American businessman, comedian, and producer of movies and television shows is Byron Allen Folks. He is the creator of the American media company Entertainment Studios, which produces films, television shows, broadcasts, and digital media.
He was born in Detroit, moved to Los Angeles later in life, and at first focused on stand-up comedy. Following his Tonight Show debut, Allen started doing more television work, one of which was hosting NBC’s Real People. Allen founded the company that would eventually be called Entertainment Studios in 1993.
Early Life and Education of Byron Allen Bio
Allen was born in Detroit and raised there until 1968, when he relocated to Los Angeles with his mother subsequent to their divorce. His fascination with the entertainment industry originated in his youth, when he accompanied his publicist mother, Carolyn Folks, to NBC Studios in Burbank.
Allen rehearsed his inaugural stand-up routine at the age of 14 and commenced his amateur night appearances at comedy venues across the Los Angeles region. Allen graduated from Fairfax High School in Los Angeles and matriculated at the University of Southern California for his collegiate education.
What Companies Does Byron Allen Own?
The main company that Byron Allen owns is Entertainment Studios, often known as Allen Media Group. In 2017, the company’s assets totaled more than $1 billion.
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Allen also controls the Weather Channel, which he bought from NBCUniversal and Bain Capital. He also runs Bally’s Sports Group through Diamond Sports Group (a joint venture with Sinclair Broadcasting). Finally, he acquired many television stations from Bayou City Broadcasting, another minority-owned and run media company.
Is Byron Allen Married?
In 2007, Byron Allen’s marriage to Jennifer Lucas was featured in The New York Times’ society pages. Though the publication stated that “the bridegroom’s first marriage ended in divorce,” little is known about Allen’s first wife, and all information about her appears to have been removed from the Internet.
Regardless, Lucas preserved her maiden name, and she and Allen are still married, with three children: daughters Chloe and Olivia, and son Lucas.
Awards Won by Byron Allen
Allen was named to the Bloomberg 50 in 2018 as one of “the 50 most notable figures in business, finance, technology, politics, entertainment, and science whose achievements stood out in 2018.”
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Furthermore, at the 2018 Goldman Sachs Builders & Innovators Summit, he was named one of the 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs. Furthermore, at the eleventh annual Christmas Kettle luncheon hosted by The Salvation Army, he received recognition from both the Los Angeles Metropolitan Advisory Board and the organization.
Allen was honored with the 16th Annual Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Awards by the National Association of Television Program Executives, which were presented in January 2019 at the NATPE Miami Marketplace & Conference. The 2019 Whitney Young Award was presented to Allen at the Los Angeles Urban League Awards dinner, which is held annually for the 46th time.
Allen was awarded the inaugural “Legendary Honor” by the African American Student Union of the Harvard Business School in February 2023.