Published by Little, Brown / Hachette in 2020.
“Exciting, well-researched chronicle of how a group of actors, athletes and artists have emerged as mega-successful venture capitalists. Their stories underscore the inspiring truth that great entrepreneurs can emerge from the most unlikely backgrounds. With a rare sense of history as well as a discerning understanding of the culture of our times, Zack O’Malley Greenburg has wrought an un-putdown-able masterpiece.” —Steve Forbes
“Another one! Zack’s latest book has the keys to securing the bag on the highest level—it’s not about cash, it’s about getting that equity.” —DJ Khaled
“An inspirational tale of the unlikely bunch that not only cracked the code for startup investing, but also brought a much-needed infusion of diversity to Silicon Valley. It’s an essential-read for entrepreneurs, creatives, investors—and anyone who loves great storytelling.” —Arianna Huffington
How Hollywood cashed in on the latest tech boom—and changed the face of Silicon Valley.
When Ashton Kutcher first heard about 50 Cent’s nine-figure Vitaminwater windfall in 2007, the actor realized he’d been missing out. He soon followed the rapper’s formula—seeking equity instead of cash for endorsement deals—but with a twist: as the first person to top 1 million Twitter followers, Kutcher leveraged his social reach to accumulate stakes in a vast range of user-hungry tech startups.
A decade later, Kutcher is perhaps the brightest in a firmament of star investors from Beyoncé and Jay-Z to Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez. Bartering credibility and connections in exchange for early (and often discounted) access to the world’s most coveted investment opportunities, this diverse group changed the face of venture capital while amassing portfolios packed with companies like Airbnb, Spotify, and Uber. But how did two once-dissonant universes—Silicon Valley and Hollywood—become intertwined?
Forbes senior editor Zack O’Malley Greenburg told the first chapter of Kutcher’s transformation for the magazine’s cover story in 2016. Now he offers a lively, page-turning account of how this motley crew of talent managers, venture capitalists, and celebrities helped the creative class forge a brand-new blueprint for generational wealth. Through extensive reporting and exclusive interviews with more than 100 key players—including Shaq, Nas, Joe Montana, Sophia Bush, Steve Aoki, Tony Gonzalez, and dozens of behind-the-scenes power brokers—Greenburg sheds light on the unlikely group that fundamentally transformed the value of fame.
REVELATIONS, INSIGHTS AND ANECDOTES:
*How Kutcher built a quarter-billion-dollar startup portfolio, with stakes in everything from Airbnb to a startup known as “Fitbit for cows.”
*The story of Shaq’s pre-IPO investment in Google—and how he tallied tens of millions in profits by investing early and playing a crucial, active role in the development of startups like Ring and Vitaminwater.
*An inside look at Spotify and Uber's "party rounds" that brought stars from Jay-Z and Diddy to Sophia Bush and Steve Aoki in to the fold as investors—and made them millions.
*What happened when Lady Gaga met Steve Jobs: the never-before-told story of what she and her manager learned from the late Apple founder at the beginning of her star turn.
*How Nas introduced hip-hop to venture capital—amassing stakes in startups from Casper to Coinbase, becoming a role model for observers ranging from kids growing up in his native Queensbridge housing project (after which Nas named his venture fund) to moguls like Diddy who've since built their own multimillion-dollar portfolios.
BOOK EVENTS (Open to the public unless otherwise noted)
*April 1, 2020, 5pm EST via Zoom: A conversation with Andreessen Horowitz Cultural Leadership Fund chief Chris Lyons on stars, startups and generational wealth via Book Passage / Shack 15.
*March 11, 2020, 6:30pm: A conversation on hip-hop and the value of ownership with Universal Hip-Hop Museum president Rocky Bucano at The Lit. Bar, 131 Alexander Ave in the Bronx (free tickets here)
*March 10, 2020, 6pm: A reading at the Corner Bookstore, 1313 Madison Ave in New York (requires an RSVP to CornerBook@aol.com)
*March 9, 2020, 6pm: A-List Angels launch party—featuring a one-on-one interview with NFL star and startup investor Bobby Wagner—at Forbes on Fifth, 24 Fifth Ave in New York (invite only)
TO BE RESCHEDULED
*One-on-one interview at The Gathering Spot in Atlanta (members only)
*A conversation on entrepreneurship, bootstrapping and celebrity investors with Score a Score founder Jordan Passman at the Last Bookstore, 453 S Spring St in Los Angeles
*A reading at Diesel: A Bookstore, 225 26th St Suite 33 in Santa Monica
*A reading at the Harvard Club in New York (invitation-only)
*A reading at Trident Booksellers & Cafe, 338 Newbury St in Boston
*A reading at the Yale Bookstore, 77 Broadway in New Haven
