hollywood billionaire

Chapter 321 Capital Golden Boy

If God really exists in this world...

Then He is indeed too partial.

This was the first thought that popped into Han Yi's mind after seeing Joshua Kushner.

He is so handsome that it would not be out of place to star in any Hollywood commercial movie.

So tall that even Karlie Kloss, who is 6 feet 2 inches tall and is known as a giant in the fashion circle, is half a head shorter standing next to him.

He is as handsome as a Greek god. Like his brother, he studied at Harvard as an undergraduate, and went one step further as a graduate student and received an MBA degree from Harvard Business School.

After graduating in 2010, he established a private equity company called Xingsheng Capital. In September, it raised US$1000 million for the first time and successfully incubated three start-ups. Second financing, US$4000 million. The third time, $1.5 million. The fourth time, 4 million.

With the abundant funds in its hands, Xingsheng Capital became the second largest investor in Instagram’s Series B financing. As you can imagine, after Facebook spent huge sums of money to acquire Instagram, Xingsheng Capital became a youth myth in the private equity world.

In 2012, at the age of 26, Joshua Kushner became the helmsman of a capital management company with a market value of US$ million.

More importantly, Xingsheng Capital did not stop there. Their asset management scale has grown exponentially in the past four years. The Thrive V fund that completed fundraising this year alone received US$700 million.

In addition to his main business of capital management, Joshua also co-founded a medical insurance company, Oscar Health, with two other partners in 2012. As of August 2016, the company had developed 8 customers in California, Texas, New Jersey and New York.

Joshua Kushner's unicorn story has been in the press frequently, with him receiving lengthy features in Forbes and Fortune magazines. As his fame increased, especially with the appearance of his supermodel girlfriend, he also received a lot of doubts.

Many critics say that the reason Joshua was able to build these two companies, the reason people were willing to invest money in the funds he managed, and even the reason he was able to attend Harvard with his brother was ultimately because he came from The Kushner family, a New York real estate tycoon.

Without the protection of his father, Charles Kushner, a 24-year-old kid is destined to be prey on Wall Street.

However, although these criticisms do have a certain basis in fact, they do not affect Joshua Kushner's public image at all.

First of all, the persona of a wealthy man will only give him extra points in the mate selection market. After all, few people will say no to the old-money life on the Upper East Side.

A tall man who looks like a movie star has a powerful Jewish family behind him. If this kind of character were written into a romance novel, he would be criticized by readers as "unrealistic and whimsical."

Secondly, Joshua's career will inevitably intersect with that of his father's generation, but he has managed to outdo his predecessors. The entire Kushner family is worth approximately US$18 billion, and Joshua’s Prosperity Capital has accumulated more than US$13 billion in AUM.

This US$13 billion is just the funds he manages on his behalf, and the owner is actually someone else. This is true, but looking at the problem from another perspective, this at least proves the wealth that Joshua Kushner can deploy in the capital market. , more than his father who focused on asset-heavy operations.

Therefore, no matter how you look at it, the 31-year-old Joshua Kushner can be regarded as one of the most outstanding capital elites in human society.

Without them on the phone, Han Yizhen didn't know how to compare with him.

"Yi, this is my boyfriend, Joshua. Joshua, Yi is the founder of this music festival."

"Nice to meet you, Yi."

Joshua, who has a baby face, also has a very young voice, which can even be said to be a little immature. Whether you close your eyes or open them, you will feel like you are standing in front of a high school basketball player, not a private equity manager who has managed a billion-dollar fund on Wall Street.

"Carly and I both like the concept of Mad City very much, as well as the concrete manifestations we saw today. I think what is most lacking in the American performance market right now is this type of music event-between traditional concerts Unlike traditional music festivals, it brings together the most influential musicians in one place and eliminates the awards ceremony."

"The award ceremony without the award ceremony, wow, that's a perfect summary." Han Yi raised his eyebrows and said with a smile. The words of praise contain more sincerity than false politeness. He is worthy of being the first member of the Kushner family to become a "billionaire" in the future. His understanding of the business model and insight into the underlying logic are extremely accurate. In one sentence, the essence of Mad City Music Festival is revealed.

"You're right, Joshua. This is indeed the goal that my team is working hard to achieve - to give ordinary people who have no chance to participate in the VMAs, AMAs and Grammys a chance to get the same experience."

"And I applaud to that." Joshua's smile was somewhat similar to Han Yi's, both gentle and restrained with a bit of shyness. Elegance and gentleman are the most obvious things these two billionaires from different ethnic groups have in common. “Hollywood and the music industry are really two places that need to show more inclusiveness. I’m glad to have someone like you. People are doing it.”

"I'll try my best." Han Yi nodded slightly and responded in the same humble manner, "Don't think about how to change the industry for the time being. Let's do our best first... Hey, wait a minute, they didn't give you any advice. Are you ready for champagne?" At this point, Han Yi noticed Joshua Kushner's empty hands.

"Oh, no, the waiters here are very considerate and considerate, but..." Joshua spread his hands, "I don't drink... I have a gluten allergy."

"Ah, that's it." After hearing this, Han Yi lowered his shoulders, breathed a sigh of relief, and the smile on his face became much more real, "That's such a coincidence, I don't drink either, and...I I also use this excuse to avoid any situation that requires me to drink."

"It seems that you two do have a lot in common." Karlie Kloss added fuel to the fire. The supermodel naturally had her own plans for introducing her boyfriend to Han Yi.

She started dating Joshua in 2012 and has been dating for four years so far. It can be said that Karlie Kloss is the poor wife who accompanied Joshua Kushner to leave the family and go out to work, supporting each other and moving towards success step by step. Although they are not engaged yet, their relationship is very strong and stable. Anyone can see that it is only a matter of time before they enter the marriage hall hand in hand.

Therefore, Carly has long regarded herself as Joshua's lifelong partner and has devoted herself to the development of his career. Carly will try her best to introduce any human resources worth introducing to her boyfriend. In her opinion, Joshua is good at everything, but he is a bit introverted and reserved and not very good at dealing with people, which happens to be Carly’s characteristics. Xiang was also the only place where she could help Joshua in the complicated world of finance.

As the Adidas brand ambassador, she came to the music festival. The reason why she went to great lengths to get her boyfriend to put down his work and fly to Las Vegas with her was so that he could meet the person in front of him who was famous in Hollywood. The founder of Mad City has risen to prominence and is extremely low-key, but has still become a hot topic in the industry.

"Then, let me bring you two glasses of Coke... Josh, are you still on a diet?"

"Yes, thank you, honey."

"Where's Yi?"

“Just the original taste, thank you very much.”

"Copy that, you guys chat first, I'll be right back."

"Let's sit down and talk, Joshua." Han Yi raised his arm and motioned for Joshua Kushner to sit down in front of the empty sofa. At this moment, Xu Yiru and Zhao Youzhen were being led by Barbara Pavin to meet new friends, and those new friends gathered in front of the railing to watch the performance up close, leaving enough privacy for the conversation between him and Joshua. space.

"Okay...just call me Josh like Carly, Yi, I prefer this title." Sitting opposite Han Yi, Joshua Kushner pointed to the live stage not far away and asked , "If I remember correctly, that's your artist, right? Madison Beal."

"Yes." Han Yi looked back and saw Madison still standing on the platform of the artificial red clay hill, skillfully mobilizing the mood of the audience. “Las Vegas, I can’t hear you!”

"Again!"

“All for love.

Ask me why I did it, I said,

All for love! "

"Yes." Han Yi pursed his lips, put on a proud smile, and nodded, "This is my biggest achievement since I entered the music industry."

"One." Joshua corrected him with a smile, "I remember clearly the amazing achievements Han Music has achieved in the past six months... I just read an article in a variety show magazine yesterday."

"Those are all exaggerated remarks by the media." Han Yi waved his hand, "False propaganda concocted for click-through rates."

"Articles typed on a keyboard may be false, as may anecdotes passed down by word of mouth, but if the two are combined and can corroborate each other's statements, the credibility will be much higher." Joshua Kushner's hands He folded them on his knees, pondered for a moment, and then continued, "Not only did Carly hear your story in Hollywood, but I also heard it a lot on Wall Street and at the lunch table."

"Wall Street?" Han Yi's eyelids twitched slightly, looking a little surprised.

"Uh-huh." Joshua nodded, "Manhattan has many venture capital companies and private equity investment companies that have made heavy bets in the entertainment industry, such as Y Combinator, Techstars, SOSV, as well as Guggenheim, Redbird, and TPG. , and Clover here in West Hollywood. When I went to Los Angeles on a business trip last month, I met with their vice president... These institutions are all very interested in your Han Music. Not only in front of me. He said that people on Wall Street who have something to do with entertainment investment are betting around your record company."

"A gambling game?" Han Yi asked with interest, "What are you betting on?"

“Bet on who can be your first investor.”

"Ah, that's it."

Han Yi responded in a long tone. When Joshua Kushner mentioned just now that Wall Street was telling his story, Han Yi was still a little worried, whether the Carlyle Group had leaked the news, or whether David Rubinstein had seen the development of Han Music. After gaining momentum, they deliberately wanted to reveal the news to let people know that there is a giant behind this cutting-edge music company.

But now it seems that the situation is not bad. David Rubinstein has abided by the agreement between the two and did not put Han Yi and the CEP-III investment fund they jointly established on the radar. After all, don’t forget, this amiable old man who always wears black-rimmed glasses is the leader of a US$300 billion capital group. There is really no need for him to produce one or two Billboard No. 1 singles because of an ascendant record company. , to renege on the agreement reached.

Han Music has not yet grown to a scale that can make Rubinstein raise his eyebrows. He will meet Han Yi in person on Mido Trail entirely because of the huge amount of money that the latter's "family" has entrusted to them since the founding of the Carlyle Group. funds.

When chatting with people in the future, you still have to think about the information in your mind twice, let it ferment for a while, and then react, so as not to let such outrageous guesses interfere with your basic judgment.

After warning himself in his mind, Han Yi put on his friendly smile again and said to Joshua: "I know that these institutions you mentioned have been contacting us one after another during this period to discuss investment matters."

"Have you taken action yet? Thank you, dear." Joshua took the Diet Coke from his girlfriend, thanked her in a low voice, and then immediately turned his concerned eyes to Han Yi again, "How is the progress? ?”

"There is no progress." Han Yi's tone was quite sincere, and he said that he could not explain anything. "Han Music no longer needs venture capital. I have asked all the representatives of venture capital companies who came to visit us to take them around. In the Xinghui Avenue office, after reading it, they will understand what stage we are currently at."

Incubators like Y Combinator, Techstars, and SOSV focus on startups that show high growth potential, entering the business at the seed round stage with lower capital, hoping to spend a longer period of time in exchange for greater returns. Take Y Combinator as an example. Their classic "$50" model is to first purchase 12.5% of the equity for $7, and then invest $37.5 through SAFEs with no valuation cap including most-favored-nation clauses.

You don't need to think about it to know that Han Yi has no interest in such an amount of investment.

"What about private equity?" Joshua was obviously refreshed.

"Thank you, Carly... Well, on the private equity side, I left the contact information of certain institutions and told them that in a year or two, when the time is right, shares may be released." Han Yishishi Ran took a sip of ice-cold lemon coke, smacked his lips, and then answered slowly.

"Some institution?"

"Yeah, it's impossible to have in-depth contact with them all. That would make me look... too carefree." Han Yi smiled at Joshua, "It's the Guggenheim, Clover, Silver Lake and Apollo you mentioned."

Han Yi did not mention the names of these four companies casually.

They were all subtexts that Han Yi could not express directly to Joshua.

He has seen the true intention of Joshua Kushner - this descendant of a prominent Jewish family in New York is obviously interested in Han Music and wants to bring capital into the game.

Although Han Yi is also interested in establishing a cooperative relationship with Joshua Kushner, it is definitely not in music. The reason is simple. With the help of the memorandum, he is not short of money at all. Whether it is 13 billion or 130 billion in Joshua's hands, it has no appeal to him. If you have endless funds to inject into the company, why should you exchange your shares for other people's money and reduce your voice in the company?

What's more, Joshua Kushner is indeed a real golden boy on Wall Street, but in the end, the golden boy is just a newcomer to capital who has just turned 30 years old. He is still far away from a powerful figure like David Rubinstein, who has deep roots, dominates both Capitol Hill and Manhattan, and has hands and eyes as wide as the sky. Even if Han Yi wants to open up his investment share in Han Music, Han Distribution and Han Live, it will not be for money, but to win over a group of big guys who want to free ride and use their protective umbrella to protect him.

Guggenheim Partners, part of the Guggenheim family that took root in North America in the 3500th century, has assets under management of more than $ billion.

Clover Holdings, founded by Roy E. Disney in 1978, is considered a multi-family office of the Disney family. The total assets under management are not high, just over US$40 billion, but it has a huge influence in the entertainment industry.

Silver Lake Technology Management Co., Ltd., a capital management group that is sprinting towards 100 billion AUM, is not as big as Guggenheim, but it has an investment project that Han Yi is very interested in - the world's number one brokerage company, WME-IMG.

Apollo Global Management is a capital ship with US$2500 billion AUM. The three founders, Leon Black, Josh Harris and Mark Rowan, can all be called pillars of American politics and business. What interests Han Yi the most is Josh Harris. In addition to his main business in private equity, he has also owned many well-known teams in his own name, including the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers, the NHL's New Jersey Devils, and the NFL's Washington Reds. Leather, and the Premier League's Crystal Palace... It's not that Han Yi wants to buy these teams from him, but if he can establish a relationship with him, he will be able to find a suitable sponsor if he wants to enter these sports leagues in the future. .

Only with this level of capital can one be qualified to enter the board of directors of one of the four major music groups in the future.

Therefore, Han Yi quietly made slight adjustments to his attitude and tone, making the conversation slower and his expression more distant.

"Josh, you asked so clearly..."

"Are you also interested in Han Music?"

(End of this chapter)