Clive Calder is a South African-born British music executive and entrepreneur, the self-made billionaire founder of Zomba Records and Jive Records. His career is defined by his visionary ability to identify and nurture massive global musical talent. Born in 1946 in South Africa, his background is rooted in the early music industry and media management.

Calder moved to the United Kingdom, recognizing the global potential of music production and distribution. His entrepreneurial journey began with a focus on publishing and production, allowing him to maintain greater creative and financial control over the artists he developed—a crucial strategy that led to his immense, generation-defining fortune.

Clive Calder founded Zomba Records in 1975 and its successful subsidiary, Jive Records. His business model was revolutionary: building a vertically integrated empire that controlled every aspect of an artist's career, from publishing (the most lucrative source of long-term income) and management to recording and distribution. This strategy was highly unusual for the time and gave him immense leverage and financial advantage.

Calder's keen ear for commercial pop talent led him to discover and launch the careers of some of the biggest pop superstars of the late 20th and early 21st century, including Britney Spears, NSYNC, The Backstreet Boys, A Tribe Called Quest, and R. Kelly. His company dominated the pop and hip-hop charts globally. The pinnacle of his career came in 2002 when he sold the Zomba Group to Bertelsmann (BMG) for a massive $2.7 billion, securing his status as one of the wealthiest and most influential figures in music history. Since the sale, Calder has maintained a highly private, reclusive lifestyle.

Clive Calder's social impact is massive and cultural, stemming from Zomba Records' role in shaping global pop and hip-hop music culture in the 1990s and 2000s. His company launched the careers of numerous, genre-defining artists.

Following his sale, Calder has become a major philanthropist, channeling his funds into discreet charitable endeavors. His philosophy of vertical integration and ownership control in the music industry has influenced the structure of modern entertainment conglomerates.

Clive Calder maintains a famously reclusive and private lifestyle, a choice that contrasts sharply with the high-profile nature of the music industry he dominated. His attire is likely high-quality, conservative, and discreet, reflecting his deep aversion to the media spotlight.

His luxury is the immense liquid security derived from the sale of his music empire, which affords him the autonomy to pursue a private life. His wealth is a testament to the profitability of controlling music publishing rights and the successful vertical integration of the entertainment sector.