He is best known as the founder and former CEO of Relativity Media, a company that has financed over 200 films, generating more than $17 billion in worldwide box office revenue. Kavanaugh is recognized for creating a new "Moneyball" model of film finance, utilizing a monte carlo model to predict the odds of a film's success before giving it the green light.
Early Life:
Ryan Kavanaugh was born in Los Angeles, California, and raised in the Brentwood neighborhood. His mother, Leslie Levin, is a real estate broker, and his father, Jack Konitz, was a dentist turned businessman. Kavanaugh attended Brentwood High School and later UCLA.
Career:
After struggling with a venture capital firm post-9/11, Kavanaugh founded Relativity Media in the late 1990s. He aimed to connect financing and movie projects more efficiently by using mathematical tools. Kavanaugh's innovative finance deal for Marvel Studios in Relativity's early years led to the creation of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Under Kavanaugh's leadership, Relativity Media structured deals for major companies such as Sony Pictures, Universal, Paramount, and Warner Bros. Kavanaugh was involved in acquiring assets, including the marketing and distribution operations of Liberty Media/Starz film unit Overture Films. He also played a key role in partnerships with Virgin Mobile, Clear Channel Radio, and China's Huaxia Film Distribution.
Relativity Media produced, distributed, and financed over 200 films, earning more than $17 billion in global box office revenue and receiving 60 Oscar nominations. In 2015, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and Kavanaugh stepped down as CEO in 2016. The company filed for bankruptcy a second time in 2018.
Films Produced:
Kavanaugh's film productions include "Immortals," "Limitless," "The Fighter," "Mirror Mirror," "Safe Haven," and "Beyond the Lights." He executive produced "The Social Network," which received eight Oscar nominations. Kavanaugh turned down an opportunity to invest in "Moneyball" despite his "Moneyball" approach to filmmaking.
Honors and Awards:
Ryan Kavanaugh received several honors, including the 2009 Hollywood Producer of the Year Award, Variety's Showman of the Year in 2011, and recognition in Forbes' 40 Under 40 and Fortune's 40 Under 40 lists.
Personal Life:
Kavanaugh resides in Malibu, California. He has been married three times – to makeup artist Tracy Tanner, ballet dancer Britta Lazenga, and model Jessica Roffey. Kavanaugh practices Transcendental Meditation and is a member of the Wilshire Boulevard Temple.
Philanthropy:
Ryan Kavanaugh is actively involved in philanthropy. He has been recognized for his charitable work by organizations such as Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, the Sheriff's Youth Foundation, and First Star. Kavanaugh is the Chairman of the Board for The Art of Elysium, an organization that encourages artists to dedicate their time to children battling serious medical conditions.