Career Timeline of Barry Diller: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Barry Diller made an impact.

Barry Diller is an American billionaire businessman prominent in the entertainment and internet industries. He is the chairman and senior executive of IAC and Expedia Group. Notably, Diller founded the Fox Broadcasting Company in partnership with Rupert Murdoch, establishing a major force in television broadcasting. He also founded USA Broadcasting, further solidifying his influence in media. Diller's accomplishments have earned him recognition, including his induction into the Television Hall of Fame in 1994, marking his significant contributions to the television landscape and the broader business world.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

1964: Hired as an assistant by Elton Rule

In 1964, Barry Diller was hired as an assistant by Elton Rule, then West Coast head of ABC, who was promoted to network President and took Diller to New York City.

1965: Promotion to Vice President of Development

In 1965, Barry Diller was promoted to Vice President of Development at ABC. In this position, Diller created the ABC Movie of the Week, pioneering the concept of the made-for-television movie.

1973: Vice President of ABC's prime time programming

In 1973, Diller was made vice president of ABC's prime time programming.

1974: Chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures Corporation

In 1974, Diller became the chairman and chief executive officer of Paramount Pictures Corporation.

1976: Paramount produced Laverne & Shirley

In 1976, under Diller's leadership, Paramount Pictures produced hit television programs such as Laverne & Shirley.

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1977: Paramount produced Saturday Night Fever

In 1977, under Diller's leadership, Paramount Pictures produced Saturday Night Fever.

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1977: Kay Koplovitz at USA Networks

Kay Koplovitz runs USA Networks since 1977.

1978: Paramount produced Taxi and Grease

In 1978, under Diller's leadership, Paramount Pictures produced Taxi and Grease.

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1980: Paramount produced Ordinary People

In 1980, under Diller's leadership, Paramount Pictures produced Ordinary People.

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1981: USA Network ownership agreement

In 1981, Diller put together the USA Network ownership agreement between Paramount, Time Inc. and MCA which convinced Madison Square Garden management to not sell their interests in the network.

1981: Paramount produced Raiders of the Lost Ark and Reds

In 1981, under Diller's leadership, Paramount Pictures produced Raiders of the Lost Ark and Reds.

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1982: Paramount produced Cheers

In 1982, under Diller's leadership, Paramount Pictures produced Cheers.

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1983: Head of Gulf+Western's leisure group

In 1983, Barry Diller became head of Gulf+Western's leisure group, including Paramount, Madison Square Garden, Famous Music, and Simon & Schuster.

1983: Paramount produced Terms of Endearment

In 1983, under Diller's leadership, Paramount Pictures produced Terms of Endearment.

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October 1984: Chairman and CEO of 20th Century Fox

In October 1984, Barry Diller became the chairman and chief executive officer of 20th Century Fox.

1984: End of tenure as chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures Corporation

In 1984, Diller's 10-year tenure as chairman and chief executive officer of Paramount Pictures Corporation ended.

February 24, 1992: Announcement of Departure from Fox

On February 24, 1992, Barry Diller announced that he would leave Fox within a three-month period, citing a desire to "own my own store".

April 1992: Departure from 20th Century Fox

In April 1992, Barry Diller left his positions as chairman and chief executive officer of 20th Century Fox.

December 11, 1992: Diller's plan for QVC

On December 11, 1992, New York Times journalist Calvin Sims noted that Diller sought "to turn the shopping channel into an on-line entertainment and merchandising service in which the subscriber and the cable company can freely interact".

1992: Home Shopping Network split from Silver King Broadcasting

In 1992, The Home Shopping Network, a former Silver King asset, split from the company.

1994: Induction into the Television Hall of Fame

In 1994, Barry Diller was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame.

August 1995: Acquisition of Silver King Broadcasting assets

In August 1995, Barry Diller acquired the assets of Silver King Broadcasting.

1995: Resignation from QVC

In 1995, Barry Diller resigned from QVC.

March 1996: Finalization of ownership of Silver Broadcasting

In March 1996, Barry Diller's ownership of Silver Broadcasting would be finalized.

August 1996: Agreement to buy back HSN and merge

In August 1996, it was agreed that Silver King Broadcasting, under Diller's leadership, would buy back the Home Shopping Network (HSN) and that the two companies would merge.

December 1996: Acquisition of HSN and name change

In December 1996, Silver King Broadcasting acquired an 80% stake in HSN for $1.3 billion worth of stock, and afterwards changed its own name to HSN, Inc.

October 1997: Acquisition of USA Network and other Universal TV businesses

In October 1997, it was announced that Barry Diller would be acquiring the USA Network and other Seagram-owned Universal TV businesses for $4.1 billion.

1997: Eisner's confidential letter

In 1997, Michael Eisner sent a confidential letter to The Walt Disney Company board of directors during its search for a successor to Eisner, as reported in James B. Stewart's 2005 book DisneyWar.

February 1998: Finalization of the USA Network purchase

In February 1998, Barry Diller's purchase of the USA Network was finalized.

April 1998: Diller assumes chairman and CEO positions at USA Networks

In April 1998, Barry Diller assumed the chairman and CEO positions at USA Networks, succeeding Kay Koplovitz.

May 1998: Attempt to remove WWF from USA Network thwarted

In May 1998, an attempt by Kay Koplovitz and other USA Network executives to remove the WWF from the USA Network was thwarted following Diller's purchase of the network.

December 2001: Involvement with USA Network ends

In December 2001, Barry Diller's involvement with the USA Network ended when the Vivendi sale was announced. Diller retained the assets of the Home Shopping Network.

2002: Joined the board of Coca-Cola

Since 2002, Barry Diller has been on the board of Coca-Cola.

2005: IAC/InterActiveCorp acquired Ask.com

In 2005, IAC/InterActiveCorp acquired Ask.com, marking a strategic move into the Internet search category.

December 2, 2010: Stepped down as chief executive officer of IAC/InterActiveCorp

On December 2, 2010, Barry Diller stepped down as chief executive officer of IAC/InterActiveCorp.

2011: Donation to High Line park

In 2011, the Diller-von Fürstenberg Family Foundation announced a donation of $20 million to support the completion of the High Line park in Manhattan.

2012: Investor in Aereo

In 2012, Diller became an investor in the streaming service company Aereo.

2012: Donation to the Hollywood Fund

In 2012, Diller donated $30 million to the Hollywood Fund, which provides health and social care to retired individuals from the show-business world.

2013: Co-producing Broadway shows with Scott Rudin

Since 2013, Barry Diller has co-produced more than ten Broadway shows in partnership with Scott Rudin.

2015: Donation towards Little Island

In 2015, Diller and his wife committed to donate $260 million toward Little Island, a public park and performance space on a reconstructed pier 55 in the Hudson River in New York City.

2020: Took over Expedia's day-to-day operations

In early 2020, Barry Diller took over Expedia's day-to-day operations alongside the vice chairman Peter Kern.

May 21, 2021: Completion of Little Island

On May 21, 2021, Little Island, a public park and performance space on a reconstructed pier 55 in the Hudson River in New York City, was completed. It was funded by a $260 million donation committed by Diller and his wife in 2015.