Ari Emanuel Collaborates with ‘Tender Bar’ Author on Upcoming Memoir Set for Fall Release
Alfred A. Knopf is set to publish *Roll the Calls*, a memoir by Ari Emanuel, on September 22, 2026. The announcement was made by Jordan Pavlin, Knopf’s Executive Vice President, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief. North American rights for the book were acquired from Jay Mandel at WME. Written in collaboration with Pulitzer Prize-winner J.R. Moehringer, author of *The Tender Bar*, *Roll the Calls* will be released in hardcover and ebook formats by Knopf, with Penguin Random House handling the audiobook edition. The first printing is projected at 250,000 copies.
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Emanuel, recognized as one of the most influential figures in the entertainment industry, has long remained somewhat of an enigma. As a Hollywood super-agent—who inspired the beloved character Ari Gold on *Entourage*—he is typically seen through the lens of his clients, while playing a pivotal role in some of the largest deals in entertainment and sports, often shrouded in secrecy.
In *Roll the Calls*, Emanuel breaks his silence, exploring his journey with candidness and vigor. This memoir presents an insider’s perspective on his remarkable career, filled with major successes and setbacks, high-profile mergers, and tumultuous breakups. With honesty, he recounts experiences that are more exhilarating and relatable than any scripted episode of *Entourage*.
Emanuel reflects, “As a kid, I was often told I’d amount to nothing. Thank God I didn’t listen because I’ve now worked with so many brilliant writers, directors, actors, artists, journalists, entrepreneurs, and investors. From them, and from bitter experience, I’ve learned a lot about success and failure, creativity and persistence. Especially persistence. My story is for everyone who feels doubted and especially for that person who’s been told to give up, just quit. If there’s one major theme it’s that every time someone tells you to pack it in, you’re not good enough, you should tell that person to **** off.”
The memoir delves into Emanuel’s personal challenges, particularly his struggle with severe dyslexia. Growing up in a success-driven family on Chicago’s South Side, he often felt overshadowed by two brothers who seemed destined for greatness. After college, he began his career with a brief tenure assisting a traditional talent agent in Manhattan before moving to Hollywood. In a humorous yet revealing account, he shares the rocky beginnings of his career working in the mailroom at CAA, fetching bagels, filling candy jars, and facing the whims of his boss, super-agent Mike Ovitz.
In 1997, Emanuel launched his own firm with three fellow agents. This bold move signaled the rise of Endeavor, which later made waves with its acquisition of the renowned William Morris Agency. This pivotal moment marked just the start of Emanuel’s trajectory, as he began signing some of the most illustrious names in show business and acquiring major companies like IMG, UFC, and WWE.
Throughout his career, Emanuel has managed the complexities of raising four children, navigating a challenging marriage, and dealing with an array of demanding clients—from Martin Scorsese and Oprah Winfrey to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and an outspoken reality star with political aspirations.
Jordan Pavlin emphasizes, “*Roll the Calls* is as ferociously powerful as the iconic figure at its center, a man who made rage and chaos into the instruments of his success. Ari Emanuel’s persistence and drive are legendary, and *Roll the Calls* takes us on a blistering and intimate journey into every battle he’s fought, with raw emotion and unrelenting profanity. It’s a tremendous reading experience and we are thrilled to have it on the Knopf list.”
*Roll the Calls* deviates from traditional CEO memoirs, presenting a narrative marked by sharp prose, humility, and humor. It serves as a testament to the value of resilience and the importance of pushing through adversity, offering readers a master class in overcoming doubt and defiance.
