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The last 20 years has seen a rise in so-called "momagers." These managers who also happen to be the star's mother can lead their children to success, but it can also come with its perils. Some say you shouldn't mix business and family, whilst others believe it to be good to keep someone they trust in charge of their team
Perhaps the most famous momager of all time is Kris Jenner, who has helped launch her daughters, Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, and Kendall Jenner, to international fame. Thanks to her management her children are billionaires with music careers, international businesses, modeling careers and lucrative branding deals, alongside one of the music reality shows.
Jenner is not the only one to take control of her children's life. Despite trademarking the term, there have been decades of successful momagers in the entertainment industry. Here are just some of the most famous managers who also happen to be parents of their clients.
16 Dina Lohan And Lindsay Lohan
Dina Lohan enrolled her daughter Lindsay in Ford Models at the tender age of three. Dina’s parenting skills were a hot topic of controversy in the press, as she allegedly partied alongside Lindsay at clubs, despite her daughter's substance issues. Dina also used Lindsay's issues in the spotlight to make money, selling stories to the tabloids
In October 2012, 911 was called after the duo had a verbal altercation at their Long Island home. Although no arrests were made, Dina has had many run-ins with the law. She was arrested for speeding and driving under the influence in September 2013 and again in January 2020 for driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident.
Despite public scrutiny and earning the title 'The Worst Mother In America', Lindsay has continued to call Dina “the best mom ever.”
15 Carmen Milian's Helicopter Parenting
Carmen Milian's helicopter parenting on Christina Milian’s reality TV show Christina Milian Turned Up made quite an impact. Their show frequently showed the family arguing with each other.
Christina fired her momager in 2015, but the pair remain close.
14 Pattie Mallette Went From Teen Mom To Justin Bieber’s Momager
After giving birth to Justin Bieber as a teenager, Pattie Mallette played a significant part in launching the Canadian singer's career. She heavily promoted her son on YouTube and helped him land his first recording contract. Even when she took a backseat to more experienced managers, she still traveled with him as he toured the world.
13 Tish Cyrus Became An Influential Momager
While Miley Cyrus followed in the steps of her father Billy Ray Cyrus, it was really her mother Tish has also helped her transition from Disney actress to international pop star. Tish Cyrus became one of the most influential celebrity momagers, even if she would later choose to also share the job with Jason Morey and later Larry Rudolph.
“I think ‘momager’ kind of gets a bad name,” Tish revealed. “Yes, I’m their mom, but I manage them. I’m their manager, along with a team. And I love it,” she said. But there are downsides. “It’s a lot of pressure, just because I don’t want to make mistakes knowing that I’m also her mom. Somehow it’s worked out really well for us.”
Tish admits they would fall out and argue when Miley was a teenager. “There were times where we would be on tour, and I’d have to ground Miley,” she said. She’d be like, ‘You’re fired!” And I’m like, ‘You’re not 18!’ It was a whole thing.” But today, she says they’re “so close” and that Miley “respects [her] so much.”
12 Jonetta Patton Worked As Usher’s Momager Before His Record Deal
Usher bagged his first record deal at the tender age of 14. The R&B singer's mom Jonetta Patton had already been working as his manager for a year when he landed the contract. Patton represented Usher until 2007, then stepped back in between 2008 and 2009 before retiring.
"We began to part our ways when I wanted to expand in other areas that I felt like she wasn't necessarily considerate of. You know, why create this tension when I'm attempting to grow as a man?" he said about their ups and downs.
11 Mandy Teefey Used To Be Selena Gomez’s Momager
After her big break in Disney's Wizards of Waverly Place,Selena Gomez relied on her mother to manage her business affairs. In 2014, they parted way after Selena realized mixing business and family wasn't the best idea. Unfortunately, it appeared Mandy learned about her firing through the press.
It looked like their business relationship caused a huge issue in their personal relationship, "It caused a huge rift in their relationship. Mandy wouldn't even let Selena talk to her sister for a long time," a source told the press at the time.
"Mandy and Selena's stepdad [Brian Teefey] really did everything they could for Selena so when she fired her it took a toll on Mandy emotionally and professionally."
10 Joe Simpson Managed His Famous Daughters
Joe Simpson was once the manager of not one, but two famous singers and actresses: his daughters Jessica and Ashlee Simpson. Jessica released Joe as her manager in 2012 after years in business together.
"He thought I was following my mother’s wishes, but he had made some bad deals for me. It took about five times to really fire him before the message stuck,” she told Entertainment Tonight, adding, "I knew I had to make the move to go forward with ownership of my own career."
9 Scarlett Johansson Was Managed By Her Mother Until Her First Marriage
Scarlett Johansson's mother, Melanie Sloan, managed her career when she first started her career in Hollywood.
The Jojo Rabbit actress cut professional ties with her mom after she married Ryan Reynolds in 2008. "Once I got married, I felt that I needed to cut the cord," the actress said at the time.
Rick Yorn, the brother of musician Pete Yorn, now serves as Scarlett's talent manager.
8 Inez Rupprecht Kept Kirsten Dunst Grounded As A Child Star
Former child star Kirsten Dunst praised her momager Inez Rupprecht for making sure her upbringing was relatively normal. The former Lufthansa flight attendant has served as a manager throughout the actress' successful career.
"Being a child actress can really be unhealthy for your psyche," the Oscar-nominated actress told Gotham Magazine. "But my mom always sent me to normal school [Notre Dame in Los Angeles], so I never missed out on the prom or field trips or any of that stuff."
7 Joe Jackson Managed One Of The Most Success Families
Though he became estranged from most of his family, Joe Jackson once managed all of his famous children's careers, including his son Michael Jackson's and daughter Janet Jackson's. There were allegations of abuse throughout his career, leading to his children becoming estranged from him.
Jackson, a failed musician himself, pushed his kids in playing instruments and prompted the formation of Jackson 5. Joseph had also formed his own record label Ivory Tower International Records and signed artists who would tour internationally with The Jackson 5. He died in 2018.
6 Ariel Winter Dramatically Cut Ties With Her Momager
The Modern Family actress had a very public falling out with her mother and former manager, Crystal Workman.
She emancipated herself from her mother in 2015 when she was 17 years old, accusing her of emotional and physical abuse.
Later she would tell The Hollywood Reporter that with her mother was in charge of her career, she banned her from making friends with other girls because they were the competition, controlled what she could eat, neglected her education, encouraged her to wear revealing clothes and forced her to stay out late at night to build business relationships.
5 Matthew Knowles Helps Daughters To International Stardom
Not only was Matthew Knowles once the manager of Destiny's Child, but also managed his daughters, Beyoncé and Solange Knowles, at the beginning of their solo careers. Their relationship was rocky, despite him executive producing many of Beyoncé's albums, and they parted ways in 2011.
While she wasn't technically Beyoncé's manager, Tina Knowles was a big part of her decision-making over the years, and has helped her daughter's career from a young age.
4 The Culkin's Ruthless Manager Dad
Kit Culkin, was "one of the most notorious negotiators in Hollywood" during the height of Macaulay Culkin's star's success. He is also father to Succession actor Kieran Culkin and Scream 4 star, Rory Culkin.
Following a heated custody battle between Kit and the actor's mother, Patricia Brentrup, who co-managed his career, Macaulay sued his parents to remove them as his legal guardians and to take control of his finances. The Culkin family and their father are now estranged.
In his 2007 memoir, Macaulay claimed that their father was "physically and mentally abusive" toward him. While Kieran insists that he did not have the same "crazy, negative, awful, traumatic experiences as a child actor" as his older sibling, he did tell The Hollywood Reporter that his father "wasn't a good person and, yeah, probably not a good parent".
3 Katherine Heigl's Mother Took Control Of Her Career
Katherine Heigl's mom, Nancy, has managed her daughter's career since she was a child actress. She has even served as an executive producer on Katherine's short-lived 2014 NBC drama State of Affairs.
NBC Entertainment President Jennifer Salke called Nancy Katherine's "momager, best friend and confidant" when she was working as a producer.
2 Kanye West Still Dedicates His Career To His Late Mother
Kanye West's beloved late mother, Donda West, served as his manager early in his career. He has dedicated albums and songs to her throughout his career.
"There's nothing that she loved more than to come to the shows and scream louder than any fan, because she was my first fan that was screaming before anybody else, and my first manager," the rapper said in 2007 following his mom's death.
Donda died in Los Angeles in 2007, after undergoing several cosmetic procedures the day prior. West has spoken several times about her death, blaming himself and his move to LA for her tragic passing at just 58.
1 Leann Rimes Had A Serious Falling Out With Her Manager Father
LeAnn Rimes' business relationship with her father, Wilbur C. Rimes, did not end well.
In 2000, the singer sued her father and her co-manager, Lyle Walker, for allegedly stealing more than $7 million from her over a five-year period. According to LeAnn's lawsuit, the duo charged unreasonable fees and manipulated her company for their own financial gain.
Wilbur and Walker reportedly raised their manager and producer fees as well as conducted under-the-table dealing with a transportation company and insurance agent, who turned out to be Walker's son
"I go by the saying 'Money's the root of all evil.' And I definitely believe that the love for money is the root of all evil because it changes people," she said after her father pocketed 30% of her earnings.
In 2003, her father filed a counterclaim against the country singer, calling her a spoiled brat who was disobedient to her parents. He suggested that his daughter's money was depleted because of her extravagant lifestyle. For five years there was dramatic court drama between the Rimes' family. Luckily, the family have since reconnected.
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