Leslie Moonves is one of the latest high-profile figures in the media industry to face sexual assault and harassment allegations. The CEO of CBS has been accused of various acts of misconduct by multiple women. While he accepts that in the past he may have upset women by making advances towards them, he claims that he has always respected the women if they have turned him down. He denies that many of the incidents have taken place and CBS claim that they have received no complaints of misconduct against him. While Moonves is one of the most powerful figures in the media industry, these allegations have brought him to the forefront of the public’s attention. Despite him currently being in the limelight, there are many things that people do not know about this man. Here are ten interesting facts about Les Moonves.
1. He Attended Bucknell University
Moonves attended Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, and graduated in 1971. Initially, he was on a pre-medical course and had intended to pursue a career in medicine. However, he changed his mind and switched his major to Spanish.
2. He Wanted to Become an Actor
Although Moonves has enjoyed a successful career in the media industry, he had initially wanted to work in front of the cameras as an actor as he had a passion for performing throughout his youth. He had studied acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater in New York. After he graduated, he moved to Manhattan to pursue a career in acting and landed several television roles. However, he realized that he would not become very successful as an actor and decided to concentrate on the business side of the media industry, instead.
3. He Has a Net Worth of $700 Million
Les Moonves has become one of the most financially successful men in the media industry. It is estimated that he currently has a personal net worth of around $700 million.
4. He is the Highest Paid CEO in the United States
Les Moonves tops many lists of the highest paid CEOs for major businesses in the United States. By 2012, it was said that he was earning an annual salary of around $60 million. By 2017, this was closer to $65 million a year.
5. He Bought Paul Allen’s Malibu House
In 2014, Les Moonves and his wife Julie Chen paid $28 million to buy a Malibu property from Paul Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft. This was not the first time the couple had owned a luxurious property in Malibu. In 2008, they bought a Malibu mansion for $10 million and sold it in 2016 for $12 million.
6. He Was Glad Donald Trump Became President
Moonves has said in interviews that he thinks Donald Trump as the President of the United States is not good for the company. However, he was glad that Trump was elected because it benefited CBS financially because of the revenue they generated from advertising during the campaign.
7. He is Also a Director at ZeniMax Media
Although he is best known as the CEO of the CBS Corporation, Les Moonves is also a Director at ZeniMax Media. He has served on the board since the company was founded in 1999. He has made a personal investment into this company and has also appeared at the launch parties of several video games that this company has produced. The president of ZeniMax Media is Ernest Del.
8. He Has Been Married Twice
Moonves is famously married to CBS reporter Julie Chen, who has hit the headlines with her husband recently. The pair were married in 2004 and their son was born in 2009. However, Chen is not his first wife as he was previously married to Nancy Wiesenfeld, with whom he has three children, from 1978 to 2004. He had remarried within two weeks of his divorce.
9. His Main Residence is in Beverley Hills
Moonves is fortunate to have three residences. His main residence is a large property in Beverley Hills, California, which he purchased from Andy Heyward, the CEO of Genius Brands International. He also has properties in Malibu and New York City.
10. He Has High-Profile Relatives
Les Moonves is not the only person in his family who is in a high-profile position. His daughter, Sara Moonves, is the style director of W Magazine. His great aunt is Paula Ben-Gurion who is married to David Ben Gurion, the first Prime Minister of Israel.
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