Michael D. Ratner (born July 11, 1989) is an American entrepreneur and film producer. He is the chief executive officer of OBB Media, a Los Angeles-based production studio he founded in 2016. Ratner is also a co-founder of Rhode, alongside his wife Lauren and Hailey Bieber.
Ratner is known for producing sports and entertainment digital video content. He has worked closely with Justin Bieber on several productions, including the music video for "Intentions", Seasons, and Our World. Other OBB productions include Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil, The Kid LAROI's Kids Are Growing Up: A Story About a Kid Named Laroi, Kevin Hart's Cold As Balls, and A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter.
Early life and education Ratner grew up in Long Island, New York. He studied acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. Ratner graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor's degree in Film and English, and received a Master of Fine Arts degree in Film and Television from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in 2014.
During his second year at Tisch, he interned at Relativity Media where he created short-form video content.
Career
OBB
Ratner founded OBB Media in 2016.
In 2016, Ratner produced the documentary film Gonzo @ the Derby as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series, marking OBB's first major deal. The film focuses on author Hunter S. Thompson's trip to the Kentucky Derby and was narrated by Sean Penn. Ratner also produced One in a Billion, which was acquired by Netflix.
The same year, Ratner partnered with Mandalay Sports Media to direct and co-produce sports-related projects. Ratner also served as co-chair of the NYU Tisch Gala 2016, which raised $2.1 million.
Ratner pitched to Lionsgate and Laugh Out Loud Productions for a show where Kevin Hart interviewed athletes while sitting in ice baths. The first seasons of the resulting show Cold as Balls was released in 2017, and has since become a multi-season franchise.
In 2019, Ratner served as Executive Producer and director for the comedy show Historical Roasts, which aired on Netflix.
In early 2020, Ratner directed and produced the docuseries Justin Bieber: Seasons, which became the most-watched YouTube premiere at the time of its release. This was followed by the Bieber music video Intentions, and a documentary follow-up Next Chapter, and Our World in 2021.
In March 2021, Ratner and Hailey Bieber partnered to create a YouTube channel featuring beauty tutorials, lifestyle tips, and mental health awareness videos. The series Who's In My Bathroom? became a viral success.
In April 2021, Ratner co-directed Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil. In July 2021, Ratner directed Inside Kylie Cosmetics, a mini-docuseries starring Kylie Jenner.
In 2022, Ratner announced a partnership with Kevin Hart to executive produce Storytown, a hip-hop animated series that would premiere on HBO Max.
Ratner directed the Spotify Billions Club: The Series, which won Best Social Video Series at the 2024 Webby Awards.
Ratner produced Kids Are Growing Up: A Story About A Kid Named LAROI which premiered on Prime Video in February 2024, chronicling the rise of The Kid LAROI.
Rhode In 2022, Ratner co-founded Rhode, with Hailey Bieber after she had approached Ratner with the concept of a skincare line. Ratner serves as co-executive chairman. Rhode was acquired by e.l.f. in May 2025 in a $1 billion deal.
Personal life Ratner met Lauren Rothberg, a marketing entrepreneur while attending the University of Pennsylvania. They began dating in 2018, and the two married in Napa Valley in 2022. Their first daughter was born in December 2025.
Filmography
Film Year Title Type Role Network/Notes 2011 Supermilk Short Director, Writer, Producer 2014 Dwight Howard: In the Moment Documentary Executive Producer 2014 The 30-Year-Old Bris Short Director, Writer, Producer 2015 In Football We Trust Documentary Executive Producer 2015 Mario Cuomo: More Than Words Short Director, Executive Producer, Writer 2016 30 for 30: Gonzo @ The Derby Short Director and Executive Producer 2016 Ride Along Short Director and Executive Producer 2016 One in a Billion Documentary Executive Producer 2017 Mini Marilyn Short Executive Producer 2018 Comedy by Blake TV Mini-Series Director and Executive Producer 2018 The 5th Quarter TV Series Creator, Director, Showrunner, Executive Producer 2018–present Cold as Balls TV Series Creator, Director, Showrunner, Executive Producer Seasons 1–6; Ongoing; LOL Network 2019 Can I Steal You for a Second? TV Series Executive Producer 2019 Historical Roasts TV Series Director and Executive Producer 2020 Justin Bieber feat. Quavo: Intentions Music Video Director and Executive Producer 2020 Justin Bieber: Seasons TV Series Director and Executive Producer 2020 A Season with the Memphis Tigers TV Series Executive Producer 2020 &Music TV Series Director and Executive Producer 2020 Justin Bieber: Next Chapter Documentary Special Director and Executive Producer 2021 Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil Documentary Series Director and Executive Producer 2021 Who's In My Bathroom? With Hailey Rhode Bieber TV Series Director and Executive Producer 2021 Inside Kylie Cosmetics Documentary Series Director and Executive Producer 2021Justin Bieber: Our WorldDocumentaryDirector and Executive Producer2021Elton John: Inside the Lockdown SessionsDocumentary Feature Executive ProducerApple Music2021Adele: The 30 InterviewTV SpecialExecutive ProducerApple Music2022The Game Plan With Shaquille O'NealTV SeriesExecutive ProducerTNTTBDStorytownAnimation; TV SeriesExecutive ProducerHBO Max; In Development
Recognition Ratner was recognized by Variety as one of Hollywood’s Creative New Leaders in 2018. He was named to Forbes’s 30 Under 30 2019 list for Hollywood & Entertainment. In 2023, Ratner was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Music Film for his work on Our World.
Awards and nominations Year Association Award Category Nomination Result 2021 2021 MTV Movie & TV Awards Best Music Documentary Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil 2021 SXSW Official Selection - Opening Headliner Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil 2020 Streamy Awards Sports Cold as Balls 2020 2020 MTV Video Music Awards Best Pop Video Intentions - Justin Bieber ft. Quavo 2018 Streamy Awards Sports Cold as Balls 2016 Tribeca Film Festival Official Selection Gonzo @ the Derby 2014 Tribeca Film Festival Official Selection The 30 Year Old Bris
References
External links
OBB Media website