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After dinner, I’m going to watch more Netflix, which means Ted Sarandos’ decisions are going to take shape in my den. As co-CEO, he decides which shows, films, and creators get onto one of the most senior of streaming platforms, one that can turn a niche idea into a worldwide phenomenon overnight. When Netflix backs a project, it can almost instantly create a cultural conversation.
Sarandos also taps into Netflix’s massive international footprint. He’s pushed hard into local-language hits, global franchises, and cross-border production, giving him outsized sway over what entertainment looks like across dozens of countries. Few executives can greenlight content that reaches over 300 million people in 190 countries.
On top of that, he’s navigating how Netflix evolves during the industry’s messy transition into an AI-driven, cost-conscious era—balancing creator relationships, budgets, and tech shifts. At the same time, competitors nip at his heels and innovators keep changing the game. In an arena where attention is the most valuable currency, Sarandos controls one of the biggest pipelines.
