Early Life
Haim Saban was born in Alexandria, Egypt, on October 15, 1944. In 1956, his family immigrated to Israel. In Israel, Saban attended a Youth Aliyah boarding school and later served in the Israel Defense Forces. He also attended night high school, where a principal suggested that he had a talent for making money.
Rise to Success
Saban began his career in the music industry. He worked as a tour promoter and later as a music producer in France, where he launched a record company with Shuki Levy. Saban moved to the United States in 1983 and became known for composing soundtracks for children's television programs. He founded Saban Entertainment in 1988, which produced hit shows like "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" and "X-Men: The Animated Series". Saban sold his production company Fox Family Worldwide to The Walt Disney Company in 2001 for $5.3 billion, and made a profit of around $1.6 billion.
Key Business Strategies
Saban is recognized for his business acumen in the entertainment and media industries. He identified the potential of adapting Japanese series for Western audiences, as exemplified by the success of "Power Rangers." He expanded his business interests by acquiring media companies, including a controlling stake in ProSiebenSat.1 Media in Germany and Univision Communications. His investment company, Saban Capital Group, made minority and controlling investments in various companies. In 2018, Saban sold the Power Rangers franchise to Hasbro for $522 million.
Philanthropy
Haim and his wife, Cheryl, started the Saban Family Foundation in 1999, which supports medical, children's, and education programs. They have donated approximately $500 million to various charities worldwide. Saban is also a major donor to the Democratic Party and an advocate for pro-Israel causes.