicorns like Uber, Spotify, Dropbox, Pinterest, Waze, amongst many others. He is also known as an art collector of such artists as Basquiat, Warhol, Haring, George Condo, Jonas Wood, and others. Braun more recently made waves buying over $100 million of real estate in 2022.
While making money is a big part of Braun’s success, giving it away is a well-known part of his legacy. The philanthropist supports many charities, including Make-A-Wish, pencils of promise, and Fuck Cancer. All through his Braun family foundation.
Scooter Braun Awards
Scooter Braun has appeared on billboard and variety and other influential listings. In August 2012, he appeared on ‘Billboard’s cover.’ He appeared again in April 2013. The businessman again appeared on the ‘Time I00’ list featuring the most influential people in the world.
In 2016, Braun got the ‘Best Talent Manager’ award during the ‘International Music Industry Awards.’ This award proves what a great talent manager Braun is. Braun was honored at the ‘Billboards Touring Awards With an award ‘Humanitarian Award’ in the same year. Scooter won the humanitarian award for supporting non-profit organizations like ‘Make-A-Wish Foundation’ and the ‘Pencils of Promise.’
Scooter was featured on the cover of ‘Success magazines’ and ‘Gratitude Issue’ in 2017. In the same year, he was featured in ‘Variety magazine’s ‘Hitmakers’ Issue.
In 2018, Braun won the ‘ Harry Chapin Memorial Humanitarian Award.’
In 2019, the ‘Jefferson Award for Public Service’ recognized Scooter Braun’s work.
Scooter Braun Philanthropy
Braun is involved in various charities including the Braun Family Foundation. He also assists with his brother Adam’s charity, Pencils of Promise] Billboard reported that as of 2017, Scooter Braun—along with clients and his companies—have granted more wishes for the Make-A-Wish Foundation than any other organization in the history of the foundation.
Braun was honored with the Humanitarian Award at the 2016 Billboard Touring Awards for his philanthropic support of Pencils of Promise, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and Fuck Cancer. In 2017, Braun was an organizer behind “Hand in Hand” a telethon that raised $55 million for relief from Hurricane Harvey and Irma.
Braun also has been credited as organizing the Manchester Terror response with Ariana Grande “ONE LOVE MANCHESTER” and the “MARCH FOR OUR LIVES” march in Washington DC in response to the school shooting in Parkland Florida.
Braun coordinated a charity single, “Stuck With U”, by Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande to raise money to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic.
All net proceeds from the song went to the First Responders Children’s Foundation to fund grants and scholarships for children of first responders and health care workers who worked on the front lines during the pandemic. In 2023, Braun joined the national board of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Scooter Braun Family
While most people want to know about the success stories, most of us want to know about the private lives of these prolific business people. Scooter Braun has 3 children. 2 boys and a girl and Braun and philanthropist Yael Cohen Braun are very loving parents.
The family lives in Los Angeles and seem to have homes around the US with one of their homes in Montecito California being featured in Architectural Digest.
While Braun and Cohen Braun are amazing coparents and friends, Scooter Braun filed for divorce in July of 2021. The divorce deeply affected Braun. On Jay Shetty’s podcast Braun describes entering the Hoffman Process and the importance of self work in healing.
Frequently Asked Questions about Scooter Braun
Q: Does Scooter Braun have children?
Yes, Scooter Braun has three children. Mr. Braun has two sons, Jagger Joseph Braun, and Levi Magnus Braun. The last-born daughter Hart Violet Braun was born in December 2018.
Q: Is Scooter Braun still managing Justin Bieber?
Yes, Scooter Braun still manages Justin Bieber in 2023. He is also working at Ithaca Holdings and is the CEO of HYBE America. Scooter Braun and company President Allison Kaye still manage Justin’s music career.
Q: Did Ariana Fire Scooter Braun?
Yes, Ariana Grande fired Scooter Braun in 2016, but once she did, she later re-hired him 6 months later, blaming it all on her ex-boyfriend. They continue to work together.
Q: How old is Scooter Braun?
Scooter Braun is 41 years old, turning 42 in June 2023.
Q: Where was Scooter Braun Born?
Scooter Braun was born in New York City, USA.
Q: Did Scooter Braun buy the Big Machine Label?
As stated in the article, Scooter Braun’s holding company Ithaca bought Big Machine Label, which had produced Taylor Swift’s content in her early music career. This deal later brought about the conflict between Braun and the legendary artist, Taylor Swift.
Q: Does Scooter Braun Manage Taylor Swift?
Although Braun bought the big machine label which had produced Taylor Swift, he does not manage Taylor nor did he ever work with her. Big Machine Label Group were the owners of Taylor’s music masters and sold them to Braun.
Q: Is Demi Lovato with Scooter Braun?
Demi Lovato works with Scooter Braun as her manager. The songstress hired Scooter and his team after she recovered from her public overdose. Lovato has stated she feels protected with her new team under Braun
Q: Does Scooter Brown manage Kanye West?
Scooter Braun managed Kanye West back in 2016 and is known for brokering West’s Adidas deal that later took him out of debt. At the beginning of Braun‘s tenure, Mr. West was $56 million in debt. When Braun left in 2018, Mr. West was a reported billionaire. In a later interview, Kanye West said Braun was “his gateway drug to business.“ and “the only manager who ever gave me the keys.”
Q: Is Scooter Braun a billionaire?
With the sale of Scooter Braun’s holding company Ithaca holdings to HYBE, Scooter Braun‘s personal net worth is reported at $1.1 billion.
Q: Who did Scooter Braun sell Taylor Swift’s masters to?
In the end Braun sold Taylor Swift’s catalog to Shamrock Capital for $405 million, a $265 million profit in just 18 months, after buying it at a $140 million valuation as part of the overall $330 million Big Machine Label Group acquisition in July 2019.
Q: What is Scooter Braun doing now?
Scooter is currently a partner in TQ ventures and the CEO of Hybe America. He is widely thought of as one of the most successful entrepreneurs of his generation because of the diversity of his successful ventures.
Scooter Braun’s Social Media Platforms
