Arnon Milchan (born December 6, 1944, in Rehovot, Mandatory Palestine, now Israel) is an Israeli billionaire businessman, Hollywood film producer, screenwriter, and former spy for Israeli intelligence, specifically the Bureau of Scientific Relations (Lakam). Born into a Zionist family to Dov Milchan (owner of an agrochemical/fertilizer business who died around 1965) and Shoshana Milchan, he has one sister, Dalia Hirsch. He inherited his father's modest agrochemical business, Milchan Brothers, at age 21 and expanded it into one of Israel's largest companies, a $125 million international enterprise. Educated at the University of Geneva, Milchan entered the American film industry in 1977 through an introduction to producer Elliot Kastner. He founded and owns Regency Enterprises (formerly Embassy International Pictures), establishing a long-term distribution partnership with 20th Century Fox (now owned by Disney), and the company has produced over 130 films, including Academy Award winners and nominees such as 12 Years a Slave, Birdman, L.A. Confidential, The Revenant, The Big Short, JFK, Heat, Fight Club, and Mr. & Mrs. Smith. He has received multiple Oscar nominations for Best Picture. His wealth, estimated by Forbes at approximately $6.4 billion as of January 2026 (ranked among the top 650 wealthiest individuals globally), derives from New Regency Enterprises, a profitable 1997–2003 ownership stake in sportswear brand Puma (acquired for $150 million, sold for nearly $700 million), ownership of Israel's Channel 10 television network, WTA broadcasting rights, and approximately $500 million in offshore holdings via British Virgin Islands companies, including artwork, antiques, cash, and real estate in Manhattan and Malibu. An avid art collector with a collection valued around $600 million, Milchan is also an amateur painter. As a high-level operative for Lakam, a secret Israeli agency tasked with gathering technical and scientific intelligence, Milchan used his Hollywood cover to procure technology and materials for Israel's nuclear program in the 1960s and 1970s, including sanctions-breaking activities for krytron nuclear triggers and other components, as well as 1980s arms dealings with apartheid-era South Africa; he famously admitted, 'I did it for my country and I'm proud of it.' Recruited for intelligence work by Shimon Peres, Milchan holds dual citizenship in Israel and Monaco and has maintained close personal ties to Israeli leaders including Peres and Benjamin Netanyahu (described in some accounts as 'like brothers'). In recent years, he became a central figure in 'Case 1000,' a corruption investigation into Netanyahu, in which he provided luxury gifts (high-end cigars, pink champagne, jewelry) worth hundreds of thousands of shekels to the Netanyahus. In February 2018, Israeli police recommended bribery charges against Milchan, alleging he provided these gifts in exchange for political favors including tax exemptions (the 'Milchan Law'), visa assistance, and U.S. visa renewal help; Milchan was not indicted. He testified remotely from the UK as a key prosecution witness in Netanyahu's trial on 25 June 2023, confirming the gifts but stating they were not in exchange for favors. His past intelligence work contributed to U.S. authorities declining to renew his 10-year visa. Milchan has not visited Israel since 2016 and now primarily resides in the UK (with testimony given from Brighton), while maintaining properties in Malibu (California), Manhattan (New York), France, and Monaco; New Regency Enterprises maintains offices including at 10201 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. Previously married to French model Brigitte Genmaire (divorced), with whom he had three children: Elinor Milchan (professional photographer), Alexandra Milchan (film producer), and Yariv Milchan (film executive who became chairman and CEO of New Regency Enterprises in 2016). With current spouse Amanda Coetzer (South African former professional tennis player), he has two additional children: Shimon Milchan and Olivia Milchan. Milchan is known for his influence in Hollywood and Israeli business circles.