Tom Freston Net Worth

May 2024 · 4 minute read

Tom Freston net worth is
$300 Million

Tom Freston Wiki Biography

Thomas E. Freston was born on the 22nd November 1945 New York City, USA, and is an entertainment industry executive and entrepreneur, best known as one of the founders of MTV: Music Television, and the President and CEO of MTV Networks from 1987 to 2004.

Have you ever wondered how rich Tom Freston is, as of mid- 2017? According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that Freston’s net worth is as high as $300 million, an amount earned through his successful career as an executive and entrepreneur, which started in 1979. In addition to being a CEO and President of MTV, Freston has also been involved in numerous other business endeavors, which steadily improved his wealth.

Tom Freston Net Worth $300 Million

Tom Freston grew up in Connecticut and went to Saint Michael’s College, from where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts before enrolling at the New York University, earning his MBA. Tom started his career in 1971 as an advertiser for Benton & Bowles, while in 1972 he launched his textile and clothing business in South Asia.

Freston returned to the US in 1979 and began working for the Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment Company. Several years later, Tom was a part of the team that founded MTV, and then served as a head of marketing before became the President and CEO of MTV Networks in 1987. Thanks to the success of the newly-formed television franchise, Freston’s net worth significantly increased.

During his guidance, MTV launched numerous other networks, such as Nickelodeon, VH1, Comedy Central, Spike, Country Music Channel, and others. He managed to develop the station and help in creating cult characters and shows such as “Beavis and Butt-head”, “SpongeBob SquarePants”, “South Park”, “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart”, and “Rugrats”, among many others.

Freston left his post in 2004 to join Viacom, after their President & COO Mel Karmazin stepped down, but the Chairman Sumner Redstone shockingly fired him in 2006 – apparently the main reason was Freston’s failure to purchase the most popular social network at the time, My Space, which was sold to Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation. However, My Space’s stock price drastically decreased after the rise of the Facebook, and Murdoch’s company was forced to sell it for only $35 million – Freston must have smiled.

At the moment, Freston works in several positions, including as the principal of the consulting and Investment Company called Firefly3 LLC. He is also an advisor to the boutique merchant bank named the Raine Group, and also an advisor to the Vice Media and the Moby Group. Recently he has become a movie producer, and produced a few films including Barry Levinson’s comedy “Rock the Kasbah” (2015) starring Bill Murray, Leem Lubany, and Zooey Deschanel.

Regarding his personal life, Tom Freston was married to Margaret Ellen Badali from 1980 until the late ’90s and has two children with her. He later married Kathy Freston in 1998, and the marriage lasted until 2014.


Full NameTom Freston
Net Worth$300 Million
Date Of BirthNovember 22, 1945
Place Of BirthNew York City, New York, United States
ProfessionEntrepreneur
EducationNew York University, Saint Michael's College
NationalityAmerican
SpouseEx-spouse: Kathy Freston
IMDBhttp://www.imdb.com/name/nm1910720/
NominationsNews & Documentary Emmy Award for Outstanding Historical Programming – Long Form
#Fact
1Both he and Leslie Moonves will serve as CEO of their respective companies when the Viacom split is finalized. [July 2005]
2After the resignation of Viacom President & COO Mel Karmazin, he was elevated to Co-President & Co-COO of Viacom (along with CBS chief Leslie Moonves). [June 2004]
3Chairman & CEO, MTV Networks [1987]
4Ranked #6 on Premiere's 2006 "Power 50" list along with Paramount CEO 'Grey, Brad (I)'. They had ranked #9 in 2005.
5President & Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Viacom, Inc. [June 2004]. In his new role, Freston oversees MTV Networks, BET Networks, Showtime Networks, Simon & Schuster Publishing, Paramount Pictures, and the Paramount Theme Parks.
6Served as Chairman & CEO, MTV Networks (parent company of MTV, Nickelodeon, VH1, SpikeTV, Comedy Central, MTV2, Noggin/The-N, TV Land) [1987-2004]
7Graduated with a BA from St. Michael's College in Winooski Park, Vermont.
8Co-President & Co-COO of Viacom International, parent company of MTV Networks, Paramount Pictures, CBS, KingWorld, Infinity Broadcasting, and Simon & Schuster Publishing. [2004-Present]
9Originally worked at the Benton & Bowles advertising agency before beginning his career at Warner AMEX Satellite Entertainment Company (WASEC), which later evolved into what is now the MTV Networks Group.
10Graduated with an MBA from the Leonard Stern School of Business, New York University [NYU].
11Created the "I want my MTV" campaign, which helped to increase awareness of MTV as a brand in the early 1980s and beyond.

Producer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Rock the Kasbah2015executive producer
The Diplomat2015Documentary executive producer
White City2015TV Movie executive producer
Paladar2014Documentary executive producer

Miscellaneous

TitleYearStatusCharacter
1990 MTV Video Music Awards1990TV Special mtv video award executive committee

Thanks

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Lazarus Effect2010Documentary short thanks
Eagles: Hell Freezes Over1994TV Special documentary special thanks

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Untitled Story of MTV Documentary2017Documentary filmingHimself
Soundbreaking: Stories from the Cutting Edge of Recorded Music2016TV Mini-Series documentaryHimself
The 1998 Annual Kid's Choice Awards1998TV SpecialHimself

Known for movies


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