Ari Emanuel, a top Hollywood talent agent and founder of WME Group, has shared the story of his rise from a mailroom worker to one of the most powerful figures in entertainment in his memoir, Roll the Calls, due to be published on September 22. In the book, he recounts his early days at an agency, where he started by picking up food and copying scripts for other agents. He would then spend much of his day driving around Los Angeles delivering those scripts to producers, directors, and actors—a grueling but ultimately fulfilling job that helped build his foundation in the industry. Emanuel is not only a major player in entertainment but also chairman of TKO, a company that owns the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). He is also the real-life inspiration for the character Ari Gold in the HBO series Entourage. Today, he leads WME Group, one of the largest talent agencies in the world, representing celebrities like Denzel Washington, Adele, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Bruno Mars, and Adam Sandler. Born in the suburbs of Chicago, Emanuel grew up in a family that emphasized achievement and education. His mother was a civil rights activist, and his father was a doctor. He has two older brothers: Rahm, who served as President Barack Obama’s chief of staff and later became mayor of Chicago, and Zeke, a respected bio-ethicist and oncologist. The family had a system where they posted grades on a board, and poor performance meant being grounded. Emanuel faced challenges early in life, including being bullied for his dyslexia. This experience helped shape his determination and willingness to stand up for himself and others. He recalls one incident where he took a lunch tray and hit a football player who was mocking a special education student—among them, himself. Later, he left his previous agency, CAA, in a high-profile move that involved a confrontation with his former boss, Mike Ovitz, who warned him of the consequences. Emanuel remembers standing up to Ovitz, grabbing a chair, and confronting him directly, questioning whether he was being threatened. Despite his reputation as a competitive and confrontational figure, Emanuel remains optimistic about the future of show business. He believes that storytelling will continue to thrive, even as technology like artificial intelligence evolves. He dismisses the idea of focusing on legacy, calling it a “bulls**t phrase,” and instead values a meaningful life over one that is simply enjoyable.