1974-present
Who Is Ryan Seacrest?
Ryan Seacrest is a radio and television personality best known for his roles as host of the singing competition American Idol, as well as the annual Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve celebration. Seacrest began his career as a radio DJ and became the host of the weekly American Top 40 countdown in 2004. From 2017 until spring 2023, he co-hosted the morning talk show Live With Kelly & Ryan alongside Kelly Ripa. He also started Ryan Seacrest Productions, which has helped produce hit series like Keeping Up With the Kardashians on E! and Netflix’s Insatiable. Beginning in 2024, Seacrest will take over as emcee of the popular game show Wheel of Fortune, replacing longtime host Pat Sajak.
Quick Facts
FULL NAME: Ryan John Seacrest
BORN: December 24, 1974
BIRTHPLACE: Atlanta, Georgia
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Capricorn
Early Life and Family
Ryan John Seacrest was born on December 24, 1974, in Atlanta to parents Gary and Connie Seacrest. His father was a Georgia attorney who practiced for more than 30 years and now serves as the president of the Ryan Seacrest Foundation, a nonprofit organization that builds broadcast centers in pediatric hospitals to inspire and uplift young patients. His mother is vice president of community affairs for the foundation. Seacrest also has one sister, Meredith Seacrest Leach, who worked for the production company now known as EndemolShine North America and serves as the Seacrest foundation’s executive director.
Ryan showed an interest in becoming a radio disc jockey at an early age. He listened to such DJs as Casey Kasem and Rick Dees growing up, studying and copying the way they talked during their shows. American Bandstand host Dick Clark was another important early influence.
At Dunwoody High School, Seacrest “wore braces and glasses and was fat and got teased about it,” he once explained to the New York Times. “But I was always very ambitious.” His first broadcasting job was handling announcements at the school. Seacrest then managed to land an internship at an Atlanta radio station, which led to his first on-air gig. He stayed with the station while attending the University of Georgia.
Radio Star
In the mid-1990s, Seacrest relocated to Los Angeles. There, he launched a popular afternoon radio show called Ryan Seacrest for the Ride Home, which lasted until 2004. In 2003, Seacrest started a syndicated program, On Air with Ryan Seacrest. The following year, he took over for one of his idols Casey Kasem as host of American Top 40.
Despite becoming a television star and producer, Seacrest continues to be a presence in radio. He continues to host On Air with Ryan Seacrest and American Top 40, in addition to more recent roles.
Television Personality: "American Idol," "Live with Kelly & Ryan," and "Wheel of Fortune"
Early Hosting Roles and American Idol
After moving to Los Angeles, Seacrest started stepping in front of the cameras. He hosted Radical Outdoor Challenge on ESPN and the syndicated children’s game show Click in the 1990s.
In 2002, Seacrest landed his first major television job with the singing-competition show American Idol. He co-hosted Idol with Brian Dunkleman in its first season but became the sole host for its subsequent seasons, emerging as a stabilizing presence as the show cycled through numerous judges. With Seacrest playing a significant role, the program became a national phenomenon and kickstarted the careers of music stars like Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson, and Adam Lambert.
After Idol ended its run on Fox in 2016, Seacrest returned as host when the show resumed airing on ABC in 2018. Seacrest has received seven Emmy nominations for Outstanding Host of a Reality or Competition Program during his Idol tenure.
Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve
Seacrest realized a lifelong dream in 2005, when he started working with Dick Clark on his annual New Year’s Eve special, Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. Around this time, Seacrest began hosting the cable entertainment show E! News—a position he held until 2011. Following Clark’s death in 2012, Seacrest took over top billing as the New Year’s Rockin’ Eve host.
In 2012, Seacrest inked several deals to keep himself in front of the cameras for years to come. He signed on for several more seasons of American Idol and made a deal with NBC Universal. As part of his agreement with NBC Universal, Seacrest helped cover the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
Seacrest also briefly hosted the game show The Million Second Quiz in September 2013 and the short-lived reality series Knock Knock Live in July 2015.
Live with Kelly & Ryan
In 2017, Seacrest became co-host of ABC’s Live with Kelly & Ryan, alongside Kelly Ripa. Seacrest, who joined Live after Michael Strahan left to become an anchor on Good Morning America, earned an Emmy nomination for his new gig the following year. After six seasons, Seacrest left the show in spring 2023.
Wheel of Fortune
On June 27, 2023, Sony Pictures Television announced Seacrest signed a multiyear deal to host the popular game show Wheel of Fortune, starting in 2024. Seacrest was selected as the replacement for Pat Sajak, who began a four-decade run as the show’s emcee in 1981 and announced earlier in June 2023 that he would retire after his 41st season.
“I’m truly humbled to be stepping into the footsteps of the legendary Pat Sajak,” Seacrest said in a statement, according to The New York Times. “I can’t wait to continue the tradition of spinning the wheel and working alongside the great Vanna White.”
Ryan Seacrest Productions
In addition to his role in front of the cameras and behind the microphone, Seacrest has created a number of popular TV programs. Through Ryan Seacrest Productions, he has helped propel Kim Kardashian and her family to reality TV fame with Keeping Up the Kardashians, as well as spin-offs such as Kourtney & Kim Take New York.
Working with chef Jamie Oliver, Seacrest helped produce Food Revolution (2010-11). Seacrest won an Emmy Award for the show.
In 2012, Seacrest started a new venture called Ryan Seacrest Media (RSM) with Mark Cuban, Creative Artists Agency, and AEG. In the summer of 2012, RSM launched a new pop culture and entertainment-driven TV channel called AXS TV.
Net Worth
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Seacrest’s total net worth is estimated around $450 million as of June 2023. He is believed to earn anywhere from $60 million to $80 million per year between his hosting responsibilities and entrepreneurial ventures.
Personal Life
Seacrest has dated numerous Hollywood women including Renée Hall, Sophie Monk, and Teri Hatcher. He was linked to entertainer Julianne Hough for three years, but they split in 2013.
In 2017, a former stylist at E! named Suzie Hardy accused Seacrest of sexual misconduct. The network subsequently conducted an independent investigation into the allegations, before reporting that it found “insufficient evidence to support the claims.”
The following February, Seacrest addressed the issue and staunchly maintained his innocence in a guest column for The Hollywood Reporter. However, Hardy held firm to her claims, describing her encounters with the media personality in more graphic detail in Variety article later in the month.
Seacrest subsequently issued another strong denial. “This person who has accused me of horrible things offered, on multiple occasions, to withdraw her claims if I paid her millions of dollars. I refused,” he said in a statement. “I don’t want to accuse anyone of not telling the truth but in this case, I have no choice but to again deny the claims against me, remind people that I was recused of any wrongdoing, and put the matter to rest.”
Seacrest dated chef Shayna Taylor on and off for eight years before splitting in spring 2020.
In June 2021, Us Weekly confirmed that Seacrest was dating model Aubrey Paige Petcosky, who is notably 23 years younger than Seacrest. The pair were still together as of April 2023.
Quotes
- I could lie and pretend that I hunt and camp, but that wouldn’t be me. Clothes? Shopping? That’s stuff I like!
- Dick Clark is an American icon. I am honored that he has entrusted me with such a role in this national tradition.
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