Embezzling $7 Million from Alanis Morissette & Overcoming Gambling Addiction — Jonathan Schwartz

Jonathan Schwartz, CPA was a top 5 power business manager in the entertainment industry. His clients included A-List musicians, athletes, and film stars. He developed a severe gambling addiction that lead him to embezzling $7 Million dollars from his clients. He was ordered to repay 8 million dollars in restitution and is now serving a 6 year prison sentence in Oregon. He plans to write a book and educate / empower people on the dangers of addiction and how they can seek a healthier path and avoid the pitfalls he has encountered in his own life. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS // 0 - Intro / Guest Background 5:20 - Keeping a façade up is exhausting 8:25 - What was your path to becoming a top business manager in the music biz? 10:25 - Not being phased by celebrity / hollywood glam 11:43 - When did you know you wanted to be a music accountant? 14: 34 - How did your first big lucky break w/Linkin Park come about? 16:49 - Best advice to new artists? 19:39 - Importance of the right TEAM. 23:36 - The people closest to you abandoning you 26:31 - What was the point you turned from functioning addict to full loss of control over your life? 28:49 - What was your lowest point? 32:13 - What new mission / redemption looks like.. 34:40 - Importance of therapy and vulnerability 37:05 - Discuss your upcoming book.. 38:17 - The volatility of the entertainment biz 41:27 - What have been the most valuable tools / help to you in your recovery thus far? 43:15 - A quote to help shift how you help people going through something challenging.. 46:11 - Huge parallel / gem of life, recovery, and business 47:20 - Advice you would give to your 18 year old self? 49:23 - Observing / sitting in on a staged funeral + eulogy and what you learned