What is Barry Diller’s Net Worth and Salary?
Barry Diller, an American businessman with a net worth of $5 billion, made his fortune as the founder and Senior Executive of IAC/InterActiveCorp (IAC). Prior to his success at IAC, Diller was a prominent media executive at Paramount Studios, where he played a key role in the creation of Fox Broadcasting Company and USA Broadcasting.
Known for his exceptional negotiation skills, Diller earned the nickname “Diller Killer” for his ability to get what he wanted in the world of business. He has produced several films, including “Top Five” in 2014 and the documentary miniseries “Five Came Back” in 2017.
In recognition of his contributions to the entertainment industry, Diller has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career. He was presented with an Honorary Life Member Award by the Directors Guild of America in 1990, and he was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame two years later.
Additionally, the American Academy of Achievement honored Diller with a Golden Plate Award in 1992. In 2020, he was ranked #278 on “Forbes” magazine’s list of the richest people in America.
Early Life of Barry Diller
Barry Diller was born in San Francisco, California, in 1942. He grew up in a Jewish household with parents Michael and Reva, with his father working as a real estate developer. Diller attended Beverly Hills High School before enrolling at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). However, he dropped out after a few weeks.
Early Career in Entertainment Industry
Barry Diller started his career in the mailroom of the William Morris Agency, where he took the opportunity to study the company’s archives and gain knowledge about the entertainment industry.
Later, he worked as an assistant to Elton Rule, the West Coast head of ABC. When Rule was promoted to president of the network in 1964, he took Diller with him to New York City.
Barry Diller’s Contribution to the ABC Movie of the Week
In 1965, Barry was promoted to Vice President of Development at ABC after successfully negotiating the rights for the network to broadcast feature films. He is known for creating the ABC Movie of the Week, which marked a significant shift in the industry as it popularized movies made exclusively for TV.
Barry Diller’s Success in the Entertainment Industry
Barry Diller was the Chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures Corporation from 1974 to 1984, during which time the company produced many successful television shows and films, including “Laverne & Shirley,” “Cheers,” “Taxi,” “Grease,” “Saturday Night Fever,” and the first two “Indiana Jones” movies.
From 1984 to 1992, Diller worked at 20th Century Fox as the Chairman and CEO, where he was responsible for launching the Fox network and giving the green light to popular shows such as “The Simpsons” and “Married… with Children.”
Barry Diller’s Career Highlights
After leaving 20th Century Fox, Barry Diller invested in QVC and tried to buy Paramount Communications before acquiring the USA Network and Home Shopping Network through Silver King Broadcasting, which later became IAC. IAC included companies like HomeAdvisor, Citysearch, CollegeHumor, UrbanSpoon, and Tinder. Diller became the Chairman of Expedia in 2005 and the Chairman and CEO of IAC, leaving the latter position in 2010 to become the company’s senior executive. He joined the board of Coca-Cola in 2002 and MGM Resorts International in 2020 after IAC bought a close to $1 billion stake in the company.
Diller invested in Aereo in 2012, but the Supreme Court shut down the company in 2014 for violating copyright laws. In 2013, he started co-producing Broadway shows with Scott Rudin, such as “West Side Story,” “To Kill A Mockingbird,” “Carousel,” and “Three Tall Woman.” IAC Films backed several Rudin-produced movies, including “Lady Bird,” “Eighth Grade,” and “Uncut Gems.”
In 2019, Expedia’s CEO stepped down, and Barry and Vice Chairman Peter Kern took over day-to-day operations in 2020. Expedia and many other travel companies suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading Diller to announce in April 2020 that Expedia needed to reduce spending, possibly cutting annual advertising costs from $5 billion to under $1 billion.
Barry Diller’s Personal Life and Philanthropy
Barry married fashion designer Diane von Fürstenberg in 2001 and became stepfather to her adult children. Before his marriage, he lived as an openly gay man. Barry is a Democrat and hosted a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton in 2016. He and Diane launched the Diller-von Fürstenberg Family Foundation in 1999 to positively impact communities. Their donations include $20 million toward Manhattan’s High Line park, $30 million to the Hollywood Fund, and $113 million for a floating public park and performance space on a Hudson River pier.
Barry and Diane Purchase Beverly Hills Home
In February 2020, Barry and Diane bought a 2,711 sq. ft. home in Beverly Hills for $4.3 million. The house features 3 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms, and is located next door to the couple’s longtime residence. The original property spans nearly three acres of land.
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