Ryan Seacrest first made big waves as the enthusiastic host of a new singing competition called American Idol. With a great smile and star quality, Seacrest skyrocketed to fame, hosting nearly every red carpet event you can imagine over the course of the last 15 years. But aside from his onscreen presence, what do we really know about Ryan Seacrest?
If anything, Ryan Seacrest is an entrepreneur at heart. He has had a hand in almost every major entertainment model, from cooking to reality television to scripted shows to fashion to anything else you can think of. But beyond that, Seacrest has always had a strong desire to be onscreen, not as an actor, but as himself.
Researching facts, trivia, anecdotes, what have you about Ryan Seacrest may just surprise you. There's a lot more to him than just a great smile and a shining Hollywood presence. Stories and quotes about the radio personality are nothing but positive from his fellow Hollywood elite. As much as Seacrest has groomed and branded himself as THE Hollywood host with the most, how he did that is much more interesting. After scouring the Internet for everything we could find, we've compiled a list of the most interesting facets of Seacrest's life; the ones that aren't always talked about. So, here are 21 interesting facts about Ryan Seacrest you may not know about.
21 Interesting Facts You May Not Know About Ryan Seacrest,
He's the Reason the Kardashians Have a TV Show
Yes, Ryan Seacrest is the brain behind the Kardashian Empire. He is responsible for all things Kardashian, whether you despise or idolize them. Inspired by VH1's The Osbournes, Seacrest sought out the Kardashian clan for a potential reality television show about an elite Los Angeles family. Seacrest was enthralled with the practice footage that was submitted by the family, and the rest is history. He went on to produce various spin-offs of just about every family member combo you can think of. And thus began the Kardashian's day in the sun.
He Originally Auditioned to Be a Judge on American Idol
Before Seacrest was crowned American Idol's soon-to-be everywhere host, he actually tried auditioning to be the show's third judge. In a behind-the-scenes clip, Seacrest revealed how he wound up transitioning from judge to host a mere three days before the show's premiere. Seacrest, who actually preferred to be a host, asked the show's producers if there was any way to land the gig. After landing Randy Jackson, the creators gave Seacrest his dream role as a co-host alongside Brian Dunkleman (BTW, whatever happened to that guy?).
He's Worth $300 Million
Factoring in his production company investments, his reality TV work, his radio voice, his American Idol gig, and pretty much all the other millions of things he does, Ryan Seacrest's net worth is estimated to be at nearly $300 MILLION. The business mogul has made some serious cash after implementing his brand in almost every major entertainment business you can think of. Now that's some serious money.
He Used to Struggle with His Weight
Ryan Seacrest wasn't always the fit Hollywood hunk he is now. In fact, Seacrest has admitted to struggling with his weight in a big way when he was younger. Seacrest was often teased for being overweight and the "chubby" kid in his class. But after making a huge commitment to changing his unhealthy habits, Seacrest made a complete 180. According to Seacrest, he now "schedules his workouts as if they were meetings, and [he makes] sure they don't get cancelled."
He Broke Teri Hatcher's Heart
After photographs surfaced of Desperate Housewives star Teri Hatcher and Seacrest kissing in Malibu, the relationship quickly defused. Many speculated about what caused their sudden breakup, but Hatcher set the record straight on The Oprah Winfrey Show. The actress clarified that she hasn't seen Seacrest since that fateful kiss. Apparently the radio host essentially ghosted Hatcher, calling her up only to say, "I don't think I can do this with you." While Hatcher asserts she has no clue why Seacrest bailed on their sudden relationship, the Idol host has gone on the record saying that it was about him, not her.
He Hosted Kid's Game Shows Before Making It Big
Before he reached unprecedented fame, Seacrest was just a humble children's game show host. Even before he went on to host shows like Gladiator 2000, Seacrest was working in the minor league as the host of Click, a bizarrely premature Internet-inspired game show. Highlights of Seacrest's time on the show include terrible outfits, frosted hair, and some major white-boy dancing.
He Owns a Restaurant
Seacrest is an entrepreneur in almost every sense of the word. Aside from his accomplishments in the television and entertainment industry, Seacrest has pursued a number of business ventures outside his comfort zone, and those investments paid off. The radio personality co-owns a successful sushi restaurant in Los Angeles called Katana.
Dick Clark Is His Biggest Role Model
After iconic TV personality Dick Clark passed away, Ryan Seacrest opened the following American Idol episode with a moving tribute to the star. Following his death, Seacrest discussed with audiences across America how much Clark meant to him as a mentor, role model, and inspiration. Seacrest has always openly acknowledged how much Clark's career inspired his own ambitions, as he always dreamed of hosting the New Year's Eve countdown alongside the host. Seacrest's dreams came true when he took over for Clark, following medical issues that prevented Clark from continuing the tradition. Thus, the torch was passed.
He Was Bitten by a Shark
Back in 2008, Ryan Seacrest told his KIIS-FM listeners about his personal experience with a "shark attack." According to the host, he was on vacation in Mexico when he felt something swim by him. That's when the shark bit him, but Seacrest had no idea what had happened until he got out of the water. There he found a real-life shark tooth lodged in him like a splinter. Luckily Seacrest's "attack" was far from lethal, merely a love bite from a sand shark.
He Held a Grudge Against Sacha Baron Cohen
Seacrest wasn't pleased after Sacha Baron Cohen ruined an incredibly expensive suit at the 2012 Academy Awards. The Borat comedian showed up as his character from The Dictator to play a practical prank on Seacrest... on live television. While hosting red carpet interviews, Cohen snuck up on Seacrest and spilled an urn full of fake ashes all over his suit. Seacrest's face is cringeworthy and it took him some time to finally forgive Cohen. Seacrest told radio listeners that he absolved Cohen at a taping of Saturday Night Live after his wife apologized for the event. However in 2016, Seacrest avoided Cohen's red carpet advances at all costs, despite his constant attempts to crash the host's interviews.