American talent agent Sam Gores is the Chairman of Paradigm Talent Agency with an estimated net worth of $50 million. Born in Nazareth, Israel, he was raised along with two brothers and three sisters by his Lebanese mother and Greek father. At 14, he and his family moved to Flint, Michigan. He worked as a butcher when he was 16. At the age of 18, he was working as a grocer.
Gores soon realized that his true passion is acting on stage. He went to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and soon after he performed in Annie Get Your Gun and Inherit the Wind. However, he quickly realized that, even though he liked performing, he found it more interesting to work behind the scenes.
Over the next seven years, Sam Gores worked for three different agencies. In 1986, he opened his first agency, the SGA Representation Inc. which acquired The Jack Fields Agency and changed its name to Gores/Fields. It later became a powerful agency known as Paradigm. Among its clients include Julie Bowen, Adrien Brody, Fergie, Chris Cooper, Laurence Fishburne, Neil Patrick Harris, Andy Garcia, Mark Harmon, Aerosmith, Coldplay, The Black Eyed Peas, and The Fray to name a few of his successful artists.
Described by his clients as “the most un-agent agent in the business,” he was honoured by The Black Eyed Peas with the Peapod Leadership Award as they consider him as a “mentor and inspiration in their career.” He was also ranked #8 on the list of Top Ten Hollywood Agents by Askmen.com.