You probably use a Barry Diller product every single day and don't even realize it. If you’ve ever booked a flight on Expedia, swiped right on Tinder, or looked up a recipe on Dotdash Meredith, you're living in the digital world he spent the last three decades building.
Barry Diller isn't just another billionaire with a yacht. He's arguably the most successful "second-act" story in American history. He went from running Hollywood—literally inventing the "Movie of the Week" at ABC and launching the Fox network—to becoming the undisputed king of the early internet.
Honestly, it’s a bit wild how much influence he still has in 2026. While other moguls from his era have retired to Florida, Diller is still out here making massive moves as the Chairman of IAC and Expedia Group. He’s 83 now, but if you listen to him speak at events like the recent Phocuswright Conference, he’s still sharper and more unfiltered than most CEOs half his age.
The Man Who Invented Modern TV (And Fox)
Most people know him for the internet stuff, but his roots are pure Hollywood. Diller started in the mailroom at the William Morris Agency. Classic, right?
But he didn't stay there long. By the time he was in his late 20s at ABC, he basically changed how we watch television. Before Diller, "made-for-TV movies" weren't really a thing. He pioneered the "Movie of the Week" concept, which proved people would stay home to watch high-quality films on a Tuesday night.
Paramount and the Golden Era
In 1974, he took over Paramount Pictures. Think about the movies that came out while he was at the helm:
- Raiders of the Lost Ark
- Grease
- Saturday Night Fever
- Terms of Endearment
- Beverly Hills Cop
He had this uncanny ability to spot what the public wanted before they even knew it. But his biggest swing was yet to come.
In the mid-80s, everyone thought the big three networks (ABC, CBS, NBC) were an unbreakable monopoly. Diller disagreed. He teamed up with Rupert Murdoch to launch Fox Broadcasting Company. It was a massive gamble that almost failed, but shows like The Simpsons and Married... with Children eventually turned it into a juggernaut.
Who is Barry Diller in the Internet Age?
When Diller left Fox in 1992, he did something nobody expected. He didn't go to another studio. He went into "interactivity."
He started with QVC—the home shopping network. People laughed. They thought a guy who produced Indiana Jones shouldn't be selling cubic zirconia on TV. But Diller saw the future: he realized that the intersection of media and commerce was where the real money was going to be.
That vision eventually became IAC (InterActiveCorp).
The IAC Strategy: Build, Spin, Repeat
Diller’s business model is unique. He buys unloved or emerging internet companies, scales them up into massive brands, and then "spins them off" into independent public companies.
If you look at the list of companies that used to be part of IAC, it's a who's who of the web:
- Match Group: (Tinder, Hinge, OkCupid) — Spun off in 2020.
- Vimeo: The video platform — Spun off in 2021.
- Expedia: He still serves as Chairman, but it started as part of his empire.
- Ticketmaster: Yes, even the concert giant was under his wing for a while.
Today, IAC still owns Dotdash Meredith (which publishes People, Better Homes & Gardens, and Verywell), Angi (formerly Angie's List), and has a massive stake in MGM Resorts International. Diller basically owns the infrastructure of how we spend our time and money online.
The Memoir That Changed the Narrative: "Who Knew"
In May 2025, Diller did something he vowed he’d never do: he wrote a memoir. It’s called Who Knew, and it's remarkably candid.
For decades, there was gossip about his personal life. Diller has been married to the iconic fashion designer Diane von Fürstenberg since 2001, but they’ve been "intertwined," as he says, since 1974.
In the book, Diller finally addressed his sexuality, coming out as gay at the age of 83. He talked about how he had romances with men for decades but also had a "miracle" of a relationship with Diane that was full of passion and genuine love.
"I think I was a coward," he told CBS News Sunday Morning, explaining why he didn't come out sooner. It was a rare moment of vulnerability from a man known for being a ruthless, no-nonsense negotiator. He and Diane remain one of the most powerful couples in New York, and their joint philanthropic projects—like the Little Island park on the Hudson River—have reshaped the city's landscape.
Why He Still Matters in 2026
You might think a guy with a net worth hovering around $5.5 billion would be slowing down. Nope.
Diller is currently navigating the messy transition of media into the AI era. His company, Dotdash Meredith, was one of the first major publishers to strike a deal with OpenAI. He’s been vocal about protecting "fair use" and ensuring that AI companies don't just steal content without paying for it.
He’s also deeply involved in the future of travel. As Chairman of Expedia Group, he’s been steering the company through the post-pandemic travel boom and the shift toward "connected trips" where AI handles your whole itinerary.
What Most People Get Wrong About Him
People think he's just a "media mogul." That’s too small.
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Diller is a capital allocator. He doesn't necessarily care about the content as much as he cares about the platform. He’s a guy who loves "interactivity"—the idea that a screen should do more than just show you a movie; it should let you buy something, meet someone, or go somewhere.
Actionable Takeaways from Diller’s Career
If you’re looking to apply the "Diller Method" to your own business or career, here’s what you should focus on:
- Look for the "Third Way": Diller didn't try to beat ABC at their own game; he built Fox. He didn't try to build a better TV station; he built a commerce platform (QVC). Don't compete—innovate where others are looking away.
- The Power of the Spin-Off: Don't be afraid to let go of your "darlings." Diller is famous for building companies and then letting them go so they can grow independently.
- Adapt or Die: He went from the mailroom to film, to TV, to the web, and now to AI. He never got stuck in one "era."
- Philanthropy as Legacy: His work on Little Island and the High Line shows that he understands a legacy isn't just a stock ticker; it’s the physical space you leave behind for the public.
Barry Diller's story is still being written. Whether he's fighting for copyright in the age of ChatGPT or planning the next big spin-off at IAC, he remains a singular figure in American business—the last of the great moguls who actually knows how to build something from scratch.
To stay updated on Diller’s latest investments and the performance of the IAC portfolio, monitor the quarterly earnings reports for IAC and Expedia Group, which often include his unfiltered shareholder letters.