Charles D. King

Charles called his shot way back in his ’96 law school yearbook, bragging that he’d run a powerhouse entertainment and media empire someday. Fast-forward a decade and a half, and—surprise, surprise—he actually did it. Enter MACRO, his bold brainchild. As CEO, he’s the guy setting the tone, steering the ship, and dreaming up all the big moves for MACRO’s sprawling empire. Before MACRO, Charles was hustling hard as a Partner and Agent at William Morris Endeavor, where he basically made history: first (and still only) Black exec to climb from the grunt-level training program in Beverly Hills all the way to Partner in more than a century. That’s no small feat. People in the biz talk about Charles like he’s got some kind of sixth sense for talent and deal-making. He’s always two steps ahead, playing the long game when it comes to strategy. Not shocking he’s popped up everywhere from Fortune to The New York Times Magazine, Fast Company, NPR, The Hollywood Reporter, and more—if there’s a list, he’s probably on it. Besides building his own thing, Charles backs startups as an angel investor and throws himself into philanthropy. He’s got a seat in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, plus he sits on boards for big-deal orgs like Sundance Institute, NBA Players Association, Think 450, and College Track, where he’s VP nationwide. Oh, and if the credentials matter to you, he’s rocking a BA from Vanderbilt and a law degree from Howard. The dude’s got receipts.