596-600

*Chapter 596: Leo’s Scandals*

“What are you planning to do? Lionsgate has hits like American Sniper, The Revenant, and The Martian, as well as high-quality indie films like Foxcatcher, Inherent Vice, Wild, and The Big Short. What can we possibly compete with?”

“There’s no way we can match that. I think we should stop wasting money,” Bob frowned and asked.

Harvey’s face twitched at Bob’s words. He wasn’t happy about it, but he had to admit Bob was right.

This year, at least half of the top 10 North American films came from Lionsgate, including American Sniper and The Revenant, which were considered the year’s best.

None of the films co-produced by The Weinstein Company and Warner Bros. could compare to those two, and even their indie films lagged behind Lionsgate’s second-tier offerings.

At this rate, no amount of money spent on PR could beat Lionsgate, not even pose a threat.

Harvey was furious and felt powerless, overwhelmed by despair.

As the former "king" of Hollywood, once the maker of Oscar-winning actors and actresses, he was now not only far behind Lionsgate at the box office but also completely defeated in his specialty—Oscar campaigning.

How did it come to this?

Harvey took a greedy breath, his face darkening as he told Bob that even if they couldn’t compete with Lionsgate at the Oscars, he wouldn’t sit back and watch Lionsgate sweep all the awards.

Bob frowned, asking what Harvey planned to do.

Harvey didn’t answer, staying silent.

Not long after, several negative news stories about Lionsgate films appeared in the media.

Some criticized American Sniper for being inaccurate, painting the sniper as a back-shooter who didn’t deserve praise.

Others claimed The Revenant’s production had harmed the local environment during filming.

Even The Big Short was criticized for being shallow, failing to deeply explore the causes of the subprime mortgage crisis.

Several of these negative stories also targeted the lead actors in these films, including Link, Leonardo DiCaprio, Reese Witherspoon, and Joaquin Phoenix.

The most eye-catching were the rumors about Leonardo. Reports claimed he only dated young women, played with their emotions, was a fake environmentalist, and had an affair with a female politician, spending $6 million on a private island getaway.

The story about Leonardo’s affair with a politician, rumored to be a Democratic candidate, Mrs. Schiff, caused the biggest stir.

“How interesting. I wonder if it’s true,” Link said, sitting in his penthouse, reading the New York Post while munching on popcorn.

“Whether true or not, the timing of this leak is suspicious. Someone clearly doesn’t want him to win Best Actor at the Oscars,” Ivanka said as she handed him a cup of coffee from the counter.

“That’s probably it. I wonder if this is just a fabrication or if there’s some truth to it. If it is true, it could be great for my father-in-law. He’d be thrilled,” Link replied.

“That’s right,” Ivanka smiled, tucking her golden hair behind her ear. “If this rumor turns out to be true, it could help your father in his bid for office. He could use it to attack his opponent.”

“Should we get involved?”

“Let’s wait and see. The situation is unclear right now, so it’s not wise to jump in,” Link said after thinking it over.

This news could be advantageous for his father-in-law but harmful to Leonardo, and since both were on their side, it wouldn’t be good for either of them to take a hit.

For now, it was better to watch how things played out and see if more information came to light.

---

After the news broke, Leonardo’s team initially remained silent, hoping not to draw too much attention. But with such juicy gossip involving a popular actor and a high-profile politician, the story was irresistible to the public.

By the third day, the news had spread to dozens of media outlets and shot to the top of trending lists.

Leonardo’s agency quickly responded, denying the rumors and threatening legal action to defend his reputation and punish the slanderers.

Without new revelations, the story eventually died down after a few days, though it left a stain on Leonardo’s reputation, particularly in December, during a crucial period for Oscar campaigning.

An outraged Leonardo called Link, swearing to settle the score with Harvey.

“Harvey? You think he’s behind this?” Link asked, surprised. Since Lionsgate had become one of the Big Seven in Hollywood, he hadn’t paid much attention to Harvey or The Weinstein Company, not considering them serious competition.

But now Leonardo was convinced that Harvey was pulling the strings, which piqued Link’s interest.

Harvey was a known supporter of the Democrats in Hollywood, with close ties to Mrs. Schiff. Why would he leak such a story now? Was it just to stop Lionsgate from winning the Oscars?

“Yes, it’s him. I have solid proof,” Leonardo replied.

“Alright, what are you going to do? If you want to sue Harvey, Lionsgate can offer some support,” Link offered.

“Thanks, but that won’t be necessary. Lawsuits won’t work on someone like Harvey. I’ve got dirt on him too, and we’ll see who outplays whom,” Leonardo snapped back.

Link raised an eyebrow, realizing that many in the industry knew about Harvey’s misconduct but had kept quiet because of his power.

Now that Harvey and The Weinstein Company were fading in Hollywood, their influence shrinking, maybe it was time to get rid of him.

Taking down Harvey would not only eliminate a competitor and clean up the industry but also reduce the Democratic Party’s influence in Los Angeles, helping his father-in-law.

Leonardo’s situation presented the perfect opportunity.

Link asked Leonardo how he planned to fight back.

Leonardo claimed he knew about Harvey’s exploitation of actresses and just needed an investigation to bring him down.

Link shook his head, disappointed that Leonardo didn’t have any solid evidence and still needed to dig deeper.

Considering Leonardo’s talent lay mostly in acting, Link decided not to hand over the dirt he had. Instead, he thought of giving it to Ronan Farrow, someone young, ambitious, and eager to make a name for himself—someone better suited to take on Harvey.

Leonardo then shifted the conversation to Oscar campaigning, worried that the scandal would hurt his chances. He urged Lionsgate’s PR team to help him win the Oscar, not letting the rumors ruin everything.

Link reassured him not to worry, promising that the PR team would handle the Oscar push and told him to focus on promoting his film.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 597: Lionsgate at the Golden Globes*

By late December, Lionsgate had two more films released: The Butler and Carol.

The Butler is based on a true story. It tells the tale of Eugene Allen, an African American who joined the White House as a pantry worker in 1952. During his 34-year tenure, the White House saw eight different presidents, but Allen's dedication earned him the respect of becoming the chief butler. Directed by African American filmmaker Lee Daniels, the film starred Forest Whitaker, Robin Williams, and James Marsden, among others.

With a production budget of $30 million, the film grossed $35.25 million in its first week across 2,933 North American theaters, recouping its costs. After 26 days, the domestic box office surpassed $100 million, making it Lionsgate’s 13th film of 2015 to hit this milestone.

However, due to the nature of its content, The Butler saw limited success overseas, grossing only around $34 million after two weeks. The estimated overseas total is expected to be around $60 million.

Lionsgate's 21st release of the year, Carol, was scheduled for late December. As a niche art film, it had a limited release in four theaters, with moderate box office returns. The film is expected to gross about $18 million domestically. Overseas, however, it performed better, earning $27.56 million since its May release, covering its $25 million production cost.

As Carol premiered, Christmas arrived. Link spent the holiday with Ivanka, Taylor, and the kids in the penthouse of LINK Tower.

In January, the 73rd Golden Globe nominations were announced. Lionsgate films received 10 nominations.

American Sniper earned 6 nominations, including Best Motion Picture (Drama), Best Director, and Best Actor.

The Revenant received 5 nominations for Best Motion Picture (Drama), Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Original Score.

The Martian earned 3 nominations: Best Motion Picture (Comedy/Musical), Best Actor, and Best Director.

Foxcatcher had 3 nominations: Best Motion Picture (Drama), Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actor.

Carol earned 5 nominations, including Best Motion Picture (Drama), Best Director, and Best Actress.

The Big Short was nominated for 4 awards, including two Best Actor nominations and Best Screenplay.

Wild received 1 nomination for Best Actress.

Trainwreck earned 1 nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Inherent Vice received 1 nomination for Best Actor.

The Butler was nominated for Best Supporting Actress.

In total, Lionsgate films secured 30 nominations, accounting for half of all the Golden Globe nominations. This sparked a lot of discussion in the entertainment industry.

Lionsgate released 20 films that year, and half of them received Golden Globe nominations, an extraordinary achievement.

The Los Angeles Times ran a front-page story declaring that Lionsgate had taken control of Hollywood, dominating both box office numbers and awards, surpassing even the six major studios and countless independent film companies.

Some tabloids accused Lionsgate of monopolizing film awards and called for the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) to restrict the company to preserve diversity in the North American film market.

However, mainstream media opposed this notion. Film industry monopolies had occurred in the past. Before 1948, the eight major Hollywood studios controlled not only film production but also talent agencies and theater chains, preventing actors from working with other studios and squeezing out competing films. This was a true monopoly.

In 1948, the U.S. Department of Justice enacted the Paramount Decree, which mandated the separation of production studios, talent agencies, and theater chains.

Today, as long as a film company doesn’t control major talent agencies or theaters, the competition is considered free. Success depends on film quality, which is how Lionsgate earned its place in the market and captured audiences’ attention, securing 30 Golden Globe nominations.

This wasn’t a case of monopoly, and not even the six major studios would support such a claim, nor would the MPAA interfere with Lionsgate’s operations over this.

The New York Times argued that companies like Lionsgate, which prioritize artistic quality, should be encouraged to continue making high-caliber films rather than be restricted. What should be restricted are the growing numbers of poorly-made commercial films that damage the market and hurt filmmakers.

In conclusion, many mainstream media outlets supported Lionsgate, which only helped to boost its reputation.

On January 10th, at the 73rd Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hills Hilton, Link was nominated for Best Actor and invited to attend, along with Selena, who had a supporting role in The Big Short.

Many of the attendees were familiar faces, with over half of them having worked with Lionsgate before.

As soon as Link arrived, people came up to greet him non-stop, leaving him little time to rest. Selena joked that he was like Vito Corleone from The Godfather, with everyone coming to curry favor with him.

After two hours of awards, Lionsgate films took home 8 Golden Globes.

American Sniper won Best Motion Picture (Drama).

The Martian won Best Motion Picture (Comedy/Musical) and Best Actor for Matt Damon.

The Revenant won Best Director and Best Actor (Drama) for Leonardo DiCaprio.

Carol won Best Actress (Drama) for Cate Blanchett.

Trainwreck won Best Actress (Comedy/Musical) for Amy Schumer.

Creed won Best Supporting Actor for Sylvester Stallone.

All major awards.

The remaining six awards were spread among other films. Steve Jobs won 2 awards for Best Supporting Actress (Kate Winslet) and Best Screenplay (Aaron Sorkin).

Weinstein Company’s The Hateful Eight won Best Original Score for Ennio Morricone.

Spectre won Best Original Song for Sam Smith. Inside Out won Best Animated Feature. Son of Saul won Best Foreign Language Film.

Lionsgate dominated the Golden Globes with eight of the most prestigious awards, sparking media discussion the next day.

Some media outlets ran headlines like "Lionsgate Sweeps the Golden Globes," highlighting the studio’s success. Others took a jab at Link, running titles like "Link Misses Out on Golden Globe Best Actor Again."

Link didn’t mind. In January, he flew to China to spend the Lunar New Year with Shu Nan and Liu Jiannie. Since last year, Kris Liu and Shu Chang had been staying in Hawaii frequently with their kids. Link had bought two beachfront villas there, one for each of them.

He would visit them from time to time, so the kids were familiar with him and saw him as a busy father.

After spending the Chinese New Year in China, Link went to Seoul and Tokyo.

Last year, Jun Ji-hyun gave birth to his son, and as usual, he bought her a standalone house in the Gangnam District as a gift.

Taeyeon, seeing that Jun Ji-hyun had a child, also expressed a desire to have children. However, as the leader of a popular girl group, she was too busy to consider it right now. Link promised her that after her group disbanded, he’d fulfill her wish.

She agreed.

Meanwhile, Sasaki Nozomi continued running her lingerie business, with Link’s help, her company’s value reached $15 million, a decent achievement.

Yui Aragaki was considering leaving the entertainment industry to start her own business but hadn’t decided what to pursue yet.

Link encouraged her to take her time and assured her that he would support whatever she chose to do.

After making his rounds in Asia, Link returned to the U.S. to continue boxing training, oversee the company’s plans for the new year, and occasionally help his father-in-law’s campaign by gathering votes.

*Chapter 598: The Oscars Ceremony*

At the beginning of February, the nominations for the 88th Academy Awards were announced, with 27 categories in total.

Lionsgate Films had 11 films nominated, receiving 48 nominations in total, which accounted for more than a third of all nominations.

Among the films, The Revenant led with 12 nominations, followed by The Martian with 7. American Sniper and Carol each received 6 nominations, while Foxcatcher and The Big Short received 5. Inherent Vice and Wild got 2 nominations each, while The Butler, Creed, and Maleficent each received 1.

Out of the 8 films nominated for Best Picture, 5 were from Lionsgate.

All 5 films nominated for Best Actor came from Lionsgate, featuring actors such as Link, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Joaquin Phoenix, and Steve Carell.

Lionsgate's films also dominated over half of the nominations for Best Director, Best Supporting Actor and Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay.

After the nominations were announced, many media outlets speculated that Lionsgate might sweep the Oscars, monopolizing all the major awards.

However, the nominations for the Oscars are voted on by over 6,000 Academy members, ensuring fairness in the selection process. Additionally, the quality of Lionsgate’s films justified their nominations, leaving competitors with little room to complain.

On February 28, the 88th Academy Awards ceremony was held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, hosted by Chris Rock, who would later become infamous for being slapped by Will Smith.

During the performance segment, Vice President Joe Biden attended and joined Lady Gaga in performing the song Till It Happens to You. At the end of the performance, dozens of sexual assault survivors joined Lady Gaga on stage, hand-in-hand, calling for an end to sexual violence.

Watching the performance, Link smiled slightly. It was clear that the Vice President’s presence had political undertones, being tied to the upcoming election, as he was supporting the Democratic Party. The issue of sexual violence was also a prominent topic, following President Obama’s February speech, where he stated that "1 in 5 American women are victims of rape or attempted rape."

This sparked nationwide anti-sexual violence campaigns. High-profile cases in the entertainment industry included Kesha suing producer Dr. Luke for assault and Bill Cosby facing multiple allegations of sexual abuse. In December, 40 women testified against Cosby. Additionally, Italian model Ambra Battilana reported an incident of harassment by Harvey Weinstein to the NYPD, which was still under investigation at the time.

These scandals created a backdrop for Lady Gaga's performance, making her message particularly poignant.

“Hey, what’s got you smiling? You look like you're up to something,” Selena teased from beside him, staring at him with wide eyes.

Link suppressed his grin and gave her a glance. “Focus on the show, why are you looking at me?”

“What's your take on Lady Gaga's performance?” Selena asked sweetly.

“It was well-intentioned and meaningful,” Link replied.

“Yeah, there are a lot of scandals about women in the entertainment industry lately. Honestly, big bro, you should be extra careful. Don’t let anything bad come out about you,” Selena said.

“Don’t worry, I may be a bit of a flirt, but I don’t play by those rules, and I’ve really toned it down.”

“Really? Are you sure?”

“Yes! With my charm, I don't need to exploit anyone,” Link said, shaking his head. Since his debut, he had never engaged in improper conduct with strangers, always recording interactions to protect himself.

“Fair point,” Selena admitted, nodding as she turned her attention back to the stage.

After the opening performances, the awards ceremony began with Best Original Screenplay and Best Adapted Screenplay, awarded to Spotlight and The Big Short, respectively.

Mark Rylance won Best Supporting Actor for Bridge of Spies, while Alicia Vikander took Best Supporting Actress for The Danish Girl.

Mad Max: Fury Road cleaned up in the technical categories, winning 6 awards, including Best Sound Editing, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Sound Mixing, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, and Best Film Editing.

Ex Machina won Best Visual Effects, The Revenant won Best Cinematography, and The Hateful Eight took Best Original Score.

Sam Smith won Best Original Song for Writing’s On The Wall from Spectre, and publicly came out as gay prior to the ceremony, becoming the first openly gay Oscar winner.

Lionsgate's films didn’t do well in the technical categories, only securing Best Cinematography.

In the major categories, however, Lionsgate secured several major wins. Cate Blanchett won Best Actress for Carol, a film produced by Palm Beach Films. Although Link had advised her to avoid mentioning him in her acceptance speech, Blanchett was visibly emotional and expressed her gratitude.

Julianne Moore, the previous year’s Best Actress winner, presented the Best Actor award, with nominees including Link (American Sniper), Leonardo DiCaprio (The Revenant), Steve Carell (Foxcatcher), Matt Damon (The Martian), and Joaquin Phoenix (Inherent Vice).

Many predicted that Link had the highest chance of winning, but Link knew that wouldn’t be the case. The Academy often awarded actors who had undergone significant physical transformations or made large sacrifices for their roles, giving the award a sense of being "hard-earned."

Among the nominees, Leonardo DiCaprio had gone to extremes, gaining weight, appearing disheveled, and performing dangerous scenes with a grizzly bear. This was his fourth nomination for Best Actor, and there was a strong sentiment that the Academy "owed" him an Oscar since his performance in The Wolf of Wall Street.

When Julianne Moore announced DiCaprio’s name, he excitedly jumped up and ran to the stage.

"Hey, Link! This little guy is mine!" DiCaprio yelled, waving the Oscar statue at Link.

Link applauded and gave him a thumbs-up. For many actors, winning an Oscar was a huge achievement, akin to winning an Olympic gold medal. But for Link, the Oscar was just a small accolade—nice to win, but not something he obsessed over.

After receiving his award, DiCaprio thanked many people, including directors like James Cameron, Martin Scorsese, and Alejandro González Iñárritu, before humorously mentioning his friendship with Link. He joked about how they met in 2008 when Link was just becoming a boxing champion and DiCaprio didn’t give him much attention. Now, it’s Link who sometimes ignores DiCaprio.

This drew laughter from the audience.

DiCaprio ended his speech by thanking Link for his support and promising to share his "secret" for winning an Oscar after the ceremony.

The next major award was Best Director, with nominees including Clint Eastwood (American Sniper), Alejandro González Iñárritu (The Revenant), George Miller (Mad Max: Fury Road), Adam McKay (The Big Short), and Tom McCarthy (Spotlight).

In the end, Iñárritu won for The Revenant, making history as the first director to win Best Director two years in a row, having won the previous year for Birdman. Both films were made in collaboration with Lionsgate, earning the studio a reputation as a "kingmaker" in Hollywood.

Some media outlets claimed that if you wanted to win an Oscar post-2011, working with Lionsgate was the best route, much like how Harvey Weinstein had previously been a top figure in the Oscar race.

The final award of the night was Best Picture, which went to American Sniper, praised for its patriotic themes and portrayal of Chris Kyle as an American hero. The film embodied American values, making it a fitting choice for the top prize.

By the end of the night, Lionsgate had won 6 Oscars out of 48 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Cinematography. Though the studio had fewer wins compared to the previous year’s 11 wins from 35 nominations, the awards they did win carried significant prestige.

Many in the media believed that the Academy had deliberately limited Lionsgate’s victories. With films like The Revenant, American Sniper, The Martian, and Carol, it was hard to believe they only won 6 awards, especially when Mad Max: Fury Road had won just as many.

Despite this, Lionsgate didn’t dwell on the past. The 88th Academy Awards were over, and the company was already looking ahead to next year’s Oscars, hoping for more nominations and wins.

Over the month leading up to and following the Oscars, the 11 nominated films from Lionsgate saw a boost in their box office earnings.

"The Revenant" currently has a North American box office of $212 million and a global box office of $584 million, with an increase of over $30 million.

"American Sniper" currently has a North American box office of $392 million and a global box office of $668 million, with a significant increase in overseas markets, exceeding $20 million.

Other films like "The Martian," "Carol," "Foxcatcher," and "The Big Short" also had decent box office increases.

The distribution department estimates that the total box office growth is about $200 million.

This also proves that Lionsgate's spending on Oscar publicity was worthwhile.

After the Oscars ended, Link stayed home as a stay-at-home dad, trained in boxing, and prepared for his upcoming four title defense matches.

Additionally, the 31st Summer Olympics will be held in August, and he is a member of the U.S. swimming team. When he has time, he also trains at the swimming pool to get ready for the Olympics.

(End of chapter)

Chapter 599: Net Worth of 30 Billion

By the end of February, the "MPAA Annual Report" gradually released several articles analyzing the 2015 box office data, including the global film market, the North American box office, rankings and profitability of the seven major studios, among other topics.

In 2015, the global box office reached $38.3 billion, a 5% increase from 2014, with North America contributing $11.14 billion and international markets $27.2 billion.

The Asia-Pacific region had the fastest-growing box office, reaching $13.6 billion, a 13% increase from the previous year.

China’s box office saw a 49% growth, hitting $6.8 billion, making it the largest box office outside of North America and even comparable to the U.S. market.

Because of China's impressive box office performance and a key political visit from a Chinese figure to the U.S. last year, the MPAA and China's State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film, and Television co-hosted the "2015 China Film Week" in Washington, solidifying stronger film industry cooperation.

Seizing this opportunity, Hollywood studios have been partnering with Chinese film companies, and several U.S.-China co-productions have begun.

For instance, director Zhang Yimou’s "The Great Wall" originally wanted to cast Link as the lead, but he declined due to scheduling conflicts.

Additionally, Fox’s "Independence Day: Resurgence" cast popular Chinese actress Angela Baby as the second lead.

Other blockbusters like "Pacific Rim," "S.M.A.R.T. Chase," "Nest," and "Warrior's Gate" have also featured Chinese actors.

Lionsgate has two U.S.-China co-productions this year.

The thriller "Meg" is in production, starring Jason Statham and Li Bingbing.

"Expendables 4" will also feature more Chinese actors.

According to "The Hollywood Reporter," China and North America's film industries are currently in their closest era of cooperation, and China's growing importance in the global film market could soon surpass North America, making partnerships with China essential.

As for the North American box office:

The MPAA Annual Report counted 845 films released in North America last year, selling 1.32 billion tickets, with total box office revenues of $11.14 billion.

This was an 8% increase from 2014, marking the first time North American box office revenue surpassed $11 billion, setting a new record.

Seven films earned over $300 million in North America: "Star Wars: Episode VII," "Inside Out," "Avengers: Age of Ultron," "Jurassic World," "Minions," "American Sniper," and "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2."

The top three films were Disney productions, the next two were from Universal, and the last two were from Lionsgate.

"Star Wars: Episode VII" broke "Avatar's" record, becoming the first film in North America to gross over $900 million. "Jurassic World" grossed $650 million, making it the fourth-highest-grossing film in North American history, while "Avengers: Age of Ultron" ranked ninth.

These box office-breaking films made last year one of the most competitive years in the North American film industry in the past decade.

Despite fierce competition, Lionsgate managed to outperform the six major studios, retaining its position as the North American box office champion, astonishing both the media and filmmakers.

According to the MPAA’s report, Lionsgate released 21 films in 2015.

Two films grossed over $300 million, and seven films grossed over $200 million in North America, accounting for 7 of the 12 films that earned over $200 million. Thirteen of Lionsgate's films grossed over $100 million, making up 13 of the 28 films that crossed that mark.

These figures far surpassed their competitors, with Lionsgate earning a total of $2.87 billion at the North American box office, retaining the annual box office champion title and securing 25.6% of the market share.

Disney ranked second, releasing 11 films with a total box office of $2.425 billion, holding 21% of the market.

Universal Pictures released 20 films, ranking third with a box office of $1.88 billion and 16.9% of the market.

Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, Paramount, and Sony Pictures ranked fourth to seventh, with North American box offices under $1.3 billion, trailing far behind Lionsgate and Disney.

However, in the international box office, Lionsgate ranked third with approximately $2.08 billion, slightly lower than its North American performance.

The main reason was that several films were co-productions. For example, "Maleficent's" international distribution was handled by Disney, so that box office was credited to Disney.

"Terminator: Genisys," "San Andreas," and "The Martian" were co-distributed internationally by Paramount, with their box office earnings going to Paramount.

Globally, Disney topped the charts with $6.2 billion, with "Star Wars: Episode VII" and "Avengers: Age of Ultron" both surpassing $1 billion internationally.

Universal ranked second with $5.8 billion, with "Jurassic World" also surpassing $1 billion internationally.

Lionsgate was third, earning $4.95 billion globally. Films like "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2," "American Sniper," "Expendables 3," "Now You See Me 2," "Lucy," and "The Revenant" all grossed over $200 million internationally.

Paramount ranked fifth with $3.6 billion, closing the gap with Lionsgate thanks to their co-productions.

In terms of profitability, Lionsgate’s total revenue reached $6.2 billion last year, including films, TV, advertising, and streaming rights.

While it didn’t match Disney or Universal's scale, Lionsgate had the highest profit margins in the industry.

Last year, Lionsgate invested less than $1.6 billion in films and TV, earning $6.2 billion in return. This efficiency earned widespread media praise, with Lionsgate seen as a "golden goose that never stops laying golden eggs."

Thanks to the success of Lionsgate’s films and Netflix's market value surpassing $50 billion at the end of last year (closing at $52.1 billion), Lionsgate's market value surged to around $12.5 billion.

Lionsgate's film and television assets alone were valued at $7 billion.

In this context, Lionsgate announced its IPO on the New York Stock Exchange, offering 32 million shares at $65 each, representing 16.5% of the company’s total shares.

Due to strong fundamentals and a booming global film market, Lionsgate’s stock price rose from $65 to $78 in its first week.

After the MPAA Annual Report was published, Lionsgate’s stock price quickly broke $100, briefly pushing the company’s market value past $20 billion, overtaking Paramount and approaching Sony Pictures.

After a brief cool-off, the stock price stabilized around $85 per share.

Link sold part of his shares when the stock hit $100, cashing out nearly $1 billion, but he still holds 42.3% of Lionsgate, valued at over $9 billion.

——

By early March, Forbes released its latest billionaire rankings.

Link ranked 13th with a net worth of $34 billion.

His assets are still divided into three parts.

The first part is controlled by New York’s Gold Shell Investment Company.

This includes 16.6% of NVIDIA, 17.4% of Tesla, 3.2% of Amazon, 5.7% of SpaceX, 8.6% of Netflix, 5.05% of Eli Lilly, 1.8% of Google’s parent company Alphabet, as well as small shares in Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Apple, and others.

Compared to the previous year, Gold Shell’s portfolio has seen significant changes.

He sold his 1.8% stake in News Corp last year, using part of that cash and loans to increase his stake in Amazon to 3.2%, Eli Lilly to 5.05%, and gain a 1.5% stake in Alphabet.

Currently, Gold Shell’s total value is about $18.5 billion.

NVIDIA's market value slowly grew to $16 billion last year. Link bought in when NVIDIA was valued at $12.8 billion in 2011, and after five years, it finally returned to its 2011 levels, helping Link shake off the label of having poor investment foresight.

Tesla's stock hasn’t changed much, still fluctuating around $30 billion.

Amazon's current market value is around $220 billion, up 13% since Link bought in, but still relatively stable.

Eli Lilly's value has been steadily rising. When Link bought in during 2012, the company was worth around $60 billion. After three years of growth, it’s now worth about $85 billion.

Other stocks, such as Netflix, SpaceX, and Alphabet, have all grown as well.

Additionally, Gold Shell holds 100,000 Bitcoins, currently valued at about $230 million.

The second part of his assets is primarily in sports and entertainment, valued at approximately $13.3 billion.

Spotify experienced rapid growth last year and now has over 600 million users worldwide, with nearly 80 million paying subscribers. Its current market value is around $12 billion.

Link and Ivanka jointly own 16.8% of Spotify, worth about $2 billion, with roughly $1.5 billion in his name.

Link Music Company is currently experiencing stable growth, with a current market value of about $2.5 billion. His 45.8% stake in Link Music is worth approximately $1.2 billion.

He and Ivanka also own 2.2% of Universal Music and have shares in SB Projects, which together are valued at around $800 million.

In the music industry, his total assets are valued at about $3.2 billion.

In the film industry, including Lionsgate Films and Palm Beach Films, the total value is approximately $9.5 billion.

In sports, including a 23.5% stake in Dynasty Promotions and the Nike-Link sports brand, the value is about $600 million, with little change from last year.

The third part of his assets is overseas investments.

These include shares in the Hong Kong Island Goldenback Investment Company, 11.6% of Wanda Films, 5.36% of BYD Motors, 5.1% of JD.com, an increased 0.45% in Moutai, 0.22% of Alibaba Investments, 10.5% of Meituan, 32% of Douyin, 22% of Kuaishou, as well as shares in Dolphin Bay Films and Jia Tianxia Real Estate Management Company.

This part of his assets is valued at around $7 billion.

He also holds a 41% stake in Big Hit Company, Paris Rose Films, and other assets worth about $100 million.

Currently, his total net worth is around $38 billion. However, since Forbes magazine's last tally was at the end of last year and did not account for the changes after Lionsgate's IPO, his net worth listed on the Forbes list is approximately $34 billion.

Ranked 12th on the list is Larry Page, also with a net worth of $34 billion, while Sergey Brin, after selling some Google stock last year, is worth $33 billion and ranks 14th.

Others like Bill Gates, Amancio Ortega, and Warren Buffett have seen little change.

This year, Ivanka's net worth grew to $1.8 billion, thanks to her holdings in Spotify and Lionsgate shares, ranking her 898th on the rich list.

Forbes also released rankings for athlete, actor, and singer earnings, where Link topped both the athlete and actor categories in terms of income.

Although Link didn’t release any new music last year, he still earned $18.5 million from royalties and streaming revenue, placing him 12th on the list of singer earnings.

Taylor Swift earned $36 million, putting her in second place.

Katy Perry earned $135 million from her new album and world tour, securing the top spot by a wide margin.

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 600: Harvey's Scandal*

On the Forbes Celebrity Charity Rankings, Link ranked first last year after donating $120 million to various charitable organizations.

Given the growing number of assets under his name, after discussions with Cathy Wood and others, Link decided to register an investment company in the tax haven of the Cayman Islands. Some assets will be transferred there to legally reduce taxes and lessen the visible total value of his assets. This is to avoid unnecessary attention when his wealth exceeds a trillion dollars in the next five or six years.

After the Forbes Billionaires List was released, his father-in-law hosted a party at the Trump Tower, inviting many wealthy people to help prepare for his political campaign. Link and Ivanka returned to New York to show their support.

In March, a significant incident occurred in the entertainment industry. Late last year, Italian model Ambra reported to the NYPD, claiming she was molested by Harvey Weinstein. The issue was suppressed at the time by Harvey's people, so it didn't get much public attention. However, in March, Ronan Farrow, the son of director Woody Allen, revealed on NBC's The Farrow Daily News program extensive evidence of Harvey's misconduct towards actresses. In one segment, Ronan interviewed 15 women who had been harassed or assaulted by Harvey.

The news created an enormous stir in the U.S., and within two weeks, over 20 more women came forward, either publicly or anonymously, alleging that they had been sexually harassed or assaulted by Harvey. The women included actresses like Rose McGowan, Julia Ormond, and Jessica Mann, as well as Harvey’s assistant, Miriam Haley.

Some claimed they were assaulted, while others said they were harassed or had their careers negatively impacted after rejecting Harvey’s advances.

With more and more women coming forward, the situation escalated. Harvey tried to do damage control, hoping to suppress the story as he had in the past. But by mid-March, The New York Times journalists Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey published a detailed investigative report revealing that 12 actresses and employees had accused Weinstein of harassment spanning 30 years.

The evidence included interviews with current and former employees and film industry workers, legal records, emails, and internal documents from Miramax and The Weinstein Company.

The article claimed that in 2004, an attempt to expose these incidents had been planned but was squashed by Harvey’s vast influence in the entertainment world. After The New York Times article, even more actresses came forward, including Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet, and Salma Hayek. They all shared disturbing stories of their interactions with Harvey, including harassment and inappropriate advances.

Some actresses urged all victims of Harvey's abuse to come forward and seek justice.

Eventually, the Manhattan District Attorney’s office filed charges against Harvey.

The scandal became too big to contain, and within two weeks of The New York Times article, The Weinstein Company released a brief board statement announcing that Harvey Weinstein had been fired from his own company and would hold no further roles there.

Harvey's reputation was completely ruined.

“Ha! Link, did you see that? This is what happens when someone crosses me,” Leonardo said with a satisfied laugh at a café.

“So, all of this was your doing? The evidence, too?” Link pointed to the newspaper with the interviews of the actresses.

“Well, no. I knew Harvey was a sleaze, but I didn’t know the scale of it. I did donate $100,000 to an anti-harassment fund, though, to help the victims get legal representation,” Leonardo winked with a smile.

Link gave a slight smile, not wanting to argue. The downfall of Harvey was complex, involving political, economic, and personal factors.

The biggest factor was economic. Before 2005, Harvey’s Miramax held enormous influence in the film industry, leading independent cinema. Harvey was even hailed as the “savior of modern cinema” and the “kingmaker of Oscar-winning actors.”

At that time, Miramax movies often ranked among the top 10 in annual box office performance. After leaving Disney in 2005 and founding The Weinstein Company, Harvey's power began to fade. Without the backing of a major studio, his company’s financial situation worsened. In 2010, to raise money, Harvey sold the rights to over 200 movies to Goldman Sachs and an insurance company.

In 2011, Lionsgate’s rise further eroded The Weinstein Company’s success. While it remained in the top ten at the box office, its films struggled to turn a profit. Last year’s The Hateful Eight, which Harvey had high hopes for, lost millions despite a decent box office performance.

With The Weinstein Company in financial turmoil, it was easy for Ambra’s accusations and Ronan Farrow’s exposé to become the catalyst that toppled Harvey. The dam broke, and women from all corners of the industry spoke out against him.

Link took a moment to reflect on the whole situation. The scandal was a stark reminder to be careful about his relationships with women. While things might seem fine when wealthy and powerful, losing that status could turn friendly faces into dangerous foes.

“Link, you should be more careful too,” Leonardo said, taking a drag of his cigarette.

“Careful about what?”

“Look at Harvey. He was once the king of Hollywood, the Oscar kingmaker. Now you’re the current king of Hollywood, with a similar reputation for messy personal affairs. Shouldn’t you be more cautious?” Leonardo smirked.

Link shot him a look. “Didn’t I just read something in the paper about you and Mrs. Laury?”

“F***, Link, shut up!” Leonardo snapped, his face turning red. “That’s all fake news. You better not spread those lies, or even think about them. I’m not that kind of guy.”

Link gave him a suspicious look. He didn’t really believe the rumors, but Leonardo’s extreme reaction made him question it. Could he have had a fling with Mrs. Laury a decade ago?

“If you keep looking at me like that, I’m cutting you off,” Leonardo fumed.

“Relax, it was just a joke. If you don’t like it, I apologize.”

Afterward, Link changed the subject to movies. Soon, Tobey Maguire, Casey Affleck, and Paul Walker joined them. As they played cards and chatted, the conversation drifted back to Harvey.

They all had mixed feelings about his downfall. Though Harvey was a key figure in Hollywood’s development, his disgrace was a sobering reminder of how quickly things could unravel.

In March, Lionsgate released two films: John Wick 2, starring Keanu Reeves, and Divergent 2, starring Shailene Woodley.

John Wick 2 continued the story of the legendary hitman John Wick, who re-enters the world of assassins for a deadly confrontation with top killers around the globe. The film, made on a budget of $35 million, grossed $42.9 million in its opening weekend in North America, recouping its costs.

Divergent 2 followed the characters Tris and Four as they uncovered more truths about their world while evading enemies. With an $85 million budget, it grossed $52.2 million in its first three days, eventually surpassing $100 million at the North American box office. Globally, it reached $226 million, though it didn’t match the success of the Hunger Games series.

(End of Chapter)