Haim Saban facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Haim Saban
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| חיים סבן | |
Saban in December 2013
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| Born | October 15, 1944 |
| Nationality | Israeli, American |
| Education | Diploma, High School |
| Occupation | Businessman, investor; record, film and television producer |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Cheryl Flor (m. 1987) |
| Children | 4 |
Haim Saban (born October 15, 1944) is an Israeli-American businessman, investor, and producer. He has worked in music, film, and television. He is known for creating and distributing children's TV shows in the United States, like Power Rangers. Forbes magazine has listed him as one of the richest people in America. In 2017, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work in television.
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Biography
Haim Saban was born in Alexandria, Egypt, into a Jewish family. In 1956, his family moved to Israel. Haim went to a special boarding school there. He was later expelled for being a troublemaker. He then went to a night high school. The principal told him he was "cut out for making money" rather than academic studies. He also served as a soldier in the Israel Defense Forces.
Saban is married to Cheryl Lynn (Flor) Saban. They have two children together. He also has two stepchildren, Tifanie and Heidi Lenhart. He lives in Beverly Hills, California.
Music Career
Haim Saban started his music journey in 1966. He played bass and managed a rock band called The Lions of Judah. In 1969, the band traveled to England. They performed in London and signed with Polydor Records. They even appeared on a BBC TV show.
After moving to the United States in 1983, Haim Saban and his partner Shuki Levy became famous. They created soundtracks for many children's TV shows in the 1980s. They wrote music for their own shows like Kidd Video. They also composed for other popular cartoons. These included Inspector Gadget and He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. Saban was credited for many songs.
Business Career
Saban Entertainment
Haim Saban became a television producer. He started his company, Saban Entertainment, in 1988. In the 1990s, his company became well-known. They produced shows like Power Rangers, Masked Rider, and VR Troopers. These shows were American versions of Japanese action series.
Fox Family
In 1996, Saban's company joined with Fox Children's Network. They formed a new company called Fox Kids Worldwide. This company aimed to create a new cable channel for kids.
In 2001, Haim Saban and News Corporation sold Fox Family Worldwide Inc. to The Walt Disney Company. The sale was for $5.3 billion. Saban made about $1.6 billion from this deal. The channel was later renamed ABC Family.
ProSiebenSat.1
In 2003, Saban led a group that bought a large German media company. This company was called ProSiebenSat.1 Media. It owns several German TV channels, including ProSieben and SAT.1. These are two of the biggest stations in Germany.
Saban helped turn the company's business around. He brought in experienced leaders to help. In 2007, Saban's group sold their share in ProSiebenSat.1. They made a good profit from the sale.
Univision
In 2006, Saban Capital Group led a group of investors. They bought Univision Communications. Univision is the largest Spanish-language media company in the United States. The group bought Univision for $13.7 billion. They later sold it to other companies in 2020.
Saban Music Group
In 2019, Saban announced a new venture. He started the Saban Music Group. He invested $500 million of his own money into it. The company plans to work with global artists. They will especially focus on Latin American music. They will find new artists and buy existing music businesses.
Views and Opinions
Haim Saban is a strong supporter of Israel. He has often said that Israel is very important to him. He became involved in politics in the mid-1990s. He felt that support for Israel in the United States was decreasing.
Saban has given a lot of money to the Democratic Party in the United States. He is a major donor to their campaigns. He has been a close friend and supporter of former President Bill Clinton. He also supported Hillary Clinton in her presidential campaigns.
Saban has also given money to some members of the Republican Party. This included a donation to George W. Bush's re-election campaign in 2004. In 2016, he supported Hillary Clinton for president. He called Donald Trump "a danger to America."
In 2020, Saban worked with the UAE Ambassador to the United States. They wrote an article together for the Israeli public. Their goal was to help stop certain plans in Israel. This effort helped lead to the Abraham Accords in August 2020. These agreements helped normalize relations between Israel and the UAE.
Philanthropy
Saban Center for Middle East Policy
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In 2002, Saban gave $13 million to create the Saban Center for Middle East Policy. This center is a foreign policy think tank. It is part of the larger Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C.. The center helps government leaders understand America's foreign policy in the Middle East.
In 2007, Saban donated $14 million. This money helped complete a children's hospital at Soroka Medical Center.
Saban National Political Leadership Training Seminar
Saban also supports the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee's Saban National Political Leadership Training Seminar. These are seminars held in Washington. They train college students to advocate for Israel. The seminars help students prepare for challenges on their campuses. They also learn how to get involved in political efforts.
See also
In Spanish: Haim Saban para niños
