Creative Artists Agency (CAA) is an American talent and sports representation agency. Beyond its core services, such as talent representation, sponsorship sales, and licensing, CAA engages in social activism through its philanthropic arm, the CAA Foundation. 1
With over 4,069 employees as of 2025, 2 CAA has expanded its influence from representing Hollywood and entertainment professionals to prominent political figures, including former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama. 3
Background
Creative Artists Agency LLC was formed in 1975 by Michael Ovitz, Michael S. Rosenfeld, Ronald Meyer, Rowland Perkins, and William Haber. 4
Established in Delaware, CAA began with a $35,000 line of credit and a $21,000 bank loan, which soon after allowed the agency onto securing deals for several television programs. In the late 1970s, CAA expanded its reaches into the film industry, generating $90 million in annual bookings. 5
In 1995, CAA created the CAA Foundation to make contributions to organizations that supported left-of-center racial advocacy and voter turnout projects. 6
Between 2003 and 2006, CAA opened a New York City office to manage theater clients and expanded into sports, reaching 1,500 employees. 7
In September 2023, French billionaire François-Henri Pinault acquired a majority stake in CAA through his investment company, Groupe Artemis, in a deal valued at $7 billion. 8
Activities
In 2013, Creative Artists Agency represented former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, managing both her book deals (including the memoir Hard Choices) and speaking engagements. 9
In 2018, CAA began representing former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, managing their media production company, Higher Ground Productions. 10
On January 20th, 2025, former President Joe Biden signed with CAA for public engagements. In February 2025, former Vice President Kamala Harris also signed with CAA for representation in speaking engagements and publishing. 3
Controversies
In 2017, reports revealed that staff of Creative Artists Agency may have been aware of Harvey Weinstein’s sexual harassment and played a role in covering it up. A New York Times report cited by Variety alleged that eight agents working for CAA knew that Weinstein had threatened or harassed female clients, but the agency continued to do business with Weinstein, even sending actresses to meet with him. 11
References
- CAA, “Creative Artists Agency,” accessed February 27, 2025, https://www.caa.com/about-us
- Pitchbook, “Creative Artists Agency Company Profile: Funding & Investors,” accessed February 27, 2025, https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/42520-06.
- Anthony Robledo, “Kamala Harris Signs with Hollywood Talent Agency CAA, Joining Joe Biden, Barack Obama,” USA Today, February 19, 2025, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/02/19/kamala-harris-caa-creative-artists-agency/79216896007/
- Ben Fritz, “Hollywood Isn’t Enough for Talent Agency CAA – WSJ,” WSJ, accessed February 27, 2025, https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304419104579322721786447490.
- FundingUniverse, “History of Creative Artists Agency LLC,” accessed February 27, 2025, https://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/creative-artists-agency-llc-history/.
- CAA, “CAA Foundation,” accessed February 27, 2025, https://www.caa.com/foundation.
- WSJ, “Head of CAA says talent giant’s diversifying interests still interconnect,” accessed February 27, 2025, https://www.wsj.com/articles/head-of-caa-says-talent-giants-diversifying-interests-still-interconnect-1456864546
- Eric Fisher, “Pinault Completes Landmark $7B Acquisition of CAA,” Front Office Sports, September 10, 2023, https://frontofficesports.com/pinault-completes-landmark-7b-acquisition-of-caa/.
- Sarah Smith, “The Best Reporting on Hillary Clinton over the Years,” ProPublica, July 28, 2016, https://www.propublica.org/article/the-best-reporting-on-hillary-clinton-over-the-years.
- IMDb, “CAA Signs Barack & Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground for Film & Television,” accessed February 27, 2025, https://www.imdb.com/news/ni63764838/.
- Gene Maddaus, “Harvey Weinstein’s Web of Complicity Included National Enquirer and CAA, per N.Y. Times Report,” Variety, December 6, 2017, https://variety.com/2017/biz/news/harvey-weinstein-caa-national-enquirer-web-of-complicity-1202631580/.