Who is Barry Diller? and His New Book- Who Knew?

Barry Diller is a legendary American business magnate and media executive, born February 2, 1942, in San Francisco. He rose from a mailroom job at William Morris to reshape Hollywood and beyond—creating ABC's “Movie of the Week,” serving as CEO of both Paramount Pictures (1974–1984) and 20th Century Fox (1984–1992), where he launched the Fox broadcast network. Today, he chairs IAC and Expedia, with an estimated net worth in the billionsGoodreads+10Wikipedia+10Amazon+10.

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📘 Who Knew – His Memoir

• Full title: Who Knew, released May 20, 2025, by Simon & Schuster The New Yorker+15Simon & Schuster+15Kirkus Reviews+15.

• Genre: A candid business memoir combined with a coming-of-age story—not a third-person biography but his own life story in his voice Simon & Schuster+6Amazon+6Google Books+6.

• Content:

  • Chronicles his early days: starting in the William Morris mailroom, his rise through ABC, Paramount, and Fox; producing iconic films and shows (e.g., Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Simpsons)WIRED+12Amazon+12The New Yorker+12.

  • Explores personal chapters: childhood, romantic life, including his relationship and marriage to Diane von Fürstenberg; publicly acknowledges being gay for the first time Amazon+13Simon & Schuster+13Them+13.

  • Reflects on transitioning into digital media—his leadership at IAC, Expedia, and companies like Tinder and Match Amazon Canada+13Simon & Schuster+13Wikipedia+13.

Is it autobiographical?

Yes. It's a first-person memoir, entirely written by Diller, offering frank, personal reflections on both his professional triumphs and failures and his private journey, from emotional introspection to revealing his sexuality AmazonThe Washington PostThemPeople.comThe New YorkerWIREDWikipedia.

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Highlights & Reactions

• Impactful anecdotes:

  • Tensions with figures like Warren Beatty and George Lucas The New Yorker+5The Washington Post+5Kirkus Reviews+5.

  • Intimate family insights: his marriage (they married in 2001 after decades together), his sexuality, and childhood trauma The Washington PostPeople.comSimon & SchusterGoogle BooksWikipedia.

• Critical praise:

  • Kirkus: “One of the better show‑biz memoirs” and a NYT Bestseller Kirkus Reviews.

  • The New Yorker, People, Wired, and others commend its deep dive into business strategy, media — though note it is more focused on his professional life than psychological introspection The Washington PostThe New YorkerWIRED.

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✅ Summary

• Barry Diller: Iconic media titan, pivotal in shaping modern entertainment.

• Who Knew: A memoir — his story in his tone — that blends career milestones, culture-shaping decisions, personal memoir, and emotional honesty.

• Autobiography? Absolutely—as far as memoirs go, this is a powerful first-person account that he authored, rather than a biography written by someone else.

Here’s a refined breakdown based on available chapter/section info and editorial reviews—though full chapter summaries aren’t publicly released, this offers a detailed structure overview:

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📘 “Who Knew” – Section Overview

1. From Mailroom to ABC: The Making of a Media Mogul

• Mailroom at William Morris: Diller describes his early ambition in the mailroom, absorbing the agency’s culture and politics. PBS+9Simon & Schuster+9The New Yorker+9

• ABC & Movie of the Week: At 27, he invents the TV “Movie of the Week” and larger events like Roots, transforming broadcast programming. Barnes & Noble+5Simon & Schuster+5IRead Nest+5

2. Paramount Pictures: Young CEO & Big Bets

• Becoming CEO at 32: Overseeing hits like Saturday Night Fever, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Grease. IRead Nest+5Simon & Schuster+5Barnes & Noble+5

• Creative Conflict: Clashes with Warren Beatty (Reds) and George Lucas (Indy sequel negotiations). The Washington Post

3. Fox Era: Building a Network

• Launching Fox: At 44, he champions risk-taking programming—The Simpsons, Married… with Children, Cops.Barnes & Noble+4Simon & Schuster+4Simon & Schuster+4

• Departure: Details his falling out with Rupert Murdoch and exit in 1992. Simon & Schuster+7Los Angeles Times+7Barnes & Noble+7

4. Digital Transition: IAC, Expedia & Beyond

• Leap into Digital: Describes the founding and growth of IAC, acquisition of Home Shopping Network, and leadership of Expedia, Match and Tinder. Los Angeles Times+9Simon & Schuster+9Simon & Schuster+9

• Media Philosophy: Speaks against data-overcreativity trends, championing debate, instincts and “fake it till you make it.” The New Yorker

5. Personal Journey & Revelation

• Family Trauma: Describes emotional distance, a fractured childhood, and a silent dinner at age 7 shaping his self-reliant nature. Los Angeles Times+1The New Yorker+1

• Relationship with Diane von Fürstenberg: Love story begins in the 1970s; they marry in 2001. Their dynamic—marriage, affairs, lifelong partnership. Simon & Schuster+6Los Angeles Times+6Barnes & Noble+6

• Sexuality & Public Coming-Out: A late-in-life confirmation of his gay identity—open secret—told with measured candor. The Washington Post

6. Legacy, Leadership & Reflections

• Management Philosophy: Prefers debate, pushes people beyond comfort, avoids data paralysis. The New Yorker

• Cultural Impact: His role shaping the entertainment and digital landscape, with forward-looking insights on media fragmentation and capitalism. PBSThe New Yorker

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✅ Summary

While Who Knew doesn’t provide a traditional chapter-by-chapter breakdown, the book is organized into clear thematic sections that trace Diller’s:

1. Ascent – entry into entertainment via the William Morris Agency and ABC

2. Studio Years – leadership at Paramount and Fox, with high-profile deals and disputes

3. Digital Pivot – founding IAC, Expedia, and diving into online dating

4. Personal Revelation – childhood, marriage, sexual identity, and his coming-out journey

5. Reflections & Legacy – insights on leadership, media, and the times ahead

Note: You can purchase Barry Diller's new book, "Who Knew," at major online retailers like Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Target, and Bookshop.org. You can also find it at various independent bookstores and through platforms like eBay and Biblio. Additionally, an ebook version is available on Amazon Kindle. 

Lastly, Did you know there's a fruit in the Philippines that tastes like caramelized cotton candy? 

Meet the Aratiles (Muntingia calabura)—a bright red, berry-like fruit once beloved by children across the provinces.

Often found growing wild along streets and schoolyards, this tiny fruit never made it to supermarkets. Why? Its ultra-short shelf life and delicate skin made it impossible to mass-produce or ship commercially.

Despite being overlooked today, Aratiles is loaded with antioxidants and has medicinal properties. The leaves are used in traditional remedies for diabetes and inflammation. But for many, its nostalgic sweetness remains the real magic.

One of my pleasant memories as a child was eating and harvesting wild aratiles ( Cerisa) in our backyard in Iloilo, Philippines.