Clive Jay Davis was born on April 4, 1932, in Brooklyn, New York, into a Jewish middle-class family. His father worked as an electrician and also had a career in sales. Davis’s early life took a tragic turn when he lost both of his parents during his teenage years—his mother passed away at age 47, followed a year later by his father's death. Left without a home or financial support, Davis was taken in by his married sister, who resided in New York City.
Despite the hardships, Davis remained focused on his academic goals. He earned a full scholarship to New York University College of Arts and Science, where he graduated magna cum laude and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. He later received a second full scholarship to attend Harvard Law School. While at Harvard, he also served on the Board of Student Advisors, further showcasing his academic dedication and leadership capabilities.
Following his graduation from Harvard Law School, Davis began working at a small New York law firm before joining Roseman & Colin, a prestigious firm known for its expertise in estate and trust planning, real estate, intellectual property, and litigation. His legal expertise and connections eventually led to a pivotal opportunity when his former colleague Harvey Schein recruited him to CBS. At just 28 years old, Davis became assistant counsel at the broadcasting giant.
Davis steadily climbed the corporate ladder at CBS, progressing from assistant counsel to general counsel, then to administrative Vice President, General Manager, and eventually President of Columbia Records, CBS’s newly established music division. His time at Columbia was marked by numerous innovations and signings that reshaped the industry.
After leaving CBS, Davis founded Arista Records in 1974. Under his leadership, Arista became one of the most influential labels in the music industry. He later founded J Records and was appointed CEO of RCA Music Group, J Records, and BMG North America. Each of these roles further solidified his reputation as a key figure in music talent discovery and development.
| Net Worth 2021: | 850 million |
