Founder, Chair and Chief Executive, Penske Media Corp.

Penske’s dealmaking enlarged what was a publishing boutique to a sizeable privately owned multimedia conglomerate. In the past year, Penske engineered acquisitions of “Artforum” magazine, fan-oriented producer ATX TV, and a large stake in big digital-media publisher Vox Media. He also launched the two-day Los Angeles festival LA3C and various data services including Variety Film Chatter Chart powered by Twitter. The Westside-based media conglomerate includes Variety, Rolling Stone, The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard, Deadline.com, Fairchild Media, Vibe, awards show juggernaut Dick Clark Productions, and 50% of sprawling Texas-based cultural festival South by Southwest. Penske is the son of the famed race car driver/businessman.

YEARS ON THE LA500: 7