He is both the founder and owner of theater production company Stage Entertainment that was spun off from Endemol, which now puts on between 40 and 50 plays, ice shows, dance events and concerts every year. Its US division has received 46 Tony Awards thanks to blockbuster musicals such as “The Lion King” and “Mamma Mia.” Van den Ende abandoned his position as chairman in 2008, but ever since has remained president of the supervisory board. Among other things, he received an honorary doctorate as a cultural entrepreneur from Nyenrode Business University in the Netherlands. As of March 2013, he is named as the 5th richest person in Netherlands.
