Mark Burnett

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Biography

Recent Role:
on Expedition Impossible
Gender:
Male
Birthplace:
London, England, UK
Birth Name:
Mark Burnett
Mark Burnett was born on July 17, 1960 in the east end of London, England. He was the only child of two Ford Motors factory workers. He was raised in London, and later moved in Dagenham, a small town in Essex. At the age of seventeen, he enlisted in the British Army. He later became a Section Commander of the infamous Parachute Regiment and fought in Northern Ireland and Falkland Islands, where many of his fellow soldiers died in the advance on Port Stanley.



In October of 1982, he decided to leave Britain for the United States of America. His original plan was to



… More fly to Los Angeles, then take a flight south to Central America where he could work for the British Special Air Service as a military advisor. At that time, Central America was in great turmoil. In order not to make his mother worry about his intention, he told her that he was just going to pick up a security job in Los Angeles.



By the time the plane landed in America, he decided not to go to Central America, but to stay in Los Angeles to chase the American Dream instead. Upon his arrival, he met up with a friend who had also immigrated from Britain a few years earlier and was working as a chauffeur. His friend told him that he had heard of a live-in nanny job in Beverly Hills and that the interview was on that night. Mark immediately grabbed at the opportunity, eventhough he knew nothing of what a nanny or even a babysitter was like. His military background paid off, because the family realized the advantage of hiring him as a nanny and a bodyguard at the same time.



After a year of working for the Jaeger family, he moved on to another family in Malibu, taking care of two boys for $250 a week. He was eventually given a position in the insurance office owned by Burt, the father of the two boys.



Two years later, Mark and his girlfriend, Kymberly, decided to rent a portion of a fence at Venice Beach and sell T-shirts for $18 each during weekends. After making his fortune from selling shirts, he left his insurance job and started a credit card marketing business.


On February 21, 1991, he was able to read an article in the newspaper written by Jon Markman about a French adventure competition called the Raid Gauloises. With four other members, he joined the Raid and called his team American Pride. Aside from adventure, he saw a business opportunity in the competition. He told himself that he would bring a similar race to America, and the rest was history.



He had created and produced several award-winning reality competition programs and TV shows like Eco-Challenge, Combat Missions, and Survivor. His entrepreneurial spirit has helped pioneer the success of the reality 'unscripted' drama series and bring it to mainstream television.



He currently resides in Los Angeles, California.









/rouxan

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  •  
    10 Perfect
    Mastermind behind the "reality tv" genre! hide show

    Is Mark Burnett a genius or not because if it weren't for him, we would never, ever be hearing of a Survivor, Big Brother, the Amazing Race, or a thing called REALITY TV. He is really the Grandad of all reality tv. And Survivor is the Grandaddy of the Reality tv shows. Brilliant guy indeed!

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    JPPT1974 Added Dec 6, 2006 All my reviews
  •  
    10 Perfect
    GEnius and a mastermind but way too critical hits.
    Hurts to see the impact of his show upon its clientel but in the end it is just a show and we can\\\'t be one to judge from the inside now can we. hide show

    GEnius and a mastermind but way too critical hits.
    Hurts to see the impact of his show upon its clientel but in the end it is just a show and we can\\\'t be one to judge from the inside now can we. I wish him the best and his new show the ultimate ultimate challange the best but to get a signature Itll take more than that. Sorry but my name isnt for sale ans niether is my pride. I am not an objexct of sale and I am not crazy either so dont pull that wildcard anymore.
    I am tired of being used and sadly that is what it is in the end. I have been used and used myself to promote my own intentions just as easily but in the end I guess nothing really matters. One hundred words is too long I dont feel I should have a requirement for my review but if I could give you and honest summary I would say...

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    ashpi Added Oct 22, 2006 All my reviews
 

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