Annual Favorites of Forbes 2024: Outstanding Entertainment Tales of the Year
It was a tumultuous year for the entertainment industry, marked by widespread layoffs and reduced production, affecting numerous jobs in music, film, and television. Major companies, battle-scarred, were looking for options such as sales, mergers, or restructuring to navigate the challenges. Despite the chaotic climate, creating a successful piece was as crucial as ever. In January, Our Publication recognized legendary television producer Richard Wolf as a billionaire, with his shows like Law & Order, Chicago, and FBI forming the last strongholds sustaining the broadcast TV schedule. Despite his notable contributions, Larry David's net worth only amounted to half of Jerry Seinfeld's. Director Christopher Nolan, in a contentious split with Warner Bros., received a substantial payday after Oppenheimer's successful release. Usher's performance at the Super Bowl Halftime Show was complimentary, but he still banked millions.
Throughout the year, Our Publication chronicled the achievements of the most successful creators in various fields of entertainment. From the highest-earning movie stars, to the highest-grossing summer concerts, the showrunners establishing their independent TV empires, to the deceased celebrities whose estates continued to rake in millions, Our Publication tracked the measurement of power through cold, hard cash.
Furthermore, the publication delved into the long-standing financial disputes surrounding The Blair Witch Project creators and scrutinized the financial performance of Disney's recent movie releases. A career retrospective was written to commemorate Dick Van Dyke's 99th birthday, and an analysis of the $170 million lawsuit filed against the creators of the popular show Baby Reindeer was also presented.
Deemed as the standout stories of the year, the following pieces demonstrated top-notch reporting and analysis on the business of entertainment:
Unraveling Diddy's Empire
By Lisette Voytko-Best
The prospect of Sean Combs becoming a billionaire seemed promising until sexual assault allegations and subsequent litigation produced a wave of business partners departing and impacted the value of his brands. In-depth analysis was conducted in June, evaluating the fragmented state of Combs' portfolio and considering the potential impact of his ongoing legal entanglements.
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Snoop Dogg's Ambitious Gambit
By Matt Craig
Propelling from parental advisory to family-friendly entertainment, the legendary Snoop Dogg emerged as a 2024 star, due in large part to his appearances on Olympic coverage from Paris. Our Publication caught up with the D-O-double-G at his Los Angeles compound in August, discussing his future ventures and the strategic approach to capitalizing on his newfound attention.
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Eva Mendes' Unconventional Journey
By Alex York
Putting her acting career on hold to focus on raising a family with Ryan Gosling, Eva Mendes resurfaced as an entrepreneur in the cleaning supplies sector. The 50-year-old actress shared insights into her decision to shift careers and gave insight into her love for household chores.
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Turning the Tables: How Bruce Springsteen Became a Billionaire
By Lisette Voytko-Best
The nomadic journey of Bruce Springsteen, from E Street to Easy Street, was chronicled, illustrated by his commitment to authenticity and persistent work ethic. The 75-year-old musician officially joined the billionaire club by continuing to tour and deliver lengthy shows.
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Pioneering the Next Generation of Filmmaking: Ava DuVernay
By Maggie McGrath
Having become the first Black woman to direct a $100 million-grossing film, Ava DuVernay, turned her back on the studio system and their rules. Instead, she sought out philanthropists for support and blazed a trail for future women in the industry, as detailed in an interview conducted in August.
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Hollywood's Fading Love for Television
By Matt Craig
The glory days of producing profitable hit television series were largely in the past, with significantly reduced profits in the era of streaming services and shifting entertainment landscape. Top TV dealmakers shared their perspectives on the current state of the industry.
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Beyoncé's New Whiskey Venture: SirDavis
By Rachel King
Unveiling her latest venture, Beyoncé introduced a Japanese-inspired whiskey in collaboration with Moët Hennessy. The creators revealed how they secured the pop star's involvement in the project, from naming and packaging to the blending process, discreetly reflecting her unique artistic persona.
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Snoop Dogg's appearance on Olympic coverage significantly boosted his career, leading to potential opportunities in family-friendly entertainment and increasing his net worth. (Snoop dogg net worth, snoop dogg olympics)
Despite facing legal entanglements, Sean Combs' empire, once looking promising to make him a billionaire, experienced a significant setback due to departing business partners and sexual assault allegations. (deemed as the standout stories of the year, sean combs net worth, diddy net worth)
Bruce Springsteen's unwavering commitment to authenticity and work ethic propelled him to join the billionaire club by continuing to tour and deliver lengthy shows. (Turning the Tables: How Bruce Springsteen Became a Billionaire, bruce springsteen billionaire, bruce springsteen net worth)
