Mark Burnett is a British television producer with a $500 million net worth. Burnett is arguably best known for conceiving and producing some of the most popular reality TV shows in recent memory, including “The Apprentice” and “Survivor.”
Mark is currently the Chairman of MGM Worldwide Television Group, a firm with a rich history in entertainment. Burnett’s television programs have been very successful, with over 140 Emmy nominations. Mark has received twelve Emmys and numerous other accolades for his work as a producer.
Who is Mark Burnett?
Mark Burnett was born on July 17th, 1960, in London, England. Burnett was raised in Essex by industrial workers, and at the age of 17, he enlisted in the British Army. He eventually rose to the rank of section commander in the Parachute Regiment before joining the 3rd Battalion for service in the Falkland War and Northern Ireland battles.
He departed the service in 1982 as a distinguished soldier. His experiences in the service left him with a zest for adventure. Burnett left the army, unsure of his next move. He eventually accepted a perilous position as a military adviser in Central America. He didn’t tell his mother the entire facts of the work, simply that it involved security.
His mother persuaded him not to go, but Burnett persisted. That is, until he found himself in the Los Angeles airport, awaiting his next flight, and his mother’s voice entered his head. He followed his instincts and opted to stay in Los Angeles despite the fact that he only had $600.
Although Burnett continues to develop a variety of television shows, he has had a significant impact on MGM since adopting a leadership role with the corporation. He oversaw the acquisition of various enterprises, allowing MGM to broaden its reach and experience a renaissance.
How old is Mark Burnett?
He is currently 63 years old.
What is Mark Burnett’s net worth?
He is estimated to be worth $500 Million.
What is Mark Burnett’s career?
Mark Burnett left the service and eventually emigrated to the United States in 1982. He met a friend who had moved to the United States a year before and got a job as a nanny for the Jaeger family, who lived in the upscale district of Beverly Hills, Los Angeles. Despite having no childcare expertise, Mark was hired due to his military background, as the wealthy Jaegers wanted someone who could care for their children while also protecting them. This ultimately became a reliable source of income for Mark, and he began caring for other children in Malibu for a weekly compensation of $250.
Burnett worked as a nanny in two different houses over a seven-year period. He formed a lifetime friendship with one of his employers, Burt. Burt would frequently host powerful producers and businessmen at his home. Burnett frequently asked the producers as many questions as possible. Burt eventually realized Burnett’s promise and employed him to sell insurance. Burnett’s insurance experience prompted him to start his own marketing and advertising agency. By the early 1990s, Mark had earned his first million. Despite his hard labor, he sought adventure.
Burnett discovered his experience when he read about Raid Gauloises in the Los Angeles Times. The Raid Gauloises is an annual French adventure tournament. The competition had a group of five persons from various countries racing in an unusual setting for two weeks. They endured difficult ordeals such as horseback riding, marathon kayaking, and even parachuting. This type of competition had not been seen in America before.
He assembled a five-person squad, becoming the first American team to compete. Following the exhilaration, Burnett proceeded to shop his idea around. He termed it the “Eco-Challenge” and hosted it in Utah. It premiered on MTV and was eventually shown on The Discovery Channel and the USA Network. The show was a success. This was the start of Burnett’s career as a television producer in the 1990s.
During the eco-challenge, Burnett was mainly interested in how the teams talked with one another rather than the competition itself. This planted the idea for Survivor in his mind. The idea, however, originated in the thoughts of British producer Charlie Parsons. Given that Burnett had the idea and Parson possessed the rights, he opted to purchase them from Parson in 1998. The show took two years to make its way onto television sets.
During this time, it was repeatedly rejected by networks. Finally, CBS aired it during the summer season, when most networks would show reruns. Survivor became a major smash and continues to air today. But there was nothing like the first season, which had all of America captivated to their television screens. The show’s finale was viewed by almost 50 million people.
Source: www.ghgossip.com
