Power Rangers: Haim Saban (2017)

The 'How I Built This with Guy Raz' episode featuring Haim Saban chronicles the journey of a man whose tenacity and business acumen led him to create a multi-billion dollar empire, largely through the success of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Born into a modest family in Alexandria, Egypt, Saban faced adversity from an early age. His family, being Jewish, had to flee to Israel after the Suez War, where they lived in poverty. Saban, determined to improve his family's circumstances, juggled work and night school, eventually dropping out to pursue a career in music. He became a band manager and later, a concert promoter, bringing international acts to Israel. However, a series of unfortunate events, including the Yom Kippur War, left him deeply in debt.

Saban's relentless pursuit of opportunity led him to Paris, where he struck gold with a children's record that went platinum. This success paved the way for his move to the United States, where he shifted his focus to the lucrative world of cartoon music production. His company, Saban Entertainment, became a significant player in the industry, producing music for popular shows like Inspector Gadget and He-Man. Saban's business model was unique; he offered to produce music for free in exchange for retaining the publishing and composer rights, which proved to be a highly profitable strategy.

The pivotal moment in Saban's career came during a trip to Japan, where he stumbled upon a live-action superhero show. He instantly saw potential in adapting it for American audiences. Despite facing eight years of rejection, Saban's gut feeling about the show's potential never wavered. Finally, the Fox Kids Network gave the Power Rangers a chance, and the show exploded in popularity, becoming a cultural phenomenon and transforming Saban's business.

Saban's success with the Power Rangers led to a partnership with Rupert Murdoch and the creation of the Fox Family Channel. Saban's business savvy shone again when he negotiated a joint venture with Murdoch, rather than selling his company outright. This move would eventually lead to a massive payday when the channel was sold to Disney for $5.3 billion, netting Saban a personal fortune of $1.5 billion.