Table of Biography
Arnon Milchan is an Israeli businessman, film producer, and former Israeli intelligence operative. Arnon Milchan has been credited with several films, including “12 Years a Slave,” “JFK,” and “Fight Club.”
Early Life
Arnon Milchan was born on the 6th of December 1944, in Rehovot, Mandatory Palestine (now Israel). Currently, he is 78 years old and has a birth sign of Sagittarius. He has his belief in the Jewish religion and belongs to the Jewish ethnicity. Meanwhile, he holds Israeli nationality.
He was born to his parents; Dov Milchan (father) and Shoshana Milchan (mother). By profession, his father owned a fertilizer company. In addition, his mother is descended from European Jewish disciples of the rabbi Vilna Gaon who came to Palestine in the early 19th century, and he is the eighth generation of his family in the country. When Arnon was just 21 years old, his father died in 1965. He grew up with his sister whose name is Dalia.
Caption: Arnon Milchan’s parents (Source: Eilat Gordin Levitan)
In terms of his academic career, Arnon Milchan earned a Bachelor’s degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Professional Career
After the death of his father, Arnon Milchan ran his father’s fertilized company. Milchan gradually transformed the company into a successful chemical company. However, his interest in international trade and his entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish his own company, Milchan Brothers Ltd., in the 1960s. The company initially focused on agricultural exports and gradually expanded into diverse industries, including plastics, electronics, and defense.
During the 1960s and 1970s, he became involved in clandestine activities for the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad. He reportedly played a significant role in facilitating the procurement of technologies and materials for Israel’s nuclear weapons program, as well as other covert operations. Milchan’s activities during this period have been the subject of much speculation and controversy, although he has never publicly discussed the details.
In the late 1970s, he shifted his focus to the entertainment industry and founded the film production company Regency Enterprises. Under his leadership, Regency Enterprises became a prominent player in Hollywood, collaborating with top directors and actors.
Production Career
In 1977, he started working in the film industry thanks to a connection with American producer Elliot Kastner. He worked on the US miniseries “Masada” in 1981 with Sydney Pollack. The most notable among Milchan’s film collaborations was his initial work with Martin Scorsese. Along with actors Robert De Niro and Terry Gilliam, he grew close to filmmakers Roman Polanski, Sergio Leone, Oliver Stone, and Roman Polanski.
In 1991, he founded New Regency Productions, his production company. He amassed a net worth estimated at $5.1 billion as of 2015 through his company Regency, a partnership with Warner Bros. and later with Rupert Murdoch at 20th Century Fox, as well as other business ventures like Puma AG.
Caption: Leonardo Dicaprio, Arnon_milchan, and Steven Spielberg taking a photo (Source: The Hollywood Reporter)
Arnon Milchan has produced over 130 movies, including Noah (2014), 12 Years a Slave (2013), Once Upon a Time in America (1984), Brazil (1985), Pretty Woman (1990), JFK (1991), Under Siege (1992), Natural Born Killers (1994), Boys on the Side (1995), Heat (1995), L.A. Confidential (1997), Fight Club (1999), Unfaithful (2002), Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005), and Knight and Day (2010), among others.
Although he was not listed as a producer in the list of nominees, he was a producer on two additional recent Best Picture Oscar winners, “12 Years a Slave” in 2014 and “Birdman” in 2015. The WTA broadcasting rights are also owned by him. Similarly, he owns the network which transmits Israeli television programming to the United States and Canada. He previously owned the global sportswear brand Puma and is a co-owner of Israel’s TV “Channel 10.”
Intelligence Career
Arnon Milchan, a well-known Israeli film producer and businessman, has been associated with various intelligence-related activities throughout his career. While Milchan is primarily known for his successful career in the entertainment industry, there have been claims and reports suggesting his involvement in intelligence operations.
According to various sources, including interviews and investigations, he had ties to Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad. These allegations emerged in the 2011 documentary film “The World’s Biggest Secret,” in which Milchan himself acknowledged his involvement in clandestine operations for the Israeli government. He revealed that he worked as a secret agent, primarily involved in the procurement and smuggling of technologies and equipment for Israel’s nuclear program in the 1970s.
His alleged intelligence activities also included the acquisition and transfer of sensitive military technologies on behalf of Israel. It has been reported that he played a role in the procurement of materials and components for Israel’s nuclear weapons program, as well as other defense-related projects. These activities were carried out through his various business ventures and international connections.
Awards
This Israeli film producer and businessman, has received several awards and honors throughout his career. “ShoWest Convention Award” (1997), “Australian Film Institute” (1999), “Satellite Award” (2004), “BAFTA Award” (2016), “CIC Award” (2021), “Awards Circuit Community Award” (2014), “Gotham Award” (2014, 2016) are some award he earned during his profession. Milchan has two Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, for “L.A. Confidential” and “The Revenant.”
Net Worth 2023
Arnon Milchan has produced hundreds of films throughout his career to date. He is the New Regency Productions’ creator. He is one of the top five wealthiest Israelis. As of 2023, his net worth is estimated at around $3.2 billion. He is a passionate art collector. His collection, which includes works by Picasso, Francis Bacon, and Vincent Van Gogh, is estimated to be worth $600 million.
Relationship Status
Caption: Arnon Milchan with his wife, Amanda Coetzer (Source: Celebrity Family)
Talking about his personal life, Arnon Milchan has married twice in his life. Firstly, he married Brigitte Genmaire, a French model. They married after only ten days of dating, but the marriage was short-lived. Milchan is currently married to his second wife Amanda Coetzer, a renowned former South African tennis player. With the two marriages, Milchan has four children and five grandchildren. Additionally, his daughter Alexandra Milchan is also an indie film producer.
Body Measurements
Arnon Milchan has a bald head with a pair of brown eyes color. However, his other body measurements such as height, weight, and many others are still a secret.
Social Media
This Israeli businessman and film producer is currently not active on any kind of social media platform.