Who Knew

By: Barry Diller

Narrated by: Barry Diller

Barry Diller, one of America’s most successful businessmen, reveals himself here—his successes, failures, and struggles—with surprising candor and intimacy in a memoir rich in Hollywood lore and filled with business acumen.

Writing in his singular voice, Barry Diller delivers an astute business memoir, an unvarnished look at Hollywood, a primer on media, and a surprisingly frank coming-of-age story.

“I want to work in the mail room at William Morris.” So begins Diller’s show business life. Diller did not aspire to be an agent, nor was he a glove fit for William Morris, the legendary talent agency he describes as resembling a “Jewish Vatican.” But he was a good assistant and student and took it all in.

Before long, Diller was offered a job at ABC. His ascent was meteoric, launching ABC TV’s Movie of the Week at age twenty-seven, becoming CEO of Paramount Pictures at age thirty-two, and launching the Fox TV network at age forty-four. Along the way, Diller oversaw the production of classic films such as Saturday Night Fever, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Home Alone (a film he credits with saving Rupert Murdoch’s career) and hit TV shows such as The Simpsons, Married…with Children, and Cops. He programmed and developed by instinct—not by research or data.

Diller’s media savvy changed the course of American culture. His championing of Alex Haley’s Roots put long-form miniseries on the map. He was never cowed by the talent—actors, directors, and producers—and worked with them all. Indeed, throughout his career, Diller championed “creative conflict,” encouraging argument in every business he managed (“I’ve never thought decision-making should be peaceful,” he writes). Diller also recognized our digital future, founding IAC and growing it into a billion-dollar constellation of brands, including Match, Tinder, and Expedia.

Moving beyond business, Diller recounts his family life, personal struggles, and regrets, his joyful marriage to Diane von Furstenburg, and where he has found fulfillment.

Intimate, candid, and moving, Who Knew is a different kind of business memoir, one that holds nothing back.

©2025 Barry Diller (P)2025 Simon & Schuster Audio

Fantastic!

It's an engrossing story told in an engaging. factual, personable way.
And his narration is superb!
I don't want it to end.

The honesty

The candid dialogue of his business success. I say this as a former public company CEO

What an amazing book!

I so loved this book. It is many things. It is a look behind the curtain at show biz machinations. It is the remarkable story of an undisciplined teen who has his share (maybe more than his share) of luck and leverages those opportunities to navigate the circuitous path to the very top of American enterprise. It is a chronicle of the attitudes and struggles of being gay. It is about appreciation and ultimately about love: for life, for risk-taking and for other human beings.

I read a lot of memoirs. Many are total bores, others seem like absolute fabrications. But the best give you a comprehensive portrait of a remarkable individual. That is definitely how I would describe Who Knew. This was a delight to read.

Outstanding

An excellent read. What a life. I cannot recommend this book more. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Enjoyable immersion

It’s quite a life Barry Diller has led and I enjoyed the whole excursion through it. He’s a good storyteller and I was never bored. His relationship to Diane von Furstenberg is beautifully described. Barry comes across as a decent man with core guiding principles who has had a great deal of success wherever he turned. He mispronounces several words which is curious and fortunately infrequent.

I’ve read hundreds of books here, never commented…

This a truly fascinating bio. For anyone who’s a fan or curious of Hollywood, big business, or tech; what a perspective!

Who knew a guy I’d admittedly never heard of before had such an impact on so much of the media that shaped me…

Fascinating journey of entitled child into a major player in media.

I liked the authors narration. Easy listen to Mr Dillers with his long and windy journey.

One of the best books on Hollywood

It can honestly take it's place besides Steven Bach's Final Cut (Studios are used as advertising for conglomerate stock)

I identified with the Author.

Well documented experience of an amazing,on going, experience. Encouraging for the rest of us.

Surprise after surprise

Was not familiar with Dillar but saw a CBS Sunday morning segment and his life sounded interesting. This is a fabulous journey into the life a privileged white kid from Beverly Hills to his now 80+ year old discovered self.