Les Moonves

Leslie Roy Moonves (born October 6, 1949) is an American media executive who was the chairman and CEO of CBS Corporation from 2003 until his resignation in September 2018 following numerous allegations of sexual harassment, sexual assault and abuse.

He attended Valley Stream Central High School and went to Bucknell University, graduating in 1971.

In his sophomore year, he decided that his science courses were unfulfilling and switched his major from pre-medical to the Spanish language (a subject he found vastly more enjoyable) and acted in a few plays; following graduation in 1971 he moved to Manhattan to pursue an acting career where he eventually graduated from the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre.

He landed a few parts, playing tough guys on Cannon and The Six Million Dollar Man, which he described as "forgettable" TV roles before deciding on the career change.

He also worked as one of casting director Caro Jones' first office assistants early in her career.

Moonves was in charge of first-run syndication and pay/cable programming at 20th Century Fox Television.

Also at 20th Century Fox Television, he was vice president of movies and mini-series.

Other positions included vice president of development at Saul Ilson Productions (in association with Columbia Pictures Television) and development executive for Catalina Productions.

Moonves joined Lorimar Television in 1985 as executive in charge of its movies and mini-series, and in 1988, became head of creative affairs.

From 1990 to 1993, he was president at Lorimar.

In July 1993, he became president/CEO of Warner Bros. Television, when Warner Bros. and Lorimar Television combined operations.

In this phase of his career, he green-lighted the shows Friends and ER, among many others.

He held a series of executive positions at CBS from July 1995 to September 2018.

He joined CBS in July 1995 as President of CBS Entertainment.

From April 1998 until 2003, he was president and chief executive officer at CBS, then was promoted to chairman and CEO of CBS in 2003.

He was also on the board of directors at ZeniMax Media from 1999 until 2021.

He has been married to TV personality Julie Chen since 2004.

Later, he was co-president and co-chief operating officer (COO) of the original Viacom, the legal predecessor to CBS Corporation, from 2004 until the company split in December 2005.

CBS had six of the ten most-watched primetime shows in the final quarter of 2005: CSI, Without a Trace, CSI: Miami, Survivor: Guatemala, NCIS, and Cold Case.

In February 2005, Moonves was identified as the executive directly responsible for ordering the cancellation of UPN's Star Trek: Enterprise and the ending of the 18-year revival of the Star Trek television franchise.

In January 2006, Moonves helped make the deal that brought together the CBS-owned United Paramount Network (UPN) with The WB Television Network to form The CW Television Network that fall.

Moonves was the second most highly-paid executive for 2012 and 2013: he received $58.8 million and $65.4 million.

In 2013, Moonves was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame.

He became chairman of CBS in February 2016.

He became chairman of CBS in February 2016.

Of the tone of the 2016 Republican presidential campaign, and the advertising dollars it delivered, Moonves said, "It may not be good for America, but it's damn good for CBS ... Man, who would have expected the ride we're all having right now? ... The money's rolling in and this is fun ... I've never seen anything like this, and this [is] going to be a very good year for us. Sorry. It's a terrible thing to say. But, bring it on, Donald. Keep going."

He added, "Donald's place in this election is a good thing."

Moonves was also open to acquiring smaller film production companies to expand the company's CBS Films division.

Moonves earned $68.4 million in 2017, combined with stock options of the media company, worth over $100 million.

Leslie Roy Moonves was born in Brooklyn, New York City to a religious Jewish family, the son of Josephine (Schleifer) and Herman Moonves, and grew up in Valley Stream, New York.

His mother was a nurse.

He has one sister, Melissa Moonves Colon, and two brothers, including entertainment attorney Jonathan Moonves.

He is considered the second-highest paid CEO, having been paid $68.4 million in 2017.

At the end of July 2017, Moonves was a part of a first-look television production deal between CBS and Imagine Entertainment, a feature film, television programming and documentary production company run by filmmaker Ron Howard and film producer Brian Grazer.

In September 2018, Moonves stepped down as chairman of CBS after multiple women brought forth sexual assault allegations against him.

Moonves allegedly destroyed evidence of his sexual misconduct.

According to various media reports, Moonves has amassed a net worth of over US$800 million through compensation from CBS.

In September 2018, following allegations of sexual assault, it was reported that CBS was negotiating a $100 million exit package for Moonves and that CBS Chief Operating Officer Joe Ianniello would serve as his interim replacement.

On September 9, 2018, CBS Corporation announced he had resigned and Joe Iannello would become interim CEO.

Moonves and CBS will donate $20 million to the #MeToo movement, money that will be deducted from any severance benefits Moonves may be owed, the company said.