Ted Sarandos, the co-CEO of the highly successful streaming giant, Netflix, has come a long way since his early days growing up in Phoenix.
Early life
As a young boy, he was a TV buff and would stay up late to watch popular shows like “I Love Lucy” and “Happy Days.” His journey to the top of the entertainment industry began when he was working as a video store clerk.
During his time at the video store, Sarandos made a name for himself by watching every video in the store and providing personalized recommendations to customers. He quickly became the go-to guy for movie recommendations and customers would often line up just to get his opinion.
Career ascent
Sarandos worked his way up the ladder, eventually overseeing the western region of the home video distributor. In 1999, a news article about his success caught the attention of Netflix founder Reed Hastings, who quickly recruited Sarandos to help build the company.
Sarandos was instrumental in securing revenue-sharing deals with Warner Bros. and Sony on DVDs, an innovative concept at the time.
Taking big bets
Since joining Netflix, Sarandos has made some of the biggest entertainment deals in the industry. He took a big bet on the binge-watching trend and led the investment of $100 million into the hit TV show, “House of Cards.”
Despite his success, Sarandos has faced several hardships, including the loss of both his father and mother-in-law within a matter of weeks. However, he has drawn strength from the people around him and continues to be passionate about his job every day.
Sarandos regards his career as a gift, as he has had the opportunity to meet all of his living heroes and has not been disappointed by any of them. He feels like the luckiest man in Hollywood and is grateful for the amazing experiences that his job has brought him.
Rise to power
In a recent interview with Giselle Fernandez on “LA Stories,” Sarandos shared the story behind his rise to power and how he has made his mark on the entertainment industry.
Ted Sarandos’ journey from a video store clerk to co-CEO of one of the biggest media companies in the world is a testament to the power of hard work, determination, and innovation.
He has overcome obstacles, made groundbreaking deals, and continues to be at the forefront of the entertainment industry. Sarandos’ story is a true inspiration to anyone who dreams of making a difference in their field.