Top Business Managers 2025

The job of a business manager in the entertainment industry is possibly more complex than it’s ever been. As production continues to move outside of Los Angeles, the men and women who work tirelessly to ensure the financial futures of Hollywood’s most fortune-favored actors, musicians, creatives and executives find themselves fielding questions and managing anxieties, all while putting pen to paper and delivering strategies that will yield a sense of security.

And that’s before taking AI’s looming impact into account. But it’s hardly all doom and gloom. Stars like Margot Robbie, Donald Glover, Taraji P. Henson and Ryan Reynolds — all of whom are represented by money mavens on this list — have seen major recent successes, through hit projects and business ventures they launched or invested, whether it’s Glover’s Gilga production company, Henson owning her hair and beauty brand outright, or Reynolds’ unprecedented coup with Wrexham A.F.C. “Every client has their thing,” says David Leventhal, whose Citrin Cooperman firm represents the likes of Tom Cruise, James Gunn, Angelina Jolie and Ana de Armas. “Often it’s our job to protect our client from themselves, but if the client has cash for speculation, for something like a beverage or shoe brand, and it makes sense and is rooted in reality, then so be it.”

Rob Abramowitz and Craig Manzino

Armanino

Careers can peak and recede quickly, says Abramowitz, but responsibilities last forever. Along with Manzino, he focuses on the long-term financial stability of their clients, some of whom are the best-in-class on the big screen and the court. “The goal is to keep investing: deploying capital into a diversified plan that grows, rather than sitting on the sidelines even in uncertain times,” he says.

BIGGEST CONCERN

MAZINO “We’re meeting many new clients who’ve had years of mismanagement and overspending during their peak earnings, so this inflationary environment is very scary.”

INVESTMENT TREND

ABRAMOWITZ “AI-driven consumer brands that align with clients’ lifestyle and values.”

David Altman and Anthony Bonsignore

Altman, Greenfield & Selvaggi

Having taken over the boutique in 2020, the duo represent the financial interests of some of the most interesting creative forces: Noah Baumbach, Greta Gerwig, Donald Glover, Timothée Chalamet and Game of Thrones co-creators D.B. Weiss and David Benioff.

BIGGEST CONCERN

D. ALTMAN That clients won’t “get the work and the pay that they were used to” as the industry faces continuing change.

Howard Altman, Corey Barash, Warren Grant, Kim Ibrahim, Zoe Lawrence, Fran Wild

Grant, Tani, Barash & Altman

Representing some of the biggest Hollywood names (which they keep close to the vest), Grant says of his clients: “They’d like to see production come back to L.A. We have several studio investments that are struggling because of production going abroad and to other states.”

BIGGEST CONCERN

H. ALTMAN “The geopolitical environment, and whether this could destabilize markets and slow U.S. jobs and growth.”

Marie Ambrosino

Gursey | Schneider

With clients like Seth MacFarlane and Mindy Kaling, Ambrosino likes to keep investments simple: equities, real estate, fixed income. “I tend to be a traditional investor,” she says, but when they’re looking to get into bed with a brand, Ambrosino sees them veering toward sports teams, tech, wine and spirits, skin care, clothing or jewelry lines.

Belva Anakwenze

Abacus Financial Business Management

As her firm’s founder, Anakwenze believes that while it’s key to steer her clients — like Jay Ellis and Kevin Frazier — toward avoiding risk and setting them up for future stability, they have to enjoy their money as well: “Our job is to help them build financial structures that can withstand worst-case scenarios while allowing them to enjoy the fruits of their success during peak earning years.”

TARIFF IMPACT? “For clients who have diversified, merchandise lines or lifestyle brands are facing 15 to 25 percent increases on imported goods from manufacturing hubs in Asia, forcing a rethinking of pricing strategy and profit margins.”

Brett Anderson and Rachel Martinez

Ground Control Business Management

Advisers at the top-tier firm, which rebranded from Savitsky Satin Bacon & Bucci in 2022, are keeping a close eye on AI. Managing director Anderson says clients’ biggest concern is uncertainty around the “impact AI will have on their children’s and grandchildren’s ability to earn a decent living.”

INVESTMENT TREND

MARTINEZ ”Women’s sports!”

Tara Beaudine-Moore and Patrick Templeman

PS Business Management

Representing some of the hottest young talent in music ­— Billie Eilish, Benny Blanco, Benson Boone and Chappell Roan ­— the duo are finding that the full-fledged return to stadium tours has been a boon. Roan alone recently wrapped her sold-out U.S. tour following a meteoric 2024 in which her weekly streams ballooned more than 20 times to 68.4 million this summer.

Tyson Beem, Enza Cohn, Andrew Crow, Shane Glass, Melissa Morton

Gelfand, Rennert & Feldman

With their eyes set on growth, these advisers have, in the past couple of years, added some of the biggest names in music, film and activism to a roster that includes Will Smith, Keke Palmer and Jordan Peele. They’re all “seeking reassurance and our expert advice on how to navigate these turbulent times,” says Morton, with AI adding to uncertainties, Beem notes.

INVESTMENT TREND

GLASS ”I wish I had a crystal ball to answer this. Poppi (soda) was a recent major success.”

Evan Bell and Liza de Leon

Bell & Company

Humanizing a process that many find overwhelming is a key goal for Bell and de Leon. “If you put financial planning in terms of goals like, ‘What do you want to achieve for your family? For your children?’ then your clients respond with greater enthusiasm and commitment,” Bell says.

SINGLE PIECE OF FINANCIAL ADVICE “With mortgage rates at levels we haven’t seen in years, we are recommending clients make aggressive additional payments to recover monthly debt.”

David Bolno, Bernie Gudvi, Michael Karlin, Thomas Kingsley, Martin Meeks, Matt Segal, Mickey Segal and Dian Vaughn

NKSFB

As the largest business management firm in the country with more than 600 employees across seven offices, it would follow that advisers at NKSFB represent major entertainment names, including Beyoncé, Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake, Post Malone and Kenya Barris, all of whom are “concerned about political and economical matters in the U.S. and abroad,” says founding partner Mickey Segal.

Matthew Burke

Singer Burke

This Encino-based financial advisory firm has been in business for more than 50 years. Representing creatives behind such iconic TV shows and series as Bridgerton, The Handmaid’s Tale and Family Guy, Burke has recently been heavily invested in updating the company’s tech security to ensure the privacy, safety and trust of its white-glove clients.

Douglas Cammarano, Arnie Herrmann, Jean Lee, David Leventhal and Matthew Segreto

Citrin Cooperman

It’s only natural that one of the premier U.S. accounting and financial advisory firms counts some of the hugest Hollywood names as clients, including Tom Cruise, Guillermo del Toro, James Gunn and Angelina Jolie. The biggest threat to these A-listers’ fortunes? Themselves. Says Cammarano: Clients “read and hear about tariffs, inflation and geopolitical issues, which creates panic and concern. It can hurt long-term planning and hamstring the decision-making process.”

SINGLE PIECE OF FINANCIAL ADVICE

LEVENTHAL “Nothing like apartment buildings in upcoming locations. Boring, but it works.”

INVESTMENT TREND

HERRMANN “We’ve had clients invest in the growing industry of yacht marinas — essentially a derivative of a long-term real estate play.”

Steve Campeas

SJC Business Management

When stars like Lana Condor, John Stamos and Oscar nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor need financial guidance, they call Campeas. While the veteran steers clear of recommending specific investments, he says he’s seen quite a lot of interest in tech.

Elizabeth Campos and Jack Sinoryan

Evolve Business Management

This two-person team may have opened the doors of Evolve only last year, but they bring 40-plus years of experience advising their pro athlete, reality TV and film clients. CEO Campos says this year was about helping clients rebuild after the wildfires. “Rebuilding costs have climbed sharply because essential materials like steel, aluminum, lumber, windows and plumbing fixtures are imported and now subject to steep tariffs,” she says.

BIGGEST CONCERN

CAMPOS ”Recession.”

Ryan Conlon and Harley Neuman

Neuman + Associates

After a year of disruption, a new (but timeless) strategy has set in for Neuman and Conlon, who rep Scarlett Johansson, Zoe Saldaña, Ryan Murphy, Jay Shetty and Alix Earle. “The strongest investments these days are the ones that are the safest,” Conlon says. Neuman concurs, steering his A-listers to the most secure investments.

***Business Icon of the Year: Anna DerParseghian ***

Anna DerParseghian was 15 when she started as a filing clerk at a business management firm. It was supposed to be a part-time job, chosen by her high school career office. At the time, the plan was to become a doctor and “save the world,” she says. But when she turned 20, her mentor sent her to a firm in Westwood that was looking for an account manager. “The rest is history,” DerParseghian says. “I’ve been here for 26 years.” 

Her rise at PTD Business Management was fast. Read more here.

Steve Gelon, Alex Smith and Justin Sroka Mann Gelon Smith Sroka Lee

When it comes to new clients looking to jump-start savings and long-term financial well-being, Gelon emphasizes “the importance of meat and potato investing,” he says. “Stocks and bonds in the appropriate percentages, and stay away from the risks of investing on the margins.” While clients were spooked by tariffs this year, Smith says people who stayed the course actually saw gains. Still, “the resulting volatility in the market makes them very angry,” Gelon says.

INVESTMENT TREND

SMITH ”The collectibles space (and) tentpole events like Fanatics Fest will create more opportunities for celebrities to drive value.”

BIGGEST CONCERN

GELON ”The future of the television business.”

Harvey Gettleson, Seth Gettleson and Randy O’Connor

Gettleson, Witzer & O’Connor

Everyone is always looking for the “next big thing” in investments to set them up for life. And while nonalcoholic wine and spirits, along with healthy juices and energy drinks, are still an attractive option, Harvey says, “the best idea I’ve heard lately is a private club for dogs.”

SINGLE PIECE OF FINANCIAL ADVICE

H. GETTLESON “Municipal bonds are back! They can give you nearly equity-like returns of 8 percent with principal upside as interest rates decline.”

TARIFF IMPACT?

S. GETTLESEON “Decisions to buy luxury watches, cars and purses have been influenced by on-again, off-again tariff rules.”

Richard Goldstein and David Levin

Adeptus Advisors

While the money men and women here have a long history of running in circles with some of the most famous artists, mergers with four rival outfits have added John Legend, Chrissy Teigen, MrBeast, Hailey Bieber and T-Pain to their clientele. Today’s celebrity and influencer clients come with a wide range of interests; as such, partner Goldstein advises “focusing on ventures that align with their personal passions and long-term brand goals.”

Laura Gordon

Gordon and Associates

After 30-plus years in the financial advising game, Gordon is keeping the family business in the family, with her son now also serving as a managing partner at the firm, which has expanded offices to Atlanta. Gordon helps map out the financial futures of Nick Cannon, David Oyelowo, Amandla Stenberg and other high-net-worth actors, athletes, comedians, filmmakers and musicians.

Josh Klein

TKG Business Management

Since 2021, when Klein made THR‘s list of six business managers to watch, he’s launched his full-service firm and built up a robust clientele that includes Normani, Shaboozey, Charlie Puth, Andrew Schulz and The Chainsmokers. “Liquidity, stability and longevity” are the three client concerns, Klein says. “In entertainment, cash flow comes in waves — big checks, then quiet stretches. That makes liquidity the first priority, having money accessible when it’s needed.”

Mark Landesman, Scott Landesman, Jessica Mooney and Paul Zukowsky

ML Management

When clients like James Cameron, Chris Rock, Tina Fey or Ryan Reynolds come to Mooney and team to ask about “the number” (i.e., how much you need to live the lifestyle you want), she tells them all the same thing: “twice as much as you have now.” Founder Mark Landesman, who works alongside son Scott, was honored in 2023 as THR‘s Business Manager Icon.

SINGLE PIECE OF FINANCIAL ADVICE

MOONEY “Simply invest in an S&P Index Fund, and let time do the rest.”

Matt Lichtenberg

Level Four Business Management

Considering the net worth of the clients they represent, from Quentin Tarantino, Will Ferrell and Larry David to Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, it’s obvious that Level Four’s long-term investment strategies have been paying off. Appropriately, Lichtenberg says his clients’ main focus is on “continuing to be able to work on quality projects as time goes on in an industry that covets youth.”

INVESTMENT TREND “Any product line associated with wellness, or alcohol-infused energy drinks. Pick your poison.”

Humble Lukanga

LifeLine Financial Group

This Ugandan-born CEO and founder is focused on helping build generational wealth for his clients who include Issa Rae, Terry Crews, NFL wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and the NBA’s future face of the league, Anthony Edwards.

Carrie Malcolm

CRM Management

Malcolm took the firm she founded and folded her client list — including Ethan Hawke and Benedict Cumberbatch — into the NKSFB umbrella in 2020. One of her go-to pieces of guidance: “I encourage my clients to be charitable, whether through donor advised funds or contributing to charities they feel connected to,” she says. “This is a win-win: Besides making a difference, especially now with government aid so diminished, they can also claim a tax deduction.”

Joel Mandel, Rob Mandel and Erica Wright

The Management Group

This powerhouse trio has a staunch policy of not talking to media about their business, but that hasn’t prevented glowing word of their impressive reputation from making the rounds through Hollywood. They’ve been linked to high-profile actors, directors and producers like Gwyneth Paltrow, Michelle Williams, Bryce Dallas Howard, Judd Apatow, Evan Goldberg and Peter Chernin.

John McIlwee

McIlwee & Associates

McIlwee was THR‘s 2024 Business Manager Icon after seeing significant growth in the firm he founded in 2019. He added Kevin Costner to a client list that includes Jonathan Groff and Jane Lynch. McIlwee’s No. 1 piece of investment advice is, “Be unencumbered. The less responsibility and more liquidity you have, the easier it is to make quick decisions to respond to the ever-changing world.” After a tough year in L.A., he says he’s seeing people refuse jobs unless they shoot locally, in hopes of forcing production back to the city.

Michael Meschures and Tony Smalls

Macias, Gini & O’Connell

Smalls and Meschures rep a wide range of clients, from A-list creatives with overall deals at studios and streamers, to actors, content creators, professional athletes and Grammy-winning artists. “I think a lot of celebrities are realizing that they bring as much value to businesses with their brand and not just cash,” says Smalls of investing in diversified ventures.

BIGGEST CONCERN

SMALLS ”We are constantly educating our clients on changes and circumstances that may affect budgeting and taxes.”

Andrew Meyer

Freemark Financial

Co-founder Meyer has been credited by some as elevating business management to “an art form.” The Monrovia, California, native, who was honored in 2021 as THR‘s Business Manager Icon, represents some of TV’s biggest names, such as Ellen Pompeo, plus movie stars and creatives in high demand, like Wicked director Jon M. Chu, Anna Kendrick, Ramy Youssef, Adam Driver and Kathryn Hahn.

Rasheed Muhammad

OTP Business Management

Over the past year, Muhammad has helped clients complete major catalog acquisitions, negotiate multiyear touring agreements, close high-profile brand deals and navigate IP transactions. He counts multiplatinum and Grammy-winning artists and producers ­— not to mention Oscar-nominated filmmakers and industry execs ­— among the firm’s clientele. “For my clients in music and film, tariffs on imported equipment have driven up production costs, tightening margins for artists and labels. And touring is also more expensive,” he says.

Mark Pariser

Dunn, Pariser & Peyrot

Pariser has directed the focus for his varied client base — college athletes, film icons and musical artists — on building a portfolio to survive slow periods. Though he has one client with a concentrated position in a pet food company that’s been hurt by tariffs, the finance guru says he typically advises “clients to spread their money in different types of investments, stocks, debt instruments and real estate.” Last year, he said controlling spending was key.

BIGGEST CONCERN “It’s still, ‘When will production return to normal levels?’ “

Teresa Polyak

Polyak Business Management

Polyak launched her firm in 2022 after leaving Chapman, Bird & Tessler, where she advised Bruce Springsteen, Pink and Jason Mraz. “At the core, my clients want the same things everyone does: to feel secure today and in the future, to know their family will be taken care of, and to have confidence their lifestyle can last,” she says. “My job is to make sure they have a clear plan for that future, because I care deeply about protecting what they’ve worked so hard to build.”

Phil Ramos

ThxPhil Business Management

Ramos has spent the past 10 years guiding the finances of such power creatives as John Wick helmer Chad Stahelski, and Bullet Train, The Fall Guy and Hobbs & Shaw duo David Leitch and Kelly McCormick. Amid the looming rise of AI, Ramos has advised “tightening the purse strings, and keep reaching out to sources who’ve given you opportunities in the past. Something will come of it.”

Joseph Rust

Prager Metis

Partner Rust, who advises recording artists, executives and creatives — including South Park‘s Trey Parker and Matt Stone — says his goal is to ensure that not only his clients enjoy financial well-being, but their descendants as well. “A-list talent must navigate the complexities of maintaining control over their image and content,” Rust says. “The goal is to provide peace of mind, allowing my clients to focus on their craft.”

Rob Salzman and David Weise David Weise & Associates

Founder Weise, along with Salzman, has been in the business for more than 20 years, representing the interests of Usher, Lil Wayne, Coldplay, The Weeknd and Carole King. The focus is on building legacy wealth, says Salzman. “The markets always go up and down … It truly is a marathon and not a sprint,” he adds. “The best income is passively earned while sitting on the beach.”

Gary Schneider

Kessler, Schneider & Scheltinga

Schneider, owner of the firm that’s been servicing Hollywood for 40 years, reps one of TV’s more prolific creatives, Amy Sherman-Palladino, in addition to And Just Like That actor John Corbett. “The continued disruption in the TV and film business negatively impacting work opportunities” is still the biggest concern for clients, Schneider says.

Steven Shapiro

Summit Business Management

Shapiro’s clients have stayed incredibly busy in the past year. Whether it’s Taylor Sheridan adding to his Paramount slate, Tom Holland launching a new nonalcoholic beer brand or Zendaya continuing to be one of Hollywood’s most bankable actors, Shapiro has his work cut out for him. While many of his clients have been successful doing brand deals with perfume, skin care, jewelry and high-end retail companies, he advises against following any so-called hot trends. “A couple clients have wanted to invest in popular sports, but I warn that the momentum wears out,” he says. “And restaurants are never a good bet.”

SINGLE PIECE OF FINANCIAL ADVICE “Real estate: In the long run, it performs the best.”

Rick Shephard and Mark Tinglof

Shephard, Tinglof & Associates

After founding the firm more than 30 years ago, Shephard and Tinglof have kept a low profile working behind the scenes to advise some of TV’s biggest names and renowned Hollywood creatives, including Courteney Cox, Ben Stiller, Jon Favreau and The Gilded Age director Michael Engler.

Barry Siegel

Provident Financial Management

As senior managing director, Siegel has been overseeing the business affairs of some of the actors, musicians and writers that he represents for more than 25 years. Among those clients are Angela Bassett, Al Pacino, Elijah Wood, Green Day, Lucy Liu and Sheryl Crow.

Lou Taylor

Tri Star Sports and Entertainment Group

Taylor founded the firm where she serves as CEO in 1992. In the past year, she’s advised Cardi B as she launched a fashion and beauty brand, as well as Taraji P. Henson, who took full control of the hair and beauty line that bears her name. Other clients include Mary J. Blige, Jodie Turner-Smith and the Prince estate. “Wellness brands have been hugely popular in recent years,” she says.

SINGLE PIECE OF FINANCIAL ADVICE “The best investment you can ever make is in yourself. Start early, set up retirement accounts, open high-yield money market accounts and allow your money to work for you.”

Michael Ullman

Platinum Financial

CEO Ullman says he sees the connection between clients and financial advisers as a “family relationship.” With a roster that includes Margot Robbie, Miles Teller and Brooke Shields, Ullman says tariff anxiety shoehorned into an already volatile market and tense political climate has pushed clients to be far more conservative. The best things his clients can be doing right now is “investing in their future by having their estate planning in order, and set money aside for retirement with a diversified portfolio.”

BIGGEST CONCERN “Rising homeowner’s insurance costs in California.”

Sally Velazquez

Empower Business Management

With clients like Tinashe and 21 Savage, Velazquez says her biggest concern is how those who earn their highest income early in life can ensure that wealth lasts long after their careers have ended. “We talk a lot about creating passive income, when to sell their catalog, and making smart tax decisions so their money continues to work for them decades from now,” she says.

Jeff Wolman

Wolman Wealth Management

Wolman tends to remain out of the spotlight. The Canada native has credited Halle Berry for hiring him in the ’90s, and counts among his clients James Wan, Will Arnett and Bradley Cooper — who directed awards contender Is This Thing On? while opening a high-profile cheesesteak joint in New York.

This story appeared in the Oct. 22 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.