Scooter Braun, born Scott Samuel Braun on June 18, 1981, in New York City, has made a name for himself as one of the most influential figures in the entertainment industry. As of 2025, Braun is 43 years old and has amassed a staggering net worth of $500 million, placing him among the wealthiest talent managers and music entrepreneurs in the world.
The Big Break: How Justin Bieber Launched an Empire
Braun’s life changed in 2006 when he discovered a 12-year-old Canadian singer on YouTube—Justin Bieber. Recognizing the boy’s extraordinary talent, Braun reached out to Bieber’s mother, Pattie Mallette, and invited them to Atlanta. After weeks of working together, Braun successfully persuaded them to relocate to the U.S.
Scooter eventually pitched Bieber to music legends like Usher, Ludacris, and Justin Timberlake. Usher and Braun joined forces to form Raymond-Braun Music Group under the Island Def Jam umbrella. The rest is history. Bieber exploded onto the global music scene, and Braun was the powerhouse behind it.
SB Projects & Star-Studded Clients
Through his company SB Projects, Braun went on to manage an A-list roster of artists over the years including Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato, Martin Garrix, J Balvin, and Carly Rae Jepsen. His reach extended beyond music into film, television, and tech, making SB Projects a multi-industry force.
Braun also launched Schoolboy Records, under which he signed artists like Psy, The Wanted, Tori Kelly, Madison Beer, and more. In 2016, he was named “Best Talent Manager” at the International Music Industry Awards, and his career was profiled twice on Billboard’s Forty Under Forty covers.
Ithaca Holdings & the $1 Billion Deal
In 2010, Braun took his business acumen further by founding Ithaca Holdings LLC, an investment firm backed by companies like Uber and Spotify. By 2019, private equity giant Carlyle Group valued the company at $800 million, with Braun retaining majority ownership.
Then in 2021, Braun made headlines when Ithaca Holdings was sold to South Korea’s HYBE Corporation (formerly Big Hit Entertainment) for $1 billion. This move wasn’t just a payout—it was a global power play, linking Braun’s American roster with HYBE’s K-pop empire, including BTS.
The Taylor Swift Catalog Controversy
Perhaps the most controversial moment in Braun’s career came in June 2019, when he acquired Big Machine Records for an estimated $300–$350 million. That purchase gave him control over Taylor Swift’s first six albums. Swift expressed her outrage publicly, claiming she wasn’t given the opportunity to purchase her own masters.
Braun later sold the catalog to Shamrock Capital in November 2020 for a reported profit. However, Swift continued her campaign to reclaim her work by re-recording her early albums—a move that reshaped music industry conversations about artist ownership.
Divorce, Family Life & Lavish Settlements
Scooter Braun married Yael Cohen, a health activist and philanthropist, in 2014. They share three children, but their marriage ended in divorce in 2021. The settlement was costly: Braun paid Yael a $20 million equalization amount, plus $60,000 monthly in child support.
Yael kept their $30+ million Brentwood compound, a Land Rover, and various artworks. Scooter retained assets like his $65 million post-divorce Brentwood mansion, a $40 million Gulfstream G450 jet, and an art collection valued at over $100 million.
Real Estate Empire Worth Millions
Braun’s real estate portfolio is as impressive as his client list. In 2014, he purchased a mansion in Brentwood, Los Angeles, for $13.1 million. In 2020, he expanded his estate by buying the neighboring home from John Travolta and Kelly Preston for $18 million.
In 2021, Braun acquired a stunning $65 million mansion, also in Brentwood, shortly after filing for divorce. He also flipped a Montecito property—bought for $10.9 million and sold for $28 million. In 2022, he purchased Villa Tragara in Montecito from Ellen DeGeneres for $36 million.
Business Vision Beyond Music
Scooter Braun’s success is not limited to talent management. He has evolved into a global investor and visionary. His work has bridged entertainment with venture capitalism, tech, and international business. Whether it’s scouting talent on YouTube or making billion-dollar deals, Braun has consistently remained ahead of the curve.
Despite controversy and public scrutiny—especially surrounding the Taylor Swift saga—Braun has solidified his place as one of the most powerful figures in modern entertainment.
Final Thoughts
With a net worth of $500 million, ownership of luxurious estates, and high-profile investments, Scooter Braun’s journey from college party promoter to international mogul is nothing short of remarkable. At 43, he continues to influence the direction of global music and media—and his story is still unfolding.
