JokersUpdates.com: Celebrity Apprentice - Sixteen Celebrities From TV, Film, Music and Sports Compete For Favorite Charities On Arnold Schwarzenegger-Led 'The Celebrity Apprentice'

Press Release

SIXTEEN CELEBRITIES FROM TV, FILM, MUSIC AND SPORTS COMPETE FOR FAVORITE CHARITIES ON ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER-LED ‘THE CELEBRITY APPRENTICE’

Schwarzenegger Takes Over the Boardroom for NBC’s Popular Franchise as Warren Buffett, Steve Ballmer, Tyra Banks, Jessica Alba and Patrick Knapp Schwarzenegger Serve as Advisors Laila Ali, Brooke Burke-Charvet, Eric Dickerson, Boy George, Matt Iseman, Carrie Keagan, Carson Kressley, Lisa Leslie, Jon Lovitz, Vince Neil, Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, Kyle Richards, Chael Sonnen, Porsha Williams, Ricky Williams and Carnie Wilson Are Set to Battle

Sixteen celebrities are set to compete for their favorite charities when “The Celebrity Apprentice” shifts to Los Angeles for its eighth season where twice-elected California governor and international movie superstar Arnold Schwarzenegger reigns over the boardroom.

Advising the new head of the boardroom this season will be world-class business minds, including investment guru Warren Buffett, one of the most successful businessmen in the world; former Microsoft CEO and Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer; Tyra Banks, a supermodel, actress, TV host, producer, accomplished businesswoman and CEO of the Tyra Banks Company and cosmetics brand, TYRA Beauty; actress, author and entrepreneur Jessica Alba, the founder and chief creative officer of the Honest Company and Honest Beauty; and Schwarzenegger’s trusted confidante and nephew, prominent entertainment attorney Patrick Knapp Schwarzenegger.

The celebrity lineup is as follows:

•Laila Ali — the retired four-time boxing world champion and two-time hall of famer, TV host, author, health and wellness expert and daughter of boxing legend Muhammad Ali
•Brooke Burke-Charvet — actress, host, entrepreneur, fitness expert and CEO of ModernMom.com
•Eric Dickerson — Pro Football Hall of Fame running back who played for the Los Angeles Rams, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Raiders and Atlanta Falcons
•Boy George — Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, lead vocalist for the pop band Culture Club, international DJ and a coach on the U.K. version of “The Voice,” as well as a top fashion designer and photographer
•Matt Iseman — “American Ninja Warrior” host, comedian, actor and licensed physician
•Carrie Keagan — Actress, producer, writer, entrepreneur and the former host of VH1’s Emmy Award-winning live morning talk show “Big Morning Buzz Live with Carrie Keagan”
•Carson Kressley — Emmy Award-winning television star, celebrity stylist, author and fashion designer, as well as a successful horse show exhibitor who owns saddlebred horses
•Lisa Leslie — Naismith Hall of Famer, four-time Olympic gold medalist and WNBA champion who earned an MBA
•Jon Lovitz — comedian, film and television star and former “Saturday Night Live” cast member
•Vince Neil — lead vocalist for the heavy metal band Mötley Crüe as well as eclectic businessman with interests in liquor, bars, restaurants, tattoo parlors along with clothing and retail
•Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi — Reality television star and New York Times bestselling author
•Kyle Richards — actress and star of ‘The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” is a philanthropist who owns an innovative boutique concept in Beverly Hills
•Chael Sonnen — former UFC standout and mixed martial artist
•Porsha Williams — Co-host of nationally syndicated Dish Nation, star of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta," entrepreneur.
•Ricky Williams — Heisman Trophy winner for the University of Texas, 2015 College Football Hall of Fame inductee and ESPN sports analyst who was a running back for the Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens
•Carnie Wilson — singer, television host and member of the pop music group Wilson Phillips.

New state-of-the-art headquarters in Silicon Beach — Southern California’s ever-growing technology hub — will house Schwarzenegger’s boardroom and the center of operations for the exciting and diverse line-up of business-savvy celebrities. Contestants will compete in challenging, business-driven tasks more focused than ever on technology and innovation, testing their ability to work together as a team while raising money and awareness for their favorite causes.

Each episode will conclude with a compelling boardroom showdown, as Schwarzenegger evaluates the performances of all of the players before deciding which team wins the challenge and who will be sent home.

Over the course of the series, “The Celebrity Apprentice” has raised more than $15 million for charity. This season’s winner will gain the coveted title of the Celebrity Apprentice and a $250,000 check to give to their designated charity.

“The Celebrity Apprentice” is produced and internationally distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Mark Burnett, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Page Feldman and Eric Van Wagenen are executive producers.

Please visit NBC.com‘s official show site: http://www.nbc.com/the-celebrity-apprentice

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

World-famous athlete and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger was born in Thal, Austria in 1947, and by the age of 20 was dominating the sport of competitive bodybuilding, becoming the youngest person ever to win the Mr. Universe title.

By generating a new international audience for bodybuilding, Schwarzenegger turned himself into a sports icon. With his sights set on Hollywood, he emigrated to America in 1968 and went on to win five Mr. Universe titles and seven Mr. Olympia titles before retiring to dedicate himself to acting. Later, he would go on to earn a college degree from the University of Wisconsin and proudly became a U.S. citizen.

Schwarzenegger, who worked under the pseudonym Arnold Strong in his first feature, “Hercules in New York,” quickly made a name for himself in Hollywood. In 1977, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association recognized him with a Golden Globe for New Male Star of the Year for his role in “Stay Hungry,” opposite Sally Field. His big break came in 1982 when the sword and sorcery epic “Conan the Barbarian” hit box office gold.

In 1984, Schwarzenegger catapulted himself into cinema history as the title character in Jim Cameron’s sci-fi thriller, “Terminator.”

He is the only actor to be in both categories of the American Film Institute’s “Hundred Years of Heroes and Villains” for roles he played in the “Terminator” series. Other memorable characters include roles in “Commando,” “Predator,” “Twins,” “Total Recall,” “True Lies,” “Eraser,” “Collateral Damage,” “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” and a cameo in Sylvester Stallone’s homage to action films, “The Expendables” and an expanded role in “The Expendables 2,” among others. To date, his films have grossed more than $3 billion worldwide.

He gratefully served the people of California as the state’s 38th governor from 2003-10. First elected in California’s historic recall election, Gov. Schwarzenegger ushered in an era of innovative leadership and extraordinary public service.

But it is Schwarzenegger’s commitment to giving something back to his state and country through public service that gives him the most satisfaction; donating his time, energy, and personal finances to serving others all over the world.

Schwarzenegger acts as Chairman of the After School All-Stars, a nationwide after-school program, and serves as coach and international torch-bearer for Special Olympics. He also served as Chairman of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports under George H. W. Bush and as Chair of the California Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports under Gov. Pete Wilson.

Most notably, Schwarzenegger made California a world leader on renewable energy and combating climate change with the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, set a revolutionary political reform agenda, and became the first governor in decades to invest in rebuilding California’s critical infrastructure with his Strategic Growth Plan. He also dedicated himself to promoting physical education and after-school programs, and continues to commit his time, energy and personal finances to charitable organizations around the world.

Schwarzenegger is currently back in Hollywood working on upcoming films.

‘THE CELEBRITY APPRENTICE’ ADVISORS

WARREN E. BUFFETT

Warren Buffett was born in Omaha, Neb., on Aug. 30, 1930. His family operated a grocery store in Omaha for 100 years (1869-1969). His father ran an investment firm and also served as a member of Congress for four terms.

Buffett is chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., a holding company controlled by him since 1965. Berkshire Hathaway has 78 operating businesses, with its largest sources of earnings arising from insurance and the BNSF railroad. Berkshire Hathaway has revenues of about $200 billion and is ranked #4 in the world by market value.

Buffett started out as an investment salesman and securities analyst, and early in his career created his own investment partnership.

If an investor had put $10,000 in Buffett Partnership Ltd. when it was formed in 1956 and continued that investment in Berkshire Hathaway, he would now have shares worth about $1.1 billion.

Buffett has pledged that all of his shares in Berkshire Hathaway — about 99% of his net worth — will be given to philanthropic endeavors. Along with Bill and Melinda Gates, Buffett is a co-founder of the Giving Pledge that encourages wealthy Americans to devote at least 50% of their net worth to philanthropy.

Buffett attended Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington, D.C., Wharton School of Business at University of Pennsylvania, and in 1950 received his B.S. from the University of Nebraska. He earned his M.S. in economics from Columbia University in 1951.

Buffett was married to Susan T. Buffett until her death in 2004. They had three children: Susan, Howard and Peter. In 2006 he married Astrid Menks.

STEVE BALLMER

Steve Ballmer is the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers NBA team. Ballmer retired as Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft on Feb. 4, 2014. Before becoming CEO in 2000, his roles at Microsoft included president, senior vice president of sales and support, senior vice president of systems software and vice president of marketing. He joined Microsoft in 1980 and was the company’s first business manager.

Over his tenure as a top leader, Microsoft pioneered personal computing and democratized enterprise computing growing from almost nothing to a company that employed over 100,000 people, made almost $80 billion in revenue and was the third most profitable company in the United States.

Ballmer was born in March 1956 and grew up near Detroit, where his father worked as a manager at Ford Motor Company. Ballmer earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and economics from Harvard University. He worked for two years at Procter & Gamble as an assistant product manager and attended Stanford University Graduate School of Business before joining Microsoft.

TYRA BANKS

Expanding the definition of beauty is something Tyra Banks has always believed in, as a supermodel and as a super-businesswoman. Six modeling agencies rejected her before she was signed at the age of 15 years old. Now, hundreds of magazine covers and thousands of runways later, Banks grooms the next generation of models to make their dreams come true.

She created and executive produced the first and longest-running fashion competition-based reality television series, “America’s Next Top Model” with 22 cycles. “ANTM” currently airs in 186 countries and has 26 international versions that span from Asia, Africa and Australia.

As an original Victoria’s Secret angel, Banks was also the first model to grace the cover of GQ and the first African-American model to be featured on the covers of Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, which featured her for two consecutive years, and the Victoria’s Secret catalog. She was named one of Hollywood Reporter’s 100 Most Powerful Women in Entertainment and Entertainment Weekly’s 25 Smartest in Television. She was honored as one of Glamour magazine’s coveted Women of the Year, alongside former U.S. Secretaries of State Condoleezza Rice and Hillary Rodham Clinton. She won two Emmy Awards for ”The Tyra Show,” the first show ever to receive the award in the new informative category. Her infamous line, “KISS MY FAT ASS!” made TV Guide’s 60 Greatest Talk Show Moments. She was listed twice on Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World and took the #1 spot on Forbes’ list of top earning women in primetime for two years in a row.

Banks is CEO of the Tyra Banks Company — a place where beauty meets entertainment. In 2012, she graduated from the Owner/President Management program at Harvard Business School and is a proud alum. She recently developed Fierce Capital, the investment arm of the Tyra Banks Company, which invests in early-stage companies, including firms that are female-led or female-focused. Her passion is the TZONE Foundation, a non-profit organization that invests in young women to help them realize their ambitions and approach life’s challenges with fierce determination. The TZONE now takes residence at the Lower Eastside Girls Club Center for Community in New York City and focuses on five core pillars: entrepreneurship, financial literacy, elocution and self-presentation, health and wellness, and self- esteem, beauty and body image.

Most recently, Banks created a one-of-a-kind cosmetics experience – TYRA Beauty. With a radically fierce, fresh and unique approach to the beauty industry, TYRA Beauty is powered by the strategic collision of beauty and entertainment, coined “Beautytainment” by Banks. TYRA Beauty is a 100% self-funded company and is a dream near and dear to Banks’ heart with the goal of creating a legacy brand that provides anyone and everyone the opportunity to become the CEO of her or his own life.

JESSICA ALBA

Jessica Alba is founder and chief creative officer of the Honest Company (Honest.com) and Honest Beauty (HonestBeauty.com). She is also an actress, advocate and New York Times bestselling author.

The Honest Company was launched in 2012 with a mission to inspire and empower people to live a healthy, happy life. Honest offers a range of effective, safe, beautiful and responsible products and is a trusted resource for education and support across its community of members. Its growing portfolio of more than 100 lifestyle products includes baby, personal care, home care, vitamins and supplements, feeding, and gear and accessories. The Honest Company has a presence across the U.S. and Canada at Honest.com, in more than 4,000 leading retail locations in North America and is available online in South Korea. Honest Beauty offers over 80 skincare and makeup products available online at HonestBeauty.com and through their premiere retail experience at the Grove in Los Angeles.

Since its inception, the mission-driven Honest Company has donated more than 750,000 products and over 7,000 employee volunteer hours to help more than 120,000 children and over 90,000 families. Honest has been honored with a wide range of recognitions and awards, including the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year (Los Angeles Region), ACG Award for Social Responsibility, PC magazine’s Seal of Consumer Approval in Tech, an Allure Best of Beauty Award, as well as the Pioneer in Sustainability Award by the Sustainable Business Council of Los Angeles.

In 2013, Alba authored the New York Times bestselling book, “The Honest Life,” a practical guide for parents to create a safe and healthy life for their families.

She appeared on the cover of Forbes’ Self-Made Women issue and was among the top 20 of Fast Company’s 100 Most Creative People in Business, one of CNBC’s Next List of Rebels, Leaders and Innovators, and one of Fortune’s 10 Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs. She has been named to Vanity Fair’s Next Establishment, Entrepreneur of the Year at the U.K. Glamour Women of the Year Awards, and Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Alba has received the Entertainment Media Association’s Green Parent Award and the Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Health Center Champion for Children Award.

PATRICK KNAPP SCHWARZENEGGER

Patrick Knapp Schwarzenegger is the nephew of Arnold Schwarzenegger and a partner at the Beverly Hills-based powerhouse entertainment law firm Bloom, Hergott, Diemer, Rosenthal, Laviolette, Feldman, Schenkman & Goodman, representing some of the top actors, writers, directors and producers in Hollywood.

Knapp Schwarzenegger was born in Germany and raised in Austria and Portugal. He is the son of Schwarzenegger’s older brother and only sibling, Meinhard Schwarzenegger, who died in a car accident when Patrick was 3 years old. When he was 19, Knapp Schwarzenegger emigrated to the United States with the help of his uncle. In 1991 Knapp Schwarzenegger graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with degrees in economics and political science, and in 1995 he earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Southern California Law School.

Knapp Schwarzenegger has a dual citizenship between the U.S. and Austria and currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Bliss Ellis, and their four children — Valentina, Franziska, Leonardo, and Mario.

Rocco DiSpirito

Advisor, "The New Celebrity Apprentice"

Rocco DiSpirito is a healthy lifestyle crusader, James Beard award-winning chef and author of 12 highly acclaimed cookbooks, including his latest New York Times bestseller, “The Negative Calorie Diet: Lose Up to 10 Pounds in 10 Days with 10 All You Can Eat Foods.” Previous bestsellers include “The Pound a Day Diet, Now Eat This!” and “Now Eat This! Diet.”

DiSpirito is recognized for his inspiring weight-loss journey and has dedicated his life to proving that healthy and delicious are not mutually exclusive.

DiSpirito founded “The Pound a Diet” meal delivery service where he personally cooks for and coaches clients to achieve their best health. All meals are freshly prepared in DiSpirito’s New York City kitchen and delivered nationwide. DiSpirito designs one-of-a-kind menus to meet each customer’s preferences, weight loss and health goals. Meals feature local, natural and organic ingredients and follow the chef’s gluten-free, sugar-free and dairy-free approach to cooking.

In 2016, the innovative chef debuted Rocco’s Organic Protein Powder Plus. The plant-based, gluten-free, sugar-free, dairy-free and unflavored blend helps make healthy and delicious cooking easier than ever. Use it to make any custom smoothie flavor or bake with it as a flour replacement to cut carbs and make protein-packed, low-calorie delicious recipes. He also offers better-for-you snacks, such as high-protein chocolate-strawberry quick fill bars, shakes and organic turkey jerky available in his online store, www.poundadaydiet.com.

Throughout his career, DiSpirito has starred in many popular TV shows. He helped guide life-changing transformations as the healthy food coach on ABC’s series “Extreme Weight Loss” and its companion series, “Extreme Weight Loss: Love Can’t Weight.” The celebrity chef and television personality starred in “Restaurant Divided” on Food Network in 2013, “Now Eat This! with Rocco DiSpirito,” a weekly nationally syndicated series in 2012 and “Rocco’s Dinner Party,” which aired on Bravo in 2011, among others. In 2012, DiSpirito founded production company Savory Place Media where its first project, “Now Eat This! Italy,” for AOL Originals became an instant top 10 series garnering millions of views.

DiSpirito was also the founder of the Now Eat This! Food truck, which featured meals created from his wildly successful series of cookbooks of the same name. In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, he aided storm victims and volunteers by providing more than 350,000 hot meals from the truck.

He serves on the Entertainment Council for Feeding America, where he can frequently be found volunteering and serving guests at food banks throughout New York City. He is an ambassador for HealthCorps, founded by Dr. Mehmet Oz, through which he visits schools around the country to empower students to make healthy food and lifestyle choices. DiSpirito also works closely with Wellness in the Schools as well as the John V. Lindsay Wildcat Academy.

DiSpirito studied at the Culinary Institute of America and Boston University. By the time he turned 20 years old, he was working in the kitchens of legendary chefs around the globe. He was named Food & Wine magazine’s best new chef, People magazine’s sexiest chef and was the first chef to appear on Gourmet magazine’s cover as America’s most exciting young chef. His three-star restaurant Union Pacific was a New York City culinary landmark for many years.

He is a frequent guest on “The View,” “The Dr. Oz Show,” “Fox & Friends,” “The Rachel Ray Show” and “CBS Sunday Morning” among many other programs. When he is not cooking, he enjoys bicycling and participating in triathlons.

Tracey Edmonds

Advisor, "The New Celebrity Apprentice"

Tracey Edmonds, a dynamic multi-dimensional entertainment industry veteran with a proven track record of success across multiple platforms, has established herself as an award-winning producer, savvy business mogul and TV personality.

She has created and produced groundbreaking projects for television, film, music and digital media. Edmonds currently serves as CEO and President of Edmonds Entertainment; CEO and President of Alright TV; and Emmy Award-winning co-host of “Extra,” alongside Mario Lopez and Charissa Thompson.

As a producer, Edmonds’ most recent projects include the OWN hit series “Deion’s Family Playbook,” for which she served as show creator, executive producer and talent; and the three-time NAACP Image Award-nominated “With This Ring” (Lifetime), starring Regina Hall, Jill Scott and Eve, for which Edmonds fulfilled the role of executive producer. With Our Stories Films, created by BET founder Robert L. Johnson, Edmonds released the NAACP Image Award winner “Jumping the Broom.” Edmonds also launched Alright TV, an inspirational faith-friendly YouTube partner channel in 2013. The channel features hit series and collaborations with such talent as Michael K. Williams, Issa Rae, Deion Sanders, AJ Johnson, chef Brian Hill, and comedy sketch groups Dormtainment and the Playmakers (www.youtube.com/alrighttv).

Edmonds’ earlier television successes included the serialized version of her hit movie “Soul Food,” an hourlong drama for Showtime that ran for five seasons and won multiple NAACP Image Awards, including Outstanding Drama Series three years in a row. She also executive produced several groundbreaking reality shows, including “College Hill” (BET’s first reality show), which ran for six seasons, and its spinoff, “College Hill Interns,” as well as “Lil’ Kim: Countdown to Lockdown” and “DMX: Soul of a Man.”

A Stanford University graduate, Edmonds has won numerous awards for her contributions to the entertainment industry, including Ebony magazine’s Outstanding Women in Marketing & Communications Entrepreneur Award (2002); an award from Girls, Inc. (2004) in recognition of her efforts to inspire all girls to be strong, smart and bold; an honorary doctorate in business from Southern University (2004); the Volunteers of America Legacy of Leadership Award (2004); the National Organization for Women’s Excellence in Media Award (2005); the Caucus for Television Producers, Writers and Directors Diversity Award (2006); Indiana Black Expo’s Women of Vision Award for Outstanding Work in Film, Television & Business (2014); Alliance for Women in Media’s Gracies Award for Best Host in Entertainment & Information (2015); Emmy Award for Outstanding Entertainment News Program (2016); and Alliance for Women in Media SoCal’s Genii Award for Excellence in Entertainment (2016).

Always looking to give back to the industry, Edmonds serves on the Board of Governors for the Producers Guild of America, where she chaired the guild’s annual Celebration of Diversity gala for three consecutive years, and has most recently co-chaired the PGA-hosted Produced by Conference for the past three years. She also serves on the Board of Trustees for the American Film Institute, is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and serves as a Global Ambassador for CARE, a leading humanitarian organization that works to fight global poverty. In her role as Ambassador, she is focused on improving global maternal health, with a specific focus on Sierra Leone.

Edmonds resides in Beverly Hills with her two sons, Brandon and Dylan.

Justine Ezarik

Advisor, "The New Celebrity Apprentice"

Justine Ezarik, also known as iJustine, is a one-woman digital phenomenon: techie, gamer, vlogger and digital influencer.

Ezarik is one of the top female personalities on YouTube and has amassed more than 4.3 million subscribers across her three channels, has more than 1.8 million Twitter followers and has garnered more than 615 million views on her videos. In the same month Ezarik was named one of the Hollywood Reporter’s 50 most powerful digital players as well as one of Maxim magazine's Hot 100. In 2014, she was on Time magazine’s Most 100 list and in 2012 was ranked the #6 most influential personality on the Daily Beast’s Digital Power Index, which also featured Lady Gaga and YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley.

Last year Ezarik published her first book, “I, Justine: An Analog Memoir,” which became a New York Times bestseller.

A popular brand ambassador, Ezarik has worked with top brands — Mattel, Microsoft, Ford, Canon, Intel, Sharpie, Doritos, Taco Bell, eBay, P&G, Starbucks, Banana Republic, Samsung, Nestle, and Pizza Hut — and has been featured in numerous magazine and publications such as the Chicago Tribune, Fast Company and Maxim magazine. She appeared in the 2012 television campaign, directed by Guy Richie, for Activision’s “Call of Duty: Black Ops 2,” the fastest-selling video game in history.

Ezarik voiced the character Passion Fruit on the hit Cartoon Network show “The Annoying Orange.” She has been a host for programs on MTV, Spike, E! News, NBC and red carpet events for the 2014 Grammys, Oscars, Katy Perry and Justin Bieber film premieres, as well as appearing on “The Vampire Diaries,” “Law & Order” and “Criminal Minds.”

Bob Harper

Advisor, "The New Celebrity Apprentice"

Health and fitness expert, television star and a three-time New York Times bestselling author, Bob Harper is one of the most successful lifestyle experts in the world.

Having starred as a trainer on all 16 seasons of “The Biggest Loser,” Harper stepped into a new role as host for season 17. He appears regularly as a co-host on “The Rachael Ray Show” and a health expert on “Today.” Harper’s most recent book, “Skinny Habits: The 6 Secrets of Thin People” was released in 2015. This followed the success of previous books “Skinny Meals” (2014), “Jumpstart to Skinny” (2013) and “The Skinny Rules” (2012).

In addition to his numerous workout DVD series, Harper has an online program with DailyBurn. He worked with First Lady Michelle Obama on her “Let’s Move” campaign and has appeared on dozens of television shows, including “The Doctors,” “Larry King Live,” “Oprah,” “The Tonight Show,” “The Rachael Ray Show,” “Dr. Oz” and “Ellen.”

Harper has traveled the country speaking to everyone from health care workers to corporations about how to motivate people to change their lives.

Leeza Gibbons

Advisor, "The New Celebrity Apprentice"

Emmy Award winner Leeza Gibbons is one of the most well‐known pop culture icons on the air. In addition to her impressive background in entertainment and news media, Gibbons is an instrumental advocate for health care, wellness and caregiving. She is also a wife, mother, businesswoman, New York Times bestselling author and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Gibbons’ career is diverse and impressive. Her on‐camera hosting and reporting experience ranges from ”Entertainment Tonight” (where she was on the air for 16 years) to her award‐winning daytime talk show, “Leeza,” which ran for seven years.

More recently, Gibbons spent four years as co-host of the syndicated newsmagazine show “America Now” while simultaneously hosting PBS’ “My Generation,” for which she won the 2013 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Host. In the same year, Gibbons’ book about personal growth, ”Take 2,” became a New York Times bestseller.

In 2015, Gibbons became the winner of NBC’s “The Celebrity Apprentice.” Having raised more than $700,000 for her foundation, Gibbons became the second woman to win the title. At the urging of many who wanted to learn her strategy for winning without sabotaging others, Gibbons wrote “Fierce Optimism: Seven Secrets for Playing Nice and Winning Big.” The book is Gibbons’ timely and prescriptive guide to succeeding in life and business, focusing on the tools she has used throughout her decades-long career.

Earlier this year Gibbons signed a long-term deal with Tribune and Los Angeles affiliate KTLA to take over hosting duties for the New Year’s Day Rose Parade. Tribune distributes the show to more than 225 countries around the world and the new pact coincides with their 70th anniversary of covering the annual parade.

A pioneer in the direct response industry, Gibbons recently crossed the $1 billion mark in sales. She was recently named the industry’s Icon Award winner and was inducted into the Electronic Retail Association’s Hall of Fame.

Recognized as a social entrepreneur, Gibbons has become one of the leading voices for issues facing family caregivers. In 2003, when her mother and grandmother were struggling with Alzheimer’s disease, she created what she wished her family had and started the Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation. Through its signature program, Leeza’s Care Connection, family caregivers receive free services for programs and support, allowing them to “call on their courage and summon their strength” for the journey ahead.

Furthering her advocacy in healthcare, Gibbons was named the spokesperson for Philips Healthcare, a worldwide leader in diagnostic, treatment and preventative care. She also provides education and support for families facing caregiving challenges through her long-term partnership with Senior Helpers.
Gibbons has become known as a trusted girlfriend, valued confidante and source of inspiration and information, empowering others to show up for their lives with confidence and pride. Whether it’s her scrapbooking line honoring the value of memories, her jewelry collection to symbolize transformation or her cosmetic products to reveal inner and outer beauty, Gibbons develops programs and products to help people claim their strength and rewrite the story of their lives.

Gibbons currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband, New York Times bestselling author Steven Fenton, and their three children — daughter Leksy and sons Troy and Nathan.

Gemma Godfrey

Advisor, "The New Celebrity Apprentice"

Gemma Godfrey is the U.K.’s most influential FinTech entrepreneur and founder and CEO of the award-winning online personal finance firm Moo.la. The former quantum physicist and board advisor previously headed investment strategy for a publicly listed wealth manager with $10 billion of assets.

Her firm, Moo.la, enhances people’s financial well-being. It solves the need for a low-cost, simple-to-understand and easy-to-access investment service. The service offers people the comfort to get started, investment options previously out of reach, the knowledge to make smarter decisions and peace of mind. Moo.la is ranked a “top 10 FinTech company to watch.”

As a trusted business expert, she appears regularly on ITV’s “Good Morning Britain,” “BBC Breakfast,” Sky News and CNBC.

With a background in quantum physics, Godfrey was the head of investment strategy at Brooks Macdonald, chairman of the investment committee at Credo Capital and a fund manager at GAM after starting her career at Goldman Sachs. She is a board advisor to Templars and CLU School of Management.

Named one of the most powerful women in London by CityAM, frequently topping their FinTech Powerlist and ranked amongst the savviest on Wall Street by the Wall Street Journal, Godfrey was selected by the BBC as one of the world’s top women “striving to make the world a better place.”

Shut the flippin' front door! ~~ Do you think you were born awesome, or just grew up badass? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Edited (12/30/16 04:21 PM)