Headhunter to the Stars Radio Interview
Celebrity recruiter, Brian Daniel, gives an in-depth interview about how he got started assisting the rich and famous. Inspired by meeting his first billionaire at 17 years old, Brian eventually went on to working for some of the most recognized names on Earth, like working for the Royal Saudis, the Johnson & Johnson family, and the real-life "Crazy Rich Asians" family. (see photos and videos HERE).
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Video Transcript
Meeting my first billionaire
What it's like to work for a celebrity
Hey, it's your pal, Dev. Thank you so much for tuning in. Now, I know that at one point in your life, you probably wanted to be a celebrity. You're probably fascinated by the lifestyle of these rich and beautiful people.
Well, today's guest is former celebrity personal assistant, Brian Daniel. And let me tell you something: He knows a thing or two about working with A-list celebrities, billionaires, or even royalty. He is now a staffing consultant, career coach, and the author of Dream Careers: The Insider's Guide to Working with the High Net Worth.
Brian, thank you so much for your time. I'm curious, were you always fascinated by celebrities growing up?
It's a very interesting story because back in the late 1980s, I was a part-time assistant to someone who installed high-tech equipment in cars. Back then, mobile phones were in their infancy and people were walking around carrying them in briefcases, basically. At the time, people were also putting those high-tech stereos in their cars -- aftermarket stereos like Alpine and Blaupunkt. So, one day I go to work, and my boss says to me we're going to billionaire Jack Kent Cooke's house to install a mobile phone in his limousine.
Jack Kent Cooke is dead now, but at the time, he owned three sports teams, and this was right around the time when the Washington Redskins (now called the Commanders) went the 1988 Super Bowl.
We went in Jack Kent Cooke's estate, and it was just like you expect like Daddy Warbucks from the Annie movie. He had a huge entourage of people around him, and we were working his limousine. And then suddenly, he jumped into the car and said we had to leave. We were right in the middle of installing this used mobile phone in his used limousine, because he was very thrifty like a lot of other billionaires.
Well, today's guest is former celebrity personal assistant, Brian Daniel. And let me tell you something: He knows a thing or two about working with A-list celebrities, billionaires, or even royalty. He is now a staffing consultant, career coach, and the author of Dream Careers: The Insider's Guide to Working with the High Net Worth.
Brian, thank you so much for your time. I'm curious, were you always fascinated by celebrities growing up?
It's a very interesting story because back in the late 1980s, I was a part-time assistant to someone who installed high-tech equipment in cars. Back then, mobile phones were in their infancy and people were walking around carrying them in briefcases, basically. At the time, people were also putting those high-tech stereos in their cars -- aftermarket stereos like Alpine and Blaupunkt. So, one day I go to work, and my boss says to me we're going to billionaire Jack Kent Cooke's house to install a mobile phone in his limousine.
Jack Kent Cooke is dead now, but at the time, he owned three sports teams, and this was right around the time when the Washington Redskins (now called the Commanders) went the 1988 Super Bowl.
We went in Jack Kent Cooke's estate, and it was just like you expect like Daddy Warbucks from the Annie movie. He had a huge entourage of people around him, and we were working his limousine. And then suddenly, he jumped into the car and said we had to leave. We were right in the middle of installing this used mobile phone in his used limousine, because he was very thrifty like a lot of other billionaires.
Working for UHNW families
It's just such a wild experience and I always became really fascinated with the celebrity and billionaire worlds. When I eventually moved to Los Angeles later in my life, my first personal assistant job on the west coast was working for a member of the Johnson & Johnson family. So, that sowed the seeds of my interest in the private service world, and things grew from there.
Wow. So, you were talking about how Jack Kent Cooke had a big entourage... How many people usually work for these celebrities on average? I ask because being a celebrity is a "business."
Wow. So, you were talking about how Jack Kent Cooke had a big entourage... How many people usually work for these celebrities on average? I ask because being a celebrity is a "business."
Billionaire lifestyle
That is a terrific question, and I have a terrific answer for you. And the answer is: it varies wildly. Now, some billionaires like Warren Buffett are incredibly conservative. They travel very low-key, and other billionaires like to have a flashy style, and then they usually have huge entourage with them. So, there really is no rhyme or reason to it. It depends on how flashy the person wants to be and how high their profile is.
Life in an entourage
CEOs and celebrities are almost one in the same because sometimes you'll see these huge a-list stars -- sometimes they will be by themselves or they will only have one person with them, perhaps their assistant.
And then, sometimes, they are walking around with 20 people. So, it really depends, that's the best answer I can give you.
So, I guess the question should be, how many assistants do they need?
That is another great question? So, it all depends on how high their profile is. Now, what you would expect if you're working for a very high-profile A-list Hollywood celebrity or celebrity CEO... You're definitely going to be traveling around with a head assistant and several subordinate traveling assistants.
And then, sometimes, they are walking around with 20 people. So, it really depends, that's the best answer I can give you.
So, I guess the question should be, how many assistants do they need?
That is another great question? So, it all depends on how high their profile is. Now, what you would expect if you're working for a very high-profile A-list Hollywood celebrity or celebrity CEO... You're definitely going to be traveling around with a head assistant and several subordinate traveling assistants.
Life as a celebrity assistant
If celebrities have their kids with them, you might have nannies. Depending on what's happening that day, you might have lawyers and a publicity agent with you. I've been in situations where I was the only personal assistant in the entourage, and I've also been in situations where there were fifteen people with us, so it does vary wildly.
And which one do you prefer? Would you rather be alone, or do you like it when there's a lot of people around the celebrity?
Honestly, in my older age, I do prefer the low-key PA jobs at this point in my career. When I was much younger, I have to admit, flying around on private jets and being in the big entourages was pretty exciting, but there's a trade to that because when you're in those sorts of glamourous situations, you're going to be up all night -- and it gets very tiring.
And which one do you prefer? Would you rather be alone, or do you like it when there's a lot of people around the celebrity?
Honestly, in my older age, I do prefer the low-key PA jobs at this point in my career. When I was much younger, I have to admit, flying around on private jets and being in the big entourages was pretty exciting, but there's a trade to that because when you're in those sorts of glamourous situations, you're going to be up all night -- and it gets very tiring.
You must be dedicated
Your boss might keep you up for 2:00 in the morning because if you are at a nightclub with them, but then he can sleep late the next morning.
But as an assistant, I would have to get up at the wee hours the next morning because my phone started ringing. I had to start setting up his day for whatever we were going to be doing, and I had to keep my appointments.
So, yeah, I like the low-key personal assistant jobs better now, honestly.
But as an assistant, I would have to get up at the wee hours the next morning because my phone started ringing. I had to start setting up his day for whatever we were going to be doing, and I had to keep my appointments.
So, yeah, I like the low-key personal assistant jobs better now, honestly.
