Scooter Braun is one of the most well-known managers in the music industry, having managed stars like Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, J Balvin, Kanye West, Demi Lovato, and many more. But while he certainly has made a name for himself as a wizard at spotting talent, there is so much more to his success than meets the eye.

Most people are not aware but behind Scooter Braun’s success, there is a story of resilience, entrepreneurship, venture capitalism, and philanthropy. Scooter was born in New York back on June 18, 1981, and ever since demonstrated unusual grit when it came to defying expectations.

This desire to continuously move forward was instilled in him from a young age, especially when listening to his grandparent’s stories about World War II. Not only were both of Scooter’s grandparents Holocaust survivors but her grandmother was a prisoner in Auschwitz when she was 15 years old, while his grandfather went through Bergen-Belsen and Dachau. This, according to Scooter, taught him from an early age that nothing is guaranteed and he should always be grateful for life as “everything could literally be taken away from you tomorrow.” Braun’s own father, Ervin, supported his family as a dentist and high school basketball coach.

This way of thinking would become one of the major drivers behind Scooter’s entrepreneurial passion, which started with efforts like the planning of after-parties featuring artists like Ludacris and Eminem. This incursion in the world of entertainment would eventually make Scooter one one of the most recognized names at Emory University and in the Atlanta music scene.  In 2002, his skill would be recognized by hip hop artist Jermaine Dupri, who asked Scooter to join him as VP of Marketing at So So Def Recordings.

During his time as VP, Scooter further developed his skills, knowledge, and connections that would eventually allow him to embark on a new journey in 2007: Founding SB Projects, his own entertainment company. This new endeavor would not be limited to offering one service to one industry but would instead operate in diverse industries like music, film, television, tech, and charity.

Since then, Scooter has not only worked with some of the biggest talents in music and other industries but has also helped discover them. The most famous example is that of Justin Bieber, who Scooter found on YouTube when Justin was only 12 years old. After realizing Justin’s massive talent, Scooter would use his connections with artists like Justin Timberlake and Usher to kickstart the young Canadian’s career… The rest is history. Indeed, at one point, Braun formed the largest music-management company by acquiring half of the management companies of Troy Carter (Lady Gaga), Brandon Creed (Bruno Mars), Morris Higham (Kenny Chesney), Jason Owens’ Sandbox Entertainment (Kacey Musgraves, Little Big Town), and a partnership with Drake and his partner Adel “Future the Prince” Nur.

He entered the film and television industry, where Braun was the executive producer of “The Giver,” “Burden,” Demi Lovato’s “Dancing with the Devil,” “The Boy from Medellin,” and “Project Runway,” among other popular biopics. 

Scooter’s eye for opportunities and talent has also extended to the tech industry, where he has invested heavily. For example, he was one of the earliest investors in startups like Uber, Spotify, Waze, Pinterest, Dropbox, Splice, and Lyft, all of which would eventually become industry leaders recognized worldwide.

This success doesn’t mean that Scooter is a stranger to challenges and drawbacks like the events that transpired with Taylor Swift’s catalog dispute. However, his grit and skills have always allowed him to make the best out of such situations, with the mentioned dispute resulting in him earning up to $450 million in the aftermath. Today, Scooter’s net worth is estimated to be $1.1 billion, making him an official member of the 3-commas club and a household name in several industries.

As a billionaire, Scooter has never forgotten the hard work he had to put into becoming who he is known. This, in addition to the work he has done for himself and inherited trauma resulting from his parents’ and grandparents’ tough lives, led him to philanthropy from an early age. When he was organizing parties back at Emory University, he was already donating the proceeds from every fourth event to charity. Today, he is still following through with this mission.

Now that Scooter is no longer organizing local parties but worldwide events, he has scaled the magnitude of his charitable efforts. Some of these include being one of the organizers of “One Love Manchester” and “Hand in Hand: A Benefit For Hurricane Relief”. He also ensures that the artists he works with can run charity events of their own, an effort that has earned him a nomination for a Grammy Award for Album of the Year for Purpose in 2017 and again for Justice in 2022.

Over the years, Scooter’s name has become synonymous with musical talent and success. However, most people seem to ignore that there is much more to him than just being the person behind some of the world’s biggest artists. Scooter’s rise to the top is not just a matter of having an eye for talent but one of true passion for giving back and helping others find their place in the world, all while encouraging them to do the same.