UTA timed super-agent Rich Paul’s book party perfectly. “We just found out today that it’s a New York Times best-seller,” agency CEO Jeremy Zimmer announced to the crowd at Beverly Hills’ UTA Artist Space on Oct. 18, “which, if you know Rich, of course it’s no surprise because if he’s going to write a book, it’s going to be on the best-seller list — that’s just how he rolls.”
Paul teamed with publisher Roc Lit 101 for the emotional Lucky Me: A Memoir of Changing the Odds, written with Jesse Washington and featuring a foreword by longtime best friend and client LeBron James.
Before raising a glass of Lobos tequila to celebrate the day’s news, Paul revealed that writing the tome became a cathartic experience. “It was actually something that I needed for myself. Oftentimes, you hold that trauma within and don’t know where to place it. Being a young Black man, it stunts your growth from a communication perspective, from a vulnerability perspective, and ultimately, a maturation perspective. So, at 42 years of age, I’ve found that I’m still maturing.”
As for how he landed on the title, Paul joked that he was trying to be a little sarcastic — but in the end, the joke was on him. “It’s actually true. Look at this room. I’m actually very lucky to have the support of people in my life,” he said. “Where I came from, this is Disney World.”
A version of this story first appeared in the Oct. 25 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.