Ryan Colin Kavanaugh (born December 4, 1974) is an American film producer and film financier. He is the founder and current CEO of Relativity Media. Through Relativity, he has financed more than 200 films representing more than $17 billion in revenue (earning the nickname "Billion Dollar Producer"). He is credited as producer of 61 films and known for creating a new "Moneyball" model of film finance. He was named by Variety as 2011’s "Showman of the Year" and one of Fortune’s "40 Under 40". He was on Forbes’ list of wealthiest people and he recently entered an investment partnership with Ron Burkle. He is active in philanthropy and was named a Hollywood Humanitarian by Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Kavanaugh was born in Springfield, Missouri. After attending UCLA, Kavanaugh founded a small venture capital firm. The firm struggled in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and resulting market downturn and was eventually wound up.