Lew Wasserman
Personal

Wasserman's parents were Minnie and Isaac Weiserman, Russian Jews who came to the USA in 1907. Just like in the case of Jules Stein's parents, the anti-semitism was strong in Europe at the time and America was seen as the land of opportunities, especially for Jews who migrated from Europe in large numbers.

Isaac worked in many trades and was trying to start a business on his own, but was unsuccessful at that. It is another similarity between the two businessmen forming the backbone of MCA - Stein also had a father that tried hard in the business world without success.

Lew had two brothers, both older than him: Max (7 years older) and William (5 years older). Max died at young age, William (just like Lew, also born in the United States) lived a long life. There was little emotional connection between the three. Each one had a different personality and at home they all kept to themselves.

One person most important in his life was definitely his wife Edie. They met in the early 1930s, when she was working for The May Department Stores Company, and got married in 1935. She had a completely different character than her husband. A common trait was ruthlessness, but while Lew showed it at work and privately was a reserved man, Edie's ruthlessness was directly in her relationships with people.

Towards her, Wasserman was rather cold too, and to the extent where people really wondered if there is a chemistry between them or is their relationship nothing more than just a routine they both got used to. If the latter is true, it was a potent one as they remained married for their entire lives. Even Edie's numerous affairs, about which Lew probably knew, didn't shake their marriage enough for cracks to start showing.

Together, they had one child - a daughter they named Lynne. She was born five years after marriage, in 1940. Lynne has two children: Carol Leif and Casey, each having a different father from a different marriage. She and her children are involved in a philanthropic organization Wasserman Foundation, with Casey currently serving as president.

Outside of Lew, his grandson is the most business-savvy person in family history, with his media company Wasserman Media Group worth $113.5 million in 2015, according to Forbes.

Lynne didn't have a bright childhood - with her mother arrogant and aggressive and her father stone cold, always absent and a control freak, she grew up in a lonely and disconnected environment. Resenting both Lew and Edie, she severed ties with them for many years once she was old enough to make it happen. The relationship grew back in strength in later years. Surprise, surprise: exactly the same trauma that Stein family suffered from.

Business is selfish almost by nature, but many businessmen turn philanthropists in their elder years. It is ironic that a man specializing in aggressive business traps, scare tactics and outmuscling competition would suddenly start giving something for free, but this is exactly what Wasserman did.

He funded hundreds, if not thousands of scholarships in California Institute of Technology (known as Calitech), New York University and many other US universities. The motivation behind it was that Lew himself couldn't afford higher education and had to start working very early in his life, first doing minor jobs when still going to school and then getting a regular one at the age of fifteen. He knew what it feels like and wanted to help.

Another of his charitable devotions was just him following Jules Stein (or perhaps convinced by him?). He funded various eye research activities and to give credit to it, in 2014 Edie and Lew Wasserman Eye Research Center (UCLA Newsroom) building was raised at the UCLA, opposite of the Doris Stein Eye Research Center (named after Jules Stein's wife).

Even though the powerful businessman did not want to be included in the Jewish inner circle in Hollywood throughout most of his life, his attitude towards the "Jewish cause" changed in his later years.

Before Israel was established as a country and the independence was declared in 1948, he claims to have already contributed to the cause, but when Jews came to him with expectations, he turned his back to them. But now this relationship has mellowed and warmed up and money started flowing from Wasserman bank accounts. American Jewish Committee, United Jewish Fund, World Jewish Congress and few more big Jewish organizations with the same purpose saw millions of dollars pouring in from him.

Not surprisingly, UCLA (which was Wasserman and Stein's favorite charity destination) saw a lot of love. One of many contributions was million dollars to help raise Yitzhak Rabin Hillel Center for Jewish Life (now rebranded to just Hillel).

In March 15, 1969, after a nervous day at work, Wasserman started feeling pain in his chest. He called for a doctor, which strongly advised that he be grounded and best not even leave his bed, taking a break from anything that could stress him.

The pain quickly disappeared and didn't come back until the last weeks of his life.

In 1987, he had to undertake a colon surgery. It went without complications, but Lew himself created a different type: once they were measuring his temperature, he bit on the thermometer, releasing mercury into his mouth and swallowing pieces of glass. Luckily, it all went well.

Wasserman was not a fan of physical activity and he didn't exercise nor think too much about what he eats, but beyond the mentioned problems, he enjoyed a very illness-free life.

In May 2002, Lew Wasserman suffered a life-threatening stroke and his condition deteriorated significantly. Mere two weeks later, he died.

His burial was as secretive and enigmatic as his career was. He wished for it to happen the same day (exactly five and a half hours) he dies and only family members were informed and allowed to be present. In other words, before the news even fully spread across Hollywood, he was already buried. It is a testament to how ignorant (or evasive) of fame he was.

Universal soon organized a funeral service that stood in sharp contrast to it though. Sad that the Hollywood's most iconic character, who was also their boss, has left them, the employees felt the need to organize something to commemorate him. The company reserved Universal Amphitheater as the service's destination, invited many famous people to take part in it and gave their employees a free afternoon, so they can come if they want.

Bill Clinton, Steven Spielberg, Jodie Foster, Sharon Stone, Al Gore, Nancy Reagan, Robert Strauss and many more came to make a speech, or at least attend alongside other 4000 guests.