Donny Deutsch Biography

Donald "Donny" Deutsch (born November 22, 1957) is an American advertising executive and television personality.

He is the former host of the CNBC talk show The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch (2004–2008).

Early life and education

Deutsch was born to a Jewish family in Hollis Hills, a neighborhood in the Queens borough of New York City, New York. His father, David Deutsch, founded David Deutsch Associates, now known as Deutsch Inc., in 1969.

He attended the Martin Van Buren High School, located in the nearby Queens Village neighborhood; Deutsch later attended the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Career

Donny Deutsch joined his father's adverting firm, David Deutsch Associates, in 1983. In 1989, David Deutsch handed full control of the agency to Donny Deutsch, who became chairman. Deutsch renamed the agency Deutsch Inc.

Deutsch is the chairman of Deutsch Inc., an advertising agency founded by his father, which he sold to the Interpublic Group of Companies in 2000 for US$265 million.

In addition to his work on The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch, Deutsch has appeared as a regular guest on MSNBC's morning talk show Morning Joe. He also appeared as a judge on TV, when he appeared on NBC's reality-television series The Apprentice. He now appears regularly on the Today Show, in a segment called "The Professionals".

In April of 2013, Deutsch's prime-time CNN talk show, "(Get to) The Point", was cancelled after just one week after the Nielsen Company said the show attracted just 268,000 viewers. The show was also mocked by comedian Jon Stewart during his Comedy Central show.

Writing

He has published several books, including a business motivation book, Often Wrong, Never in DoubtUnleash the Business Rebel Within (2005), written with co-author Peter Knobler.

Personal life

In 2000, he married Stacy Josloff, whom he later divorced. Deutsch's former girlfriend, Amanda Zacharia, gave birth to their daughter, Daisy, in 2007.

Deutsch purchased a five-story property in New York City for $21 million and reportedly spent another $20 million on renovations in 2006. Deutsch also purchased a $29 million home in East Hampton Village, New York.

On February 25, 2013 on Piers Morgan Tonight, Deutsch declared that he is a member of the Democratic Party.

Bibliography

• Deutsch, Donny; Knobler, Peter (2005). Often Wrong, Never in DoubtUnleash the Business Rebel Within. New York City, New York: Collins Press. ISBN 978-0-06-056718-7.
• Deutsch, Donny; Whitney, Catherine (2008), The Big Idea: How to Make Your Entrepreneurial Dreams Come True, From the Aha Moment to Your First Million. New York City, New York: Hyperion Books. ISBN 1401323219