What Happened to Barry Diller?

Barry Diller's career is marked by a series of transformative leadership roles across the entertainment and technology sectors. He began his journey in the mailroom of the William Morris Agency around 1960, quickly rising through the ranks. His early impact was at ABC, where as Vice President of Prime Time Television in the 1970s, he pioneered the 'Movie of the Week' and miniseries formats, fundamentally changing television programming.

From 1974 to 1984, Diller served as Chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures, overseeing a golden age for the studio with hits like "Saturday Night Fever" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark." He then moved to 20th Century Fox, where he, alongside Rupert Murdoch, launched the Fox Broadcasting Company in 1986, establishing a legitimate fourth major television network. His tenure at Fox also saw the launch of iconic shows such as "Cheers" and "The Simpsons."

In the 1990s, Diller pivoted towards building his own media empire, recognizing the burgeoning potential of internet commerce. He acquired the assets of Silver King Broadcasting, which eventually evolved into InterActiveCorp (IAC) in 1995. Under his leadership, IAC grew into a vast internet and media conglomerate, spinning off major companies like Expedia, Match Group, and TripAdvisor over the years. He served as CEO of IAC until 2010, transitioning to his current role as Chairman and Senior Executive.

As of April 2026, Diller remains highly active in business and philanthropy. He is the Chairman and Senior Executive of both IAC and Expedia Group. IAC's current portfolio includes People Inc., Care.com, The Daily Beast, and equity stakes in companies like MGM Resorts International and Turo. In March 2026, IAC completed the sale of Care.com. Diller's influence extends to significant investments, including a substantial stake in MGM Resorts International, which he acquired in 2020, referring to it as a "forever asset." On April 3, 2026, MGM Resorts International entered into a voting pact with IAC and Diller, granting him greater input into the company's future direction while capping their overall voting influence at 25.73% of holdings.

Philanthropically, Diller, along with his wife Diane von Fürstenberg, has made significant contributions. They are signatories of The Giving Pledge, committing to donate at least half of their wealth. Their Diller-von Fürstenberg Family Foundation has supported numerous causes, most notably the creation of Little Island, a public park and performance venue on the Hudson River in New York City, which opened in May 2021. In early 2026, Diller publicly expressed strong interest in acquiring CNN, stating he would "change it in every way" if given the opportunity, though Warner Bros. Discovery indicated CNN was not for sale. He is scheduled to participate in IAC's Q1 2026 earnings conference call on May 5, 2026.