Max Handelman is a sportswriter, blogger, and film producer from the United States, recognized for helping establish the film production company ‘Productions’ and for co-authoring the book ‘Why Fantasy Football Matters: (And Our Lives Do Not).’ He graduated from the ‘University of Pennsylvania’ and obtained an MBA from the ‘University of California, Los Angeles’ (UCLA). A passionate fan of fantasy football and other fantasy sports, Max collaborated with his childhood friend Erik Barmack on their book ‘Why Fantasy Football Matters: (And Our Lives Do Not).’ The duo has also worked together on a blog titled ‘Beyond Bowie,’ where they discuss the ‘Portland Trail Blazers,’ the basketball team that Max loves. He serves as a partner at the film production company ‘Productions.’ After the debut of ‘Surrogates,’ Max has produced various films, a web series, and a TV movie, including the popular American comedy ‘Pitch Perfect’ and its two successful sequels. He is also co-producing the upcoming American action comedy ‘Charlie’s Angels,’ which features Kristen Stewart and Naomi Scott. His wife, Elizabeth Banks, is not only directing and co-producing the film but also stars in it.
Childhood & Early Life
Max Handelman was born on May 3, 1973, in Portland, Oregon, USA. He was raised in a Jewish family and graduated from the ‘Catlin Gabel School’ in 1991. He then attended the ‘University of Pennsylvania,’ where he earned his bachelor’s degree in 1995 and was a member of the ‘Alpha Epsilon Pi’ fraternity. Afterward, he continued his education at ‘UCLA’ and received an MBA in 2003.
Career of Max Handelman
Max is an avid enthusiast of fantasy football and other fantasy sports. His first book on the topic, which he co-wrote with his long-time friend Erik Barmack, is titled ‘Why Fantasy Football Matters: (And Our Lives Do Not),’ published in August 2006. Additionally, he is a big supporter of the Oregon basketball team, the ‘Portland Trail Blazers,’ and along with Barmack, they created a blog called ‘Beyond Bowie,’ which focuses on the ‘Blazers.’
He served as a director for ‘News Corporation’ and played a key role in establishing the ‘Fox Sports’ fantasy football division.
Max is also involved in film production. He co-founded and is a partner in the film production company ‘Productions.’ Over the years, he has contributed to various films, a TV movie, and a web series.
His producing debut was with the American science-fiction mystery film ‘Surrogates,’ which he worked on alongside David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman. Directed by Jonathan Mostow, the film featured Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchell, Ving Rhames, Rosamund Pike, James Cromwell, and Boris Kodjoe in lead roles. Released on September 25, 2009, it became a major success, earning over $122 million at the box office.
Subsequently, he co-produced the American comedy ‘Pitch Perfect’ with his wife, Elizabeth Banks, and Paul Brooks. Directed by Jason Moore and written by Kay Cannon, the film starred Elizabeth and premiered in Los Angeles on September 24, 2012, before hitting theaters in the US on September 28. It turned out to be both a critical and commercial success, raking in $115.4 million worldwide against a budget of $17 million.
Afterward, Max, Elizabeth, and Paul Brooks collaborated to produce two sequels to the award-winning film ‘Pitch Perfect,’ titled ‘Pitch Perfect 2’ and ‘Pitch Perfect 3.’ The sequels were released in the US on May 15, 2015, and December 22, 2017, respectively. ‘Pitch Perfect 2,’ directed by Elizabeth, grossed over $287 million globally, becoming the highest-grossing music comedy ever. ‘Pitch Perfect 3’ also achieved significant commercial success, ranking as the second-highest-grossing music comedy film.
Meanwhile, as an active producer, Max took on the role of executive producer for the American comedy series ‘Resident Advisors,’ alongside Elizabeth, Michael Petok, Natalia Anderson, and Ira Ungerleider. Created by Alex J Reid, Natalia Anderson, and Taylor Jenkins Reid, the series debuted on ‘Hulu’ on April 9, 2015.
Max also co-produced the biographical drama ‘The Most Hated Woman in America,’ directed by Tommy O’Haver, which centers on atheist activist Madalyn Murray O’Hair. The film premiered at ‘South by Southwest’ on March 14, 2017, and was later released on Netflix on March 24 of the same year, receiving mixed reviews.
He also produced the TV movie ‘The Trustee’ in 2017.
Max and Elizabeth are collaborating as producers under ‘Brownstone Productions,’ alongside Doug Belgrad and Elizabeth Cantillon, for the upcoming action-comedy ‘Charlie’s Angels,’ which is a reboot of the original ‘Charlie’s Angels’ franchise. Based on the television series of the same name, the film will be directed and co-written by Elizabeth, who will also have a role as ‘Bosley.’ The cast will feature Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott, and Ella Balinska. The film is set to be launched by ‘Sony Pictures’ on November 1, 2019.
Family & Personal Life
Max encountered Elizabeth Banks, who is now a well-known American actress, director, model, and producer, on September 6, 1993, while they were both studying at the ‘University of Pennsylvania.’ After several years of dating, Max wed Elizabeth on July 5, 2003. Elizabeth underwent parts of conversion to Judaism, the religion of her husband, and trained under the rabbis.
In March 2011, Max and Elizabeth welcomed their first child, a son named Felix, through surrogacy. The couple had their second son, Magnus Mitchell Handelman, also via gestational surrogacy, on November 14, 2012. Max and his family reside in Los Angeles, California, USA. According to estimates, Max’s net worth is around $1.5 million.
Max Handelman Net Worth
Max Handelman is a film producer, writer, blogger, and fantasy football enthusiast from the United States, boasting a net worth of $50 million (this amount is a joint net worth with his wife, actress and producer Elizabeth Banks). He was born in 1973 in Portland, Oregon, and completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania, followed by a master’s degree in business administration from the University of California, Los Angeles. During his time at university, he was a member of the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity. After starting his career as an investment banker, Handelman shifted to the news industry. He worked with News Corporation and played a key role in establishing a fantasy football segment at Fox Sports.