Les Moonves quietly set up three new ventures under the name Moon Rise last October just weeks after he was forced out as CEO of CBS — and weeks before he was formally fired.
In three filings with the California Secretary of State dated October 30, 2018, Moonves is listed as the sole manager of ventures that are focused on “entertainment services,” “film and television production” and “streaming services and distribution.”
According to the New York Times, which first reported the news, Moonves has set himself up in a 10th-floor office at 9000 Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood.
A rep for Moonves did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
CBS, which fired Moonves for cause in December after an investigation into multiple accusations of sexual misconduct, is believed to be footing the bill for his new offices, according to the terms of his exit deal.
The company and its longtime boss are still locked in a bitter legal dispute over his $120 million severance package. Last month, CBS announced that Moonves would be pursuing arbitration to challenge the company’s rescinding of his golden parachute.
The investigation into Moonves — who was ousted in September, after multiple women came forward with sexual misconduct accusations — concluded Dec. 17, with the CBS board announcing at that time that the former chairman and CEO would “not receive any severance payment.”
Moonves was accused of sexual misconduct by six women in a New Yorker article written by Ronan Farrow last July. Six more women came forward in September. Moonves resigned as CEO of CBS in September, following a two-month investigation, but has denied all of the accusations.