History of Barry Diller in Timeline
Barry Diller is a prominent American businessman, currently serving as chairman and senior executive of both IAC and Expedia Group. He is recognized for his pivotal role in establishing the Fox Broadcasting Company in collaboration with Rupert Murdoch, and for founding USA Broadcasting. Diller's contributions to the television industry have been acknowledged with his induction into the Television Hall of Fame in 1994, solidifying his legacy as a key figure in media and entertainment.
5 hours ago : Barry Diller's cloned Irish rescue dog: A bizarre Hollywood story unfolds.
Hollywood mogul Barry Diller rescued an Irish stray dog and controversially cloned her five times. The unique story highlights pet cloning and celebrity eccentricities with mixed reactions.
February 2, 1942: Birth of Barry Diller
On February 2, 1942, Barry Charles Diller was born. He is an American businessman who is chairman and senior executive of IAC and Expedia Group and founded the Fox Broadcasting Company with Rupert Murdoch and USA Broadcasting.
1964: Hired as an assistant by Elton Rule at ABC
In 1964, Barry Diller was hired as an assistant by Elton Rule, who was then the West Coast head of ABC. Rule was promoted to network President at the same time Diller went to work for him, and Rule took Diller to New York City. Diller was soon placed in charge of negotiating broadcast rights to feature films.
1965: Promoted to Vice President of Development at ABC
In 1965, Diller was promoted to Vice President of Development at ABC. In this role, he created the ABC Movie of the Week, pioneering the concept of the made-for-television movie.
1974: Chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures Corporation
In 1974, Barry Diller became the chairman and chief executive officer of Paramount Pictures Corporation.
1976: Paramount releases Laverne & Shirley
In 1976, under Diller's leadership, Paramount Pictures Corporation produced hit television programs such as Laverne & Shirley.
1977: Paramount releases Saturday Night Fever
In 1977, under Diller's leadership, Paramount Pictures Corporation produced hit films such as Saturday Night Fever.
1977: Kay Koplovitz at USA Networks
In April 1998, Barry Diller assumed the chairman and CEO positions at USA Networks, which Kay Koplovitz previously held since 1977.
1978: Paramount releases Taxi and Grease
In 1978, under Diller's leadership, Paramount Pictures Corporation produced hit television programs such as Taxi, and films such as Grease.
1981: Put together the USA Network ownership agreement
In 1981, Barry 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 releases Raiders of the Lost Ark
In 1981, under Diller's leadership, Paramount Pictures Corporation produced hit films such as Raiders of the Lost Ark.
1982: Paramount releases Cheers
In 1982, under Diller's leadership, Paramount Pictures Corporation produced hit television programs such as Cheers.
1983: Head of Gulf+Western's Leisure Group
In 1983, Barry Diller became head of Gulf+Western's leisure group, which included Paramount, Madison Square Garden, Famous Music, and Simon & Schuster.
1983: Paramount releases Terms of Endearment
In 1983, under Diller's leadership, Paramount Pictures Corporation produced hit films such as Terms of Endearment.
October 1984: Chairman and CEO of 20th Century Fox
In October 1984, Diller assumed the roles of chairman and chief executive officer of 20th Century Fox.
1984: Diller leaves Paramount Pictures Corporation
In 1984, Barry Diller stepped down from his role as the chairman and chief executive officer of Paramount Pictures Corporation after ten years.
February 24, 1992: Diller announces departure from Fox
On February 24, 1992, Barry Diller announced he would leave Fox within three months, expressing a desire to "own my own store".
April 1992: Diller leaves 20th Century Fox
In April 1992, Barry Diller left his position as chairman and chief executive officer of 20th Century Fox.
December 11, 1992: Plans to turn QVC into an online service
On December 11, 1992, New York Times journalist Calvin Sims reported 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".
December 1992: Publicly noted interest in online service
In December 1992, it was publicly noted how Barry Diller saw potential in online service.
1992: Home Shopping Network split from Silver King
In 1992, the Home Shopping Network (HSN) split from Silver King, later, in August 1996, it was agreed that Silver King Broadcasting, now under Diller's leadership, would buy back the Home Shopping Network (HSN), a former Silver King asset.
1994: Inducted into the Television Hall of Fame
In 1994, Barry Diller was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame, recognizing his contributions to the television industry.
August 1995: Acquired the assets of Silver King Broadcasting
In August 1995, Barry Diller acquired the assets of Silver King Broadcasting.
March 1996: Ownership of Silver Broadcasting finalized
In March 1996, Barry Diller's ownership of Silver Broadcasting was finalized.
August 1996: Agreed to buy back HSN
In August 1996, it was agreed that Silver King Broadcasting, under Barry Diller's leadership, would buy back the Home Shopping Network (HSN).
December 1996: Silver King Broadcasting acquired an 80% stake in HSN
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
In October 1997, Barry Diller announced the acquisition of the USA Network and other Seagram-owned Universal TV businesses for $4.1 billion, with these networks to be owned by Diller's Home Shopping Network.
1997: Eisner's confidential letter about Diller
In 1997, Michael Eisner sent a confidential letter to The Walt Disney Company board of directors during its search for a successor, according to James B. Stewart's 2005 book DisneyWar.
February 1998: Finalization of USA Network purchase
In February 1998, Barry Diller's purchase of the USA Network was finalized.
April 1998: Diller assumes CEO positions at USA Networks
In April 1998, Barry Diller assumed the chairman and CEO positions at USA Networks, which Kay Koplovitz previously held since 1977.
May 1998: Failed Attempt to Remove WWF from USA Network
In May 1998, Kay Koplovitz and other USA Network executives, including network entertainment head Rod Perth, made an attempt to remove the WWF from the USA Network but were thwarted.
December 2001: Vivendi sale announced
In December 2001, the sale of USA Network and its assets to Vivendi was announced. Barry Diller retained the assets of the Home Shopping Network and subsequent Internet assets, which later became IAC/InterActiveCorp.
2001: Married Diane von Fürstenberg
In 2001, Barry Diller married fashion designer Diane von Fürstenberg.
2001: Diller's bisexuality
In 2001, New York wrote that Diller is "often referred to as bisexual", stating that he has "lived most of his adult life as a more or less openly gay man", but also that his relationship with Diane von Fürstenberg "is said to be a warm and genuine one".
2002: Joined the board of Coca-Cola
In 2002, Barry Diller joined the board of Coca-Cola.
2003: Warned against media consolidation
In 2003, on the PBS program NOW with Bill Moyers, Barry Diller voiced a strong warning against media consolidation, referring to media ownership by a few big corporations as an oligarchy.
2005: Highest-paid executive
According to a report by The New York Times on October 26, 2006, Barry Diller was the "highest-paid executive [of fiscal year 2005]", with total compensation in excess of $295 million.
2005: IAC/InterActiveCorp acquired Ask.com
In 2005, IAC/InterActiveCorp acquired Ask.com, marking a strategic move into the Internet search category.
October 26, 2006: Highest-paid executive of fiscal year 2005
According to a report by The New York Times on October 26, 2006, Barry Diller was the "highest-paid executive [of fiscal year 2005]", with total compensation in excess of $295 million.
2007: Opening of the IAC Building
In 2007, the new headquarters for IAC/InterActiveCorp, the IAC Building, designed by Frank Gehry, opened in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood.
December 2, 2010: Stepped down as CEO of IAC/InterActiveCorp
On December 2, 2010, Barry Diller stepped down as chief executive officer of IAC/InterActiveCorp.
May 2012: Described as a "second generation Austrian Jewish kid"
In May 2012, New York magazine described Barry Diller as a "second generation Austrian Jewish kid".
2012: Investor in Aereo
In 2012, Barry Diller became an investor in the streaming service company Aereo.
2012: Diller donates 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.
2012: Diller supports Obama's reelection
In 2012, Diller stated his support for Barack Obama's reelection campaign despite misgivings with aspects of the Obama administration's record, and expressed his approval of then-Mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg.
2013: Co-produced Broadway shows
Since 2013, Barry Diller has co-produced more than ten Broadway shows in partnership with Scott Rudin.
June 2014: Aereo goes out of business
In June 2014, Aereo, in which Barry Diller was an investor, went out of business after the United States Supreme Court ruled that its method of streaming media content violated copyright laws.
2015: Diller commits to donate to 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. It is stated to be the largest donation to a public park in city history.
2015: Diller criticizes Donald Trump
In 2015, Diller criticized Republican candidate Donald Trump's impact on political discourse and said he would leave the country if he was elected.
October 2019: $4.2 billion fortune in technology companies
In October 2019, Barry Diller had a $4.2 billion fortune in technology companies, after investing early on in companies such as Match.com and Vimeo.
December 2019: Expedia's CFO stepped down
In December 2019, Expedia's CFO stepped down, leading Barry Diller to take over Expedia's day-to-day operations in early 2020 alongside the vice chairman Peter Kern.
June 2020: Net Worth
As of June 2020, Barry Diller's estimated net worth was $4.2 billion.
2020: Diller expresses reservations over Elizabeth Warren
During the 2020 Democratic primary, Diller expressed reservations over Elizabeth Warren, but stated he would support her over Trump if she was nominated.
2020: Expedia share plummet and cost cutting
In 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Expedia's shares plummeted. Barry Diller announced that Expedia was generating no revenue and would have to cut costs.
2020: Match Group and CollegeHumor no longer part of IAC
Until 2020, Match Group and CollegeHumor were part of IAC/InterActiveCorp.
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. Diller and his wife had committed to donate $260 million toward the park in 2015.
March 9, 2022: Insider Trading Investigation
On March 9, 2022, The Wall Street Journal reported that Barry Diller, David Geffen and his stepson, Alex Von Furstenberg were being investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the United States Department of Justice for insider trading of options on Activision Blizzard.
2024: Diller calls for Biden to end his bid for re-election
In 2024, Diller was among those who called for U.S. President Joe Biden to end his bid for re-election after his poor debate performance and other disconcerting signs on the campaign trail. Diller along with fellow billionaire Reid Hoffman said that Kamala Harris should replace FTC chair Lina Khan in a potential Harris administration.
May 20, 2025: Release of Who Knew
Barry Diller's memoir Who Knew, which was published by Simon & Schuster, was released on May 20, 2025.
2025: Diller's memoir Who Knew
In 2025, New York published an excerpt from Diller's upcoming memoir entitled Who Knew. In it, Diller describes his marriage with von Fürstenberg and confirmed that he has a history of being a gay man.
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