Ryan Seacrest

Ryan Seacrest CNBC Next 25
Benjamin Wachenje

Title: Hollywood radio and TV producer and personality, founder of Ryan Seacrest Productions

Born: December 24, 1974, in Dunwoody, Georgia

Education: Journalism, University of Georgia (dropped out)

Early Marker: Started in radio as a DJ on the weekend overnight shift at WSTR, an Atlanta FM radio station.

Big Idea: Building out the multihyphenate Ryan Seacrest franchise that he founded on the international success of "American Idol," which made him the highest-paid reality show host in American TV; hosting and production deals with entertainment channel E! and its Kardashian subfranchise; plans with Mark Cuban to revamp his HDnet cable network as a music-, pop culture- and lifestyle-oriented channel.

Wave of the Future: Celebrity brands

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