Ryan Seacrest's Media Empire: From 'American Idol' to Clear Channel Deal

By Sara Dover | January 31 2012 5:13 PM

Photo: Reuters

"American Idol"

Seacrest’s big break was hosting “American Idol."The Fox show continues to be a ratings hit since it launched in 2002. He started off co-hosting with Brian Dunkleman, but then took on the gig solo when Dunklemen left the show the following year.

Photo: Reuters

The Kardashians

Seacrest produces the entire Kardashian reality series, which launched on E! on October 2007 with “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.” Since then, the E! network has created “Kourtney and Kloe Take Miami,” “Kourtney and Kim Take New York,” and “Khloe & Lamar.” “Kim’s Fairytale Wedding” may have ended in divorce, but the special brought in 10.5 million viewers – a record for E!.

Photo: Reuters

New Year's Rockin' Eve with Dick Clark

Groomed to be TV legend Dick Clark’s successor, Seacrest became executive producer and co-host of the annual show in 2005 as Clark’s health declined.

Photo: Reuters

E! Network

In 2006, E! News awarded Seacrest with a three-year, $21 million contract to host and produce entertainment news programs and reality shows, including “Live from the Red Carpet” awards show coverage and “E! News.” Other than the “Kardashian” franchise, Seacrest has been the executive producers of a few successful shows like, “Denise Richards: It’s Complicated.”

Photo: On Air With Ryan Seacrest

On Air With Ryan Seacrest

Seacrest started in radio and still hosts and executive produces his radio talk show, “On Air With Ryan Seacrest.” Well connected with the biggest celebrities and stars, Seacrest already has an upper hand in booking A-listers for his show.

Photo: ABC

"Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution"

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver and Ryan Seacrest teamed up in 2010 for “Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution,” a reality show that follow Oliver’s work to reform school lunch programs and fight childhood obesity. Despite the attention the show got for its noble effort, it was canceled due to low ratings.

People need to stop referring to Ryan Seacrest as the host of American Idol and start calling him an entertainment mogul.

Radio broadcasting giant Clear Channel announced Tuesday it is taking a minority stake in Ryan Seacrest Media, the Hollywood entrepreneur's company that produces the Kardashian franchise and other shows like Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution.

He garnered a commitment for as much as $300 million from Thoms H. Lee Partners LP and Bain Capital LLC to fund his entertainment ventures, according to Bloomberg News. Seacrest's On Air With Ryan Seacrest, a nationally syndicated talk show, is carried by San Antonio-based Clear Channel.

We aim to build Ryan Seacrest Media into a leading multimedia company with diversified assets and interest, Seacrest said in a statement, according to The Associated Press.

In 2011, Forbes calculated that Ryan Seacrest made $61 million from American Idol, executive producing the Kardashian spinoffs, being an E! News personality and his many other projects-while still finding time to wine and dine Julianne Hough.

Click through the gallery to see what shows and ventures Ryan Seacrest is behind.