Ryan Seacrest's Entertainment Empire

Nov. 7, 2007 — -- Ryan Seacrest is the definition of a multitasker. At this exact moment, he is simultaneously producing five television series for different networks, preparing for the Golden Globes pre-show, hosting a daily radio show and the weekly TV's "American Top 40," as well as hosting TV's "American Idol."

Despite the exhaustion, stress and isolation this kind of lifestyle creates, Seacrest says he would have it no other way. "The reward and the fulfillment far outweighs the fatigue and the loneliness," he said of his busy schedule.

Seacrest has been somewhat of a jack of all trades since a young age.

"My life was school and football and student government," he said. "So I did a little bit of everything when I was a kid and that has become sort of become the motto of my business now, doing a little bit of everything."

His high school ambitions started Seacrest on a pattern of pursuing multiple interests at the same time, carefully studying his idols in each field. He became interested in a career with pop culture at a young age and meticulously researched his idols Dick Clark, Larry King, Merv Griffin and Casey Kasem to draw from the strengths of all of them in the pursuit of his own dreams.

"With Larry, he'll sit and ask questions not knowing where he's going to go. Not knowing where the guest is going to go. That's great," Seacrest said. "That's a massive security on the air. That's fantastic. You feel that confidence from him. Merv Griffin did something really amazing. And I still I just admire this so much. He would make every person on his show shine."

Drawing on what he learned, Seacrest has already begun to build an empire. In 2002, he began hosting "American Idol." In 2004, he took over for Kasem and began hosting "American Top 40."