Our Haute 100 list details the accomplishments of the most influential people in each of our markets—Miami, New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. These people continue to make moves, so rather than waiting for the next Haute 100 issue to come out, we thought we’d provide you with regular updates on those Haute 100ers who are making headlines. Check back daily for more info on the most powerful people in your city.
Michael Bay
Category Entertainers
Company Bay Films
Industry Film
What Made Him Haute: He is one of Hollywood’s most bankable directors, producing action flicks that put him in the limelight and in the black, with ticket sales hitting the $3 billion mark. Bad Boys, Pearl Harbor, and Transformers are among his list of credits.
What Makes Him Haute Now: Bay was recently ranked No. 1 on Vanity Fair’s inaugural list of “Top Hollywood Earners,” beating out iconic directors, producers, and actors such as James Cameron, Steven Spielberg, and Roland Emmerich. The magazine estimates his 2009 earnings to be in the $125 million range, thanks mainly to Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. He is currently in production for the third installment of Transformers, which is set to premiere next year, and the next movie will add exponentially to the $3.5 billion already grossed worldwide by the series.
