Scooter Braun

Early Life and Education

Scott Samuel "Scooter" Braun was born on June 18, 1981, in New York City. During high school, he participated in a documentary competition for National History Day with a 10-minute film titled The Hungarian Conflict, which explored the experiences of Jews in Hungary before, during, and after the Holocaust. The film was inspired by his grandparents, Holocaust survivors who fled Hungary shortly before the Soviet Union suppressed the Hungarian Revolution. The project won regional and state awards, and a relative submitted it to Steven Spielberg’s office. Spielberg later shared the film with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Braun has described Spielberg’s reaction as one of the most inspiring moments of his life.

Career and Major Ventures

Scooter Braun is the founder of SB Projects, a diversified entertainment and media company operating across music, television, film, technology, and branding. SB Projects has worked with numerous high-profile clients, including Usher, Tori Kelly, Carly Rae Jepsen, The Black Eyed Peas, Martin Garrix, and model Karlie Kloss. Braun has earned a reputation as one of the most influential talent managers in the entertainment industry.

He played a pivotal role in the rise of Justin Bieber, whom he discovered on YouTube, and also managed artists such as Ariana Grande and Demi Lovato. He announced his retirement from artist management in June 2024. In addition to talent management, Braun’s ventures include investment in technology and media startups through his holding company, Ithaca Holdings. In 2021, Ithaca Holdings was acquired by South Korean entertainment company HYBE, and Braun served as CEO of HYBE America until stepping down in July 2025, remaining on HYBE’s board of directors and as a senior adviser.

Controversy with Taylor Swift

In June 2019, Braun’s company Ithaca Holdings acquired Big Machine Label Group, which owned the master recordings of several of Taylor Swift’s early albums. Swift responded with a public Tumblr post expressing her disappointment and accusing Braun of years of what she called "incessant, manipulative bullying." Braun has denied bullying Swift. Her statement generated significant media attention and fueled a broader conversation about artists' rights and master ownership. Braun later sold the master rights to Swift's early catalog to an investment firm, Shamrock Capital, in 2020; Swift bought them back in 2025.

Personal Life and Philanthropy

Scooter Braun married Yael Cohen, a health activist and the founder of the nonprofit organization Fuck Cancer, in July 2014. The couple was known for their active presence on social media, often sharing family moments and expressions of appreciation for one another. Together, they have three children: sons Jagger and Levi and daughter Hart. On their fourth wedding anniversary, Braun posted a heartfelt message to Yael on Instagram, expressing gratitude for their relationship, their family, and the shared life they had built. The couple separated in 2021, and their divorce was finalized in September 2022.