Editor’s Letter: Ari Emanuel Wrote This Fall’s Must-Read Dealmaking Memoir

Lo, the downward slope of 2026—already, by this writing, a record year in value for IPOs and mergers. In this, the year of the megadeal, barely a week in this newsroom has gone by without our covering some transformational tie-up or moonshot acquisition. (Some, like Paramount’s ongoing pursuit of Warner Bros. Discovery, might be as cinematic as the product they make.)

But the best financial journalists in the game can’t always get every single shred of detail “in the room.” (Long may we try.) To scratch that fully voyeuristic itch, we often have to wait for merger and dealmaker principals to talk for themselves: the sit-down broadcast interviews; the expansive anecdotes from a panel stage. And, of course, the memoirs.

Superagent and WME Group executive chairman Ari Emanuel’s lust for upside is the stuff of legend. Three consecutive Primetime Emmys went to an HBO pastiche of his dealmaking mania. But the gritty, adrenalized, in-the-room honesty of exactly how he architected his business deals and takeovers—the setbacks he encountered; the clients he snared and wooed; the work partnerships he built and abruptly ended; the ferocious ambition with which he burned through the decades—hasn’t fully emerged until now. Together with J.R. Moehringer, the Pulitzer Prize–winning author and a correspondent of this magazine, Ari now tells his (and WME’s) origin story for the first time—in the words of his publisher, “often at the top of his lungs.” The worldwide exclusive is here for you to enjoy, and it’s hardly the milk-and-cookies remembrances of some CEO memoirs past. Thank God for that.

By Ari Emanuel

In an exclusive excerpt from his new memoir, ‘Roll the Calls,’ the Endeavor co-founder reveals the bare-knuckle strategy behind the takeover of the William Morris Agency.

Read more >

In an age when any misstep could go viral, model behavior means being more self-aware than ever. This weekend, Off Duty presents a guide to make every day better for you and those around you.

Nora Knoepflmacher asked authors for their takes on etiquette in 2026:

In an AARP survey from 2019, 37% of the respondents said they had a close friend at least 15 years younger or older than they are. Those people are onto something. In midlife, finding new friends who aren’t at the same life stage as you can be incredibly rewarding. You might not get the same cultural references as your younger friends, but you can still find deep connections. They can also keep your mind flexible by exposing you to new ideas and insights. An older friend, meanwhile, may have been through a problem you’re facing, and can offer concrete advice. —Lindsay Goldwert and Gabrielle Moss, co-authors of ‘The Midlife Plot Twist’ (Sept. 15)

The tip screen isn’t going anywhere. It can feel like you’re being asked for a handout, but it’s simple economics: If a coffee shop didn’t have a tip screen, it would probably charge you higher base prices to cover the cost of its staff. That doesn’t mean you always have to hit the steepest tip option. Come up with a tipping policy that works for you, and stick to it. That way you take the guesswork out of each transaction and can focus on enjoying your cappuccino. —Saul Levmore and Ward Farnsworth, co-authors of ‘Should You Tip for Takeout?’ (Oct. 20)

Show up to a group trip prepared to swallow a few expenses here and there, instead of holding everyone to the penny. No one wants to waste the weekend haggling over $20. Take care of the big expenses as soon as possible and then don’t bother bringing out the calculator for smaller bills. If you all go out for dinner, and one or two people don’t have a drink but everyone else does, it’s usually not worth dividing the bill exactly for what amounts to $5 to $10 extra per person. The overall energy of the trip and the relationships strengthened by shared experience are worth much more than the nickels and dimes you won’t miss in the long run. —Gail Simmons, author of ‘Guesting’ (Nov. 3)

Read on for more tips on modern behavior from our reporters, including: The new fashion rules everyone should follow; the two-step solution for a better shower; the key to a killer resume; a plea to put on headphones; a take on phones in restaurants; concert-etiquette tips; a how-to on giving good host gifts; best practices for handling spoiler alerts; and the wedding guests’ guide to saying no.

Have a hot take on modern etiquette? Share your thoughts by replying to this email in your inbox, or reach out to us at magazine@wsj.com.

By Kelly Crow

The artist’s daughters have taken over his estate. Now they’ve organized the most extensive show of his work in two decades.

Read more >

By Nora Knoepflmacher

On Murano island, the Seguso family has been leaders in the craft of glassblowing for six centuries.

Read more >

By Katherine Sayre

Jimmy Buffett, king of the chill beachcombing lifestyle, thought he had set up a smooth plan to pass along his $275 million trust. But family—and fortune—are hard to predict.

Read more >

Twiggy tells Lane Florsheim about her low-fuss beauty routine and the 1967 interview with Woody Allen that went viral over 50 years later.

There’s a clip in the documentary of this interview that’s become very famous, of Woody Allen interviewing you when you were also 17. He asked you who your favorite philosopher is, and you can’t name one, but then you ask him the same question and he also isn’t able to name one. What was it like for you to have that clip from 1967 go viral over 50 years later?

Everyone says to me, “You were so clever.” I wasn’t. I was panic-stricken because that was done in front of an audience. I was quite shy. I was used to people in interviews saying, “How did you get your name?” Or, “What do you eat?” So when he opened with, “Who’s your favorite philosopher?”, I can remember that feeling to this day. My stomach. I didn’t know any philosophy. All I could think was, “Don’t cry, don’t cry.” In my panic, I said, “Well, who’s yours?”

Looking back on it, do you see it as a feminist moment? I think that’s how a lot of young women who have discovered it see it.

It wasn’t planned but it was quite a showing moment.

In My Monday Morning, celebrities and business leaders share their routines and tricks for staying productive and creative. You can also listen and watch this full interview on The Journal podcast. Read more editions here.

Purchase original single issues from WSJ. Magazine’s archives.

Visit the WSJ Shop ›