Barry Diller
Born 1942 · Age 83
American media executive and businessman; longtime CEO/chairman of Paramount, 20th Century Fox, founder of the Fox Broadcasting Company, and architect of IAC/InterActiveCorp and a large online commerce portfolio.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in San Francisco, California
Barry Charles Diller was born to Michael Diller and Reva (née Addison). Raised in Beverly Hills.
Joined William Morris Agency mailroom
Began career in entertainment working in the William Morris Agency mailroom, where he studied the agency's file room and industry history.
Attended UCLA then dropped out
Enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles; left after a short period to pursue entertainment industry work.
Hired as assistant to Elton Rule at ABC; moved to New York
Became assistant to Elton Rule (West Coast head of ABC) and relocated to New York; began negotiating broadcast film rights.
Promoted to Vice President of Development at ABC
Promoted to VP of Development; pioneered the made-for-TV 'ABC Movie of the Week' concept.
Premiered ABC's Movie of the Week
Launched/oversaw the regular 90-minute made-for-TV film series that popularized the TV movie format.
Vice President, ABC Prime-Time Programming
Served as ABC vice president in charge of prime-time programming (1973–1974).
Became Chairman & CEO of Paramount Pictures
Hired to run Paramount Pictures (a Gulf+Western company); led studio (1974–1984), revitalizing film and TV production.
Met Diane von Fürstenberg (began relationship soon after)
Met fashion designer Diane von Fürstenberg in 1974; relationship began soon after (reunited 1991 and married in 2001).
Paramount TV hit: Laverne & Shirley
Paramount produced the hit TV series 'Laverne & Shirley' under Diller's leadership.
Paramount film success: Saturday Night Fever
Paramount released 'Saturday Night Fever', a major box-office and cultural hit while Diller was at the studio.
Paramount hits: Taxi and Grease
Paramount produced TV series 'Taxi' and film 'Grease' during Diller's tenure.
Paramount film: Ordinary People (Oscars period)
Paramount released 'Ordinary People' (1980), an Academy Award-winning film while Diller was chairman/CEO.
Paramount film: Raiders of the Lost Ark
Released 'Raiders of the Lost Ark', a major box-office blockbuster under Diller's leadership.
Paramount TV hit: Cheers (premiered 1982)
Cheer s premiered and became a long-running TV success produced by Paramount while Diller led the studio.
Became head of Gulf+Western's leisure group
In 1983 Diller took leadership of Gulf+Western's leisure group including Paramount, Madison Square Garden, Famous Music, and Simon & Schuster.
Left Paramount; joined 20th Century Fox as Chairman & CEO
Left Paramount in 1984 and became chairman & CEO of Twentieth Century–Fox (1984–1992).
Greenlit Beverly Hills Cop and Indiana Jones sequel
As Fox/Paramount-era executive influence, associate projects released including 'Beverly Hills Cop' (1984) and 'Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom' (1984) in the period around his studio leadership.
Began building FOX Broadcasting Company
Developed and launched the Fox TV network (Fox Broadcasting Company) as the U.S. 'fourth network'; served as President of FOX Broadcasting Company (1986–1992).
Greenlit Married... with Children
Greenlit the edgy sitcom 'Married... with Children' as part of Fox's early programming strategy (premiered 1987).
Greenlit/ran The Simpsons (premiere 1989)
Commissioned and supported 'The Simpsons' (long-running hit which premiered in 1989), a key Fox success.
Origin of 'The Killer Dillers' mentorship legacy
Recognized as the mentor of a cohort of successful executives (e.g., Michael Eisner, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Dara Khosrowshahi) who became major media/internet leaders.
Fox first profitable year
Fox earned its first profit in 1990 after several loss years under Diller's network-building strategy.
DGA Honorary Life Member Award
Recepient of the Directors Guild of America Honorary Life Member Award (1990).
Reunited with Diane von Fürstenberg
Diller and Diane von Fürstenberg reconciled/reunited in 1991 after a breakup in the early 1980s.
Arrow Investments purchased stake in QVC ($25M)
His Arrow Investments purchased a $25 million stake in QVC; through partnerships he gained effective control despite a <3% holding.
Golden Plate Award (American Academy of Achievement)
Recipient of the Golden Plate Award by the American Academy of Achievement in 1992.
Announced departure from Fox
On February 24, 1992, Diller announced he would leave Fox within three months to pursue owning his own business.
Launched bid to buy Paramount Communications (unsuccessful)
Launched a bid to purchase his former employer Paramount Communications but lost to Viacom.
Inducted into the Television Hall of Fame
Diller was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1994, recognizing his impact on television.
Resigned from QVC
Resigned from QVC in 1995 after several years of involvement and transactions; press noted he left 'about $100 million richer' from prior dealings.
Acquired Silver King Broadcasting assets
Announced acquisition of Silver King Broadcasting assets (Aug 1995); later finalized takeover in March 1996.
Cleared to take control of Silver King (ownership finalized)
March 1996: regulatory clearance/finalization of Diller's control of Silver King.
Agreement for Silver King to buy back Home Shopping Network (HSN)
August 1996: agreement that Silver King would acquire back HSN (a former Silver King asset) and merge the companies.
Acquired 80% of HSN for $1.3 billion in stock
December 1996: Silver King acquired an 80% stake in Home Shopping Network for $1.3 billion worth of stock and renamed itself HSN, Inc.
Announced acquisition of USA Network and Universal TV assets ($4.1B)
October 1997: announced deal to buy USA Network and other Seagram-owned Universal TV businesses for $4.1 billion to be owned by HSN.
Finalized purchase of USA Network and Universal TV assets
February 1998: Diller's purchase of the USA Network and associated Universal Television businesses was finalized.
Assumed Chairman & CEO roles at USA Networks
April 1998: Diller took the chairman and CEO positions at USA Networks (positions previously held by Kay Koplovitz).
Merged Ticketmaster Online with CitySearch; acquired October Films & Gramercy
1999: formed Ticketmaster Online–CitySearch and acquired October Films and Gramercy Pictures (merged into USA Films/Focus Features later).
Married Diane von Fürstenberg
Married fashion designer Diane von Fürstenberg in 2001; Diller reportedly owns an estimated one-third of her fashion company.
Involved until Vivendi sale announced (USA assets)
Diller remained involved with USA Network and related assets until Vivendi's acquisition was announced in December 2001.
Joined the board of The Coca-Cola Company
Became a director of Coca-Cola in 2002 (serving on the board subsequently).
USA Interactive became InterActiveCorp (IAC) / acquired LendingTree
USAI evolved into InterActiveCorp; Diller expanded IAC by acquiring digital properties including LendingTree in 2003.
USAI formally renamed IAC/InterActiveCorp
Company reorganizations resulted in USAI/IAC branding consolidations (2003–2004 era) establishing IAC as an Internet commerce conglomerate.
IAC acquired Ask.com; Became Chairman of Expedia
2005: IAC acquired Ask.com; Diller was Chairman of Expedia (and oversaw a large portfolio including Match, Citysearch, Vimeo, etc.).
Reported as highest-paid executive for fiscal year 2005 (> $295M)
The New York Times reported that Diller was the highest-paid executive in FY2005, with total compensation in excess of $295 million (mostly stock).
IAC Building (Frank Gehry) opened in Manhattan
IAC's new headquarters (IAC Building) designed by Frank Gehry opened in Chelsea, Manhattan (2007).
Chairman / Senior Executive, Expedia Group (role ongoing)
Served as Chairman and senior executive of Expedia Group (role cited starting 2005 and continuing through 2020s).
Chairman / brief Chairman role at Live Nation
Served as Chairman of Live Nation Entertainment in 2010 and as a director 2010–2011 (short-term roles).
Stepped down as CEO of IAC
On December 2, 2010 Diller stepped down as chief executive officer of IAC/InterActiveCorp; remained chairman and senior executive.
Diller-von Fürstenberg Family Foundation donated $20M to High Line completion
Announced a $20 million donation to support finishing Manhattan's High Line park (gift reported by the family foundation).
Member of advisory board, Peter G. Peterson Foundation
Served on the advisory board of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation (date cited in sources).
Chairman and Senior Executive title at IAC (formalized post-CEO)
After stepping down as CEO Diller continued as Chairman and Senior Executive of IAC (role persists into 2020s).
Chairman & Senior Executive, Tripadvisor (2011–2013 involvement)
Held leadership and board roles at Tripadvisor (Chairman and Senior Executive 2011–2012; Director 2012–2013).
Invested in streaming service Aereo; donated $30M to Hollywood Fund
Became an investor in Aereo (2012) which later ceased operations; donated $30M to the Hollywood Fund supporting retired show-business workers.
Began co-producing Broadway shows with Scott Rudin
From 2013 onward co-produced more than ten Broadway productions with Scott Rudin (e.g., To Kill a Mockingbird, West Side Story).
IAC/InterActiveCorp accelerates film backing (IAC Films)
IAC Films backed feature films produced by Scott Rudin and others (e.g., Ex Machina (2014), Lady Bird (2017), Uncut Gems (2019)).
Aereo ceased operations after Supreme Court ruling
June 2014: Aereo shut down after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled its streaming method infringed copyright.
Committed $260M to Little Island park
Diller and his wife committed $260 million toward creation of Little Island, a public park/performance space on Manhattan's Hudson River pier 55.
Estimated fortune of $4.2 billion (technology investments)
October 2019 reporting estimated Diller's fortune at $4.2 billion, citing early investments in Match.com, Vimeo, and other tech assets.
Net worth (June 2020) estimated at $4.2B
Public estimates (e.g., Forbes) listed Diller's net worth at approximately $4.2 billion as of mid‑2020.
Took over day-to-day operations at Expedia
Early 2020 Diller assumed day-to-day responsibilities at Expedia alongside Vice Chairman Peter Kern after CFO resignation (company faced COVID-19 revenue collapse).
Director, MGM Resorts International (term began 2020)
Served as a director of MGM Resorts International starting in 2020 (noted term 2020–2024).
Little Island public park completed and opened
Little Island on Pier 55 completed and opened on May 21, 2021, a project substantially funded by the Diller-von Fürstenberg commitment.
Public ownership of yacht Eos noted
By 2022 Diller was reported to own Eos, one of the largest private sailing yachts in the world (profile pieces reference ownership).
Reported SEC and DOJ insider-trading investigation
March 9, 2022: The Wall Street Journal reported Diller was being investigated (with others) over alleged insider trading of Activision Blizzard options prior to Microsoft's acquisition announcement; Diller denied wrongdoing.
Called for Biden to end reelection bid (political action)
In 2024 Diller publicly joined others in urging President Biden to end his 2024 reelection campaign after poor debate and campaign performance.
Published memoir 'Who Knew'
Simon & Schuster published Diller's memoir 'Who Knew' on May 20, 2025, with candid accounts of his life, relationships and career.
Key Achievement Ages
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