Casey Wasserman is an American entertainment executive and sports agent who founded Wasserman, a global sports marketing and talent management agency. Born Casey Myers on June 28, 1974, in Los Angeles, California, he is the grandson of legendary Hollywood mogul Lew Wasserman and has been chairman of the Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games since 2015. He graduated from UCLA in 1996 with a degree in political science before establishing his career in sports and entertainment.
Casey Wasserman Early Life and Education
Casey Wasserman was born Casey Myers on June 28, 1974, in Los Angeles, California. He is the son of Los Angeles socialite and philanthropist Lynne Wasserman and Jack Myers, formerly known as Jack Meyerowitz. His parents divorced when he was seven years old in 1981.
Casey changed his surname from Myers to Wasserman at age 18 in 1995, adopting his mother’s maiden name and the surname of his famous grandfather, Lew Wasserman, the legendary chairman of MCA and Universal Studios. He grew up in an environment deeply immersed in the entertainment industry and attended the prestigious Brentwood School in Los Angeles. Casey graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science.
Casey Wasserman Relationship with Lew Wasserman
Casey Wasserman had a particularly close relationship with his grandfather, Lew Wasserman. The two would have breakfast together every Saturday and Sunday from the time Casey was a child until his grandfather’s death in 2002. Casey has credited Lew Wasserman as his greatest teacher and mentor.
In 1995, when Casey was 21, his grandfather made him president of the family’s charitable foundation. He also reportedly received a multimillion-dollar trust fund that year.
Career Beginnings
After graduating from UCLA, Casey Wasserman worked as an investment banker. He started his sports and entertainment career at Creative Artists Agency (CAA), a renowned talent agency where he honed his skills in deal-making, negotiation, and client management. This experience laid the groundwork for his future success in the industry.
In 1998, Wasserman purchased the Los Angeles Avengers of the Arena Football League (AFL) for approximately $5 million. Despite his youth, he was elected chairman of the league. In 2002, he negotiated a national television partnership between the AFL and NBC television, as well as the collective bargaining agreement with its players.
Founding Wasserman Media Group
In 1998, the same year he purchased the football team, Casey Wasserman founded Wasserman Media Group (WMG), a sports marketing and talent management company. Under his leadership, the agency quickly gained recognition for its innovative approach to sports marketing and talent representation. The company represented some of the most renowned athletes including Russell Westbrook, Anthony Joshua, Mookie Betts, Klay Thompson, Katie Ledecky, and Giancarlo Stanton.
In 2002, WMG acquired the sports marketing and naming-rights company Envision and the action sports marketing firm The Familie. In 2004, the company purchased 411 Productions and relaunched it as Studio 411, a sports entertainment film studio. In January 2006, WMG acquired the NBA and MLB sports agent business of Arn Tellem, a well-known sports agent who joined WMG and ran one of its management groups until his retirement in 2015.
Company Expansion
Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Wasserman continued to expand his company through strategic acquisitions. In November 2006, WMG acquired soccer agency SFX in the UK. In June 2007, the company purchased Raleigh, North Carolina-based OnSport to expand its consulting and media capabilities. In early 2011, WMG bought London-based media rights manager Reel Enterprises, and in April 2011 expanded its golf talent roster by acquiring SFX Golf.
In 2016, Wasserman Media Group rebranded as simply Wasserman and is frequently referred to as “Team Wass”. In 2021, Wasserman acquired Paradigm Agency’s music business. In 2023, the company bought the management production company Brillstein Entertainment Partners.
LA 2028 Olympic Leadership
In 2015, the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) selected Los Angeles as the American applicant for the 2024 Summer Olympics, with Casey Wasserman leading the bid. Wasserman successfully led Los Angeles’ 2017 bid for the 2028 Summer Olympics and has served as chairman of the city’s Olympic organizing committee since then. The 2028 Olympics are projected to be a $7 billion undertaking.
On June 19, 2020, Wasserman wrote to International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach advocating for changes to Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter, which prohibits political demonstrations at Olympic sites. Wasserman urged the IOC to allow anti-racist advocacy on the Olympic stage, stating “Being anti-racist is not political”. Thomas Bach refuted the suggestion in an op-ed for The Guardian.
Casey Wasserman 2026 Controversy
In 2026, files released by the Epstein Files Transparency Act revealed that Wasserman had exchanged intimate emails with convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell in 2003. Wasserman stated he “deeply regrets” the communications. Following the release of the files, multiple Los Angeles political figures called for his resignation from the 2028 Olympic Organizing Committee.
These calls came from Los Angeles County supervisors Janice Hahn and Lindsey Horvath, Los Angeles City Controller Kenneth Mejia, and five members of the Los Angeles City Council. As of February 2026, Wasserman remains in his position as chairman of the organizing committee.
Casey Wasserman Kids and Personal Life
Casey Wasserman is divorced from music supervisor Laura Ziffren Wasserman. They have two children together named Emmet and Stella. Laura Ziffren’s grandfather, Paul Ziffren, was a Democratic Party leader and served as chair of the Los Angeles 1984 Summer Olympics Organizing Committee.
The timing and details of their divorce are not publicly disclosed. Casey has a sister named Carol Ann Leif, born December 3, 1966, who is an actress and comedian.
Political Activities
Wasserman has been active in political fundraising and donations. He co-chaired a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign on August 22, 2016. He has historically donated to Democratic political candidates but by 2025 had increasingly sought to ingratiate himself with the conservative right in the United States.
Wasserman donated to some Republican candidates prior to the 2026 elections and organized a fundraiser for Senator Susan Collins, a Republican. In September 2025, he joined a search committee led by UCLA Bruins athletic director Martin Jarmond to assist with identifying their next head football coach.
Casey Wasserman Wasserman Foundation
Casey Wasserman serves as President and CEO of the Wasserman Foundation, a private family foundation established during his time at UCLA. The foundation funds initiatives in the areas of education, arts and culture, health, service, and global initiatives. His grandfather made him president of the charitable foundation in 1995 when Casey was 21 years old.
Casey Wasserman Net Worth
Casey Wasserman’s net worth is estimated at $400 million as of 2025. This figure represents his wealth built through Wasserman, his global sports marketing and talent management agency, along with strategic real estate investments and sports franchise ownership. His wealth has doubled from an estimated $200 million in 2012 over the past decade, driven primarily by strategic acquisitions and the expansion of his sports marketing empire.
Some sources have estimated his net worth to be as high as $3.2 billion, though $400 million is cited by authoritative celebrity wealth tracking sources. His income comes from his successful career in the entertainment industry, as well as his investments in various businesses and properties. Wasserman Media Group has been valued at $150 million.