Leslie Moonves Biography

Fast Facts

• Graduated from Bucknell University in 1971
• After divorcing his college sweetheart Nancy after more than 25 years of marriage, he would marry CBS anchor Julie Chen in 2004
• Initially interested in becoming an actor, he eventually decided to take on more executive roles in the entertainment industry after a few lackluster stage performances in New York
• Quote: "Rebuilding a network is a slow, brick-by-brick process․ It is not just creating a hit show, it is creating an identity of success so that people want their shows on your network․"
• Quote: "Broadcast television is still the mothership and it will be for the foreseeable future․ Audiences may be declining slightly, but revenues are going up and up․"
• Began serving on board of ZeniMax Media in 1999, a company that releases various video games across the world
• Began his career at 20th Century Fox in the late '70s before joining Lorimar Television in 1985 where he would work until 1995
• Joined CBS in 1995, serving as the CEO and President where he would orchestrate several coups including a deal with Viacom and the launch of several staple reality franchises for the network
• David Ben-Gurion, the first Prime Minister of Israel, is his great-uncle