Rachel Abrams, a senior producer and reporter at The New York Times Presents, dives into the tumultuous legacy of media mogul Sumner Redstone and his daughter Shari's rise to power at Paramount Global. She unpacks familial tensions, highlighting how Shari navigated a male-dominated landscape while confronting personal and corporate strife. The discussion also touches on the impact of corporate mergers on journalistic integrity, revealing a compelling tale of affairs, betrayal, and the quest for control within a media dynasty.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Sumner's Troubled Relationships
Sumner Redstone's romantic relationships were problematic and deeply influenced his later years.
Two women took control of his life, isolating him and siphoning millions, nearly gaining trust control of his empire.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Shari Regains Control After Scandal
Sidney Holland secretly had an affair with George Pilgrim while engaged to Sumner Redstone.
When discovered, Sumner expelled her, allowing his daughter Shari Redstone to regain influence.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Moonves Lawsuit Against Shari Redstone
Les Moonves faced sexual misconduct accusations, but was ousted mainly over blackmail and misleading investigators.
Moonves' ouster triggered a board lawsuit aiming to strip Shari Redstone of control of the family business.
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Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Entrepreneurship
M. J. DeMarco
Unscripted by M.J. DeMarco is a no-nonsense guide to breaking free from the societal script that often leads to a life of mediocrity and financial dependency. The book exposes the invisible script that dictates most people's lives, pushing them into conformity, obedience, and economic servitude. It provides a framework for creating wealth and achieving true freedom through entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of rewriting one's own life script and taking control of one's destiny. The book is divided into sections that identify the problem with the current work culture, explain the script that enslaves people, and offer practical advice on how to go unscripted and build a business that changes one's life[2][3][5].
The Redstone family is a controlling shareholder of Paramount Global — one of the biggest entertainment companies out there. (Think CBS Entertainment, MTV, Nickelodeon.) The family is also one of the inspirations for HBO's Succession, which makes sense the more you get to know them.
Shari Redstone currently has the controlling stake in Paramount Global. Company leadership was carefully criticized in a recent on-air "rebuke" by 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley, who said the show was receiving new kinds of oversight amid the Trump presidency. The drama has unfolded as Redstone seeks FCC approval for a lucrative merger, and the Trump administration is suing Paramount Global for billions of dollars.
This week we revisit Redstone's backstory by re-airing a conversation with Rachel Abrams, a senior producer and reporter for The New York Times Presents, and the co-author with James B. Stewart of Unscripted: The Epic Battle for a Media Empire and the Redstone Family Legacy.
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