50 interesting facts about Ryan Seacrest: his biggest inspiration is Dick Clark, was bit by a shark

Ryan Seacrest is known for hosting the popular televised competition American Idol, the annual TV special Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve and the radio program American Top 40.

1. His full name is Ryan John Seacrest and he was born on December 24, 1974 in an Atlanta suburb, Dunwoody, Georgia.

2. Seacrest is the son of Constance Marie (née Zullinger), a homemaker, and Gary Lee Seacrest, a real estate lawyer.

3. Has mostly German and Swiss-German ancestry. He also has distant Irish roots. The family surname was originally spelled "Secrest".

4. Ryan Seacrest's first time in the spotlight was in the fourth grade. He performed the singing role of King Winter in a school musical - and he forgot his lines.

5. He was a star from his early days. His mother told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Instead of playing with G.I. Joes or Cowboys and Indians, [Ryan] would always have a little microphone and do shows in the house."

6. Ryan Seacrest began his career when he earned an internship at Atlanta radio station WSTR, and later got the weekend overnight shift.

7. After studying journalism at the University of Georgia, he left for Los Angeles, taking over the afternoon drive shift at KYSR.

8. One of Ryan Seacrest's youthful ambitions was to be like CHiPs highway patrolman Frank Poncherello played by actor Erik Estrada. "I watched CHiPs and wanted so much to be on the California freeways," he told The Washington Post. "Now that I live here, I'm on them too much."

9. Ryan's professional career kicked off with a hosting gig for ESPN's Radical Outdoor Challenge in 1993, followed by additional kids shows, including Gladiators 2000 (1994 - 96), Wild Animal Games (1995) and Click (1997).

10. After becoming the host of the Los Angeles Radio Station 98.7 FM, Seacrest landed his big break as the host of the music competition TV show American Idol (2002) as well as its spin-off show American Juniors (2003).

11. Ryan Seacrest originally interviewed to be a judge on American Idol, but two days before production on the show began, he won the host job instead.

12. American Idol judge Simon Cowell summed up the key to Ryan Seacrest's success. "Ryan has the appeal of a dog that has been rescued from the pound," Cowell told The New YorkTimes. "That is his secret. He's grateful. He's happy. Always, always. If he had a tail, he'd wag it."

13. From 2002 until 2003, Ryan dated Bar Candy owner Erica Lancellotti for about a year. She later told Howard stern that they were in an open relationship, which didn't help the gay rumors that were already circulating the tabloids.

14. He went on to be named the host of the famed radio show American Top 40 and the L.A. radio station 102.7 KIIS, also known as On Air with Ryan Seacrest, in 2004.

15. Ryan Seacrest was voted one of People magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People in the World (2003).

16. Later that year, he took over from another legendary radio personality -- Rick Dees -- as the host of KIIS-FM's morning show: the program is currently heard around the world. In 2006, he joined E! News, acting as a co-anchor alongside Giuliana Rancic.

17. He had a very brief appearance as an extra in Crimson Tide (1995). He is shown as the submarine is getting underway, staring at an aquarium. He pointed this out himself when he was the host of NBC Saturday Night Movie (2000). Since he was an extra, he is not credited.

18. Ryan Seacrest was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Radio at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on April 13, 2005.

19. He launched The R Line in 2005, a clothing line for men and women specializing in his signature T-shirts.

20. Seacrest realized a lifelong dream in 2005, when he started working with Dick Clark on his annual New Year's Eve special, Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve.

21. Seacrest credits Dick Clark as his greatest source of inspiration.

22. In March 2006, Ryan briefly dated Teri Hatcher. She was blinded sided when he broke up with her for no reason. "I haven't seen [Seacrest] since that day. We knew that [the pictures] had been taken, which must have bothered him enough that an hour after they were taken he called and said, 'I don't think I can do this with you.'" Seacrest later says, "I don't think it was a Teri Hatcher issue. It's a Ryan."

23. Seacrest hosts the Primetime Emmys, and manages to conduct preliminary red-carpet interviews as well.Ratings drop 17 percent from the previous year - the telecast's lowest numbers since 1990.

24. Seacrest was bitten by a small shark on July 28, 2008.

25. He is the co-owner of Katana restaurant.

26. Ryan is 5'8" tall.

27. Between 2008 and 2009, Ryan and LA bartender Jasmine Waltz were rumored to be dating in 2009 after taking a trip to Paris together. It never worked out.

28. He dated Julianne Hough from June 2010 up until March 2013.

29. After splitting up with Hough, Ryan rebounded with model Dominique Piek.

30. He has a successful production company. Through Ryan Seacrest Productions, he has helped propel Kim Kardashian and her family to reality TV fame with Keeping Up the Kardashians, as well as spin-offs such as Kourtney & Kim Take New York and Kourtney & Khloe take Miami.

31. He also produced the reality show Denise Richards: It's Complicated which was a TV flop.

32. In 2010, Seacrest, along with his family, launched nonprofit organization Ryan Seacrest Foundation (RSF), intended to enhance the quality of life of children considered to be in need of help.

33. The Ryan Seacrest Foundation has two centers at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. In April 2012, Seacrest named Selena Gomez as Ambassador to the Foundation.

34. Ryan Seacrest worked with chef Jamie Oliver and he helped produce Food Revolution (2010-11). Seacrest won an Emmy Award for his role in the show.

35. In 2012, Seacrest started a new venture called Ryan Seacrest Media with Mark Cuban, Creative Artists Agency and AEG.

36. In the summer of 2012, RSM launched a new pop culture and entertainment-driven TV channel called AXS TV.

37. Ryan Seacrest sold a house that he bought from Kevin Costner (who bought it from Richard Dreyfuss) and purchased a home that was sold to him by Ellen DeGeneres. He lived there with his girlfriend, Julianne Hough, until they broke up in late 2013 (she lives in the house now).

38. While covering the Academy Awards red carpet for E!, Seacrest interviews Sacha Baron Cohen's The Dictator alter ego, who "accidentally" spills an urn of fake asheson the TV host. "I was surprised, but not surprised,"Seacrest says of the incident on his radio show. "I definitely did not know he was going to do that."

39. In 2013, Seacrest stepped into yet another domain on television, this time hosting a game show on NBC entitled The Million Second Quiz.

40. Ryan Seacrest is worth $280 million.