Barry Diller on building FOX, changing Hollywood, and Diane von Fürstenberg | MD MEETS Episode #2

In this second episode of MD MEETS, Axel Springer CEO Mathias Döpfner sits down with legendary media mogul Barry Diller - the man who shaped Hollywood, created FOX, and built one of the world’s most powerful internet empires.

From being bounced at Studio 54 on opening night - despite arriving with Hollywood royalty - to discovering John Travolta and producing Saturday Night Fever, Diller recounts the wild rise of an entertainment visionary whose career has spanned every screen, from silver to digital.

In a rare and intimate conversation, Diller opens up about the loneliness of his childhood, the drive that rejection gave him, and how risk - from his sexuality to his career - became his creative engine. He speaks about the glamour and darkness of fame, his lifelong partnership with Diane von Furstenberg, and what it means to build something that truly lasts.

A story of reinvention, risk, and romance - and of one man’s extraordinary journey from Hollywood’s back rooms to the frontlines of media history.

0:00 Intro
0:55 Introducing Barry Diller
1:37 Studio 57 and the Creation of “Freak Out”
4:14 Barry Diller’s Childhood, Family, and His Book “Who Knew”
8:39 Discussing “Who Knew” and His Sexuality
20:26 Early Career and First Steps in the Entertainment Industry
23:48 Working at ABC
26:57 Saturday Night Fever and Paramount Pictures
29:37 Dealing with Hollywood Celebrities
32:45 On Insecurity and Self-Doubt
37:56 The Creation and Rise of FOX Broadcasting
49:25 How Important Was Wealth to Barry Diller?
55:54 Life Aboard His Yacht Eos
59:53 On Diane von Fürstenberg and Their Relationship
1:10:53 On the Global Rise of Anti-Semitism
1:14:53 Barry Diller’s Purpose in Life and His Legacy

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MDMEETS with Mathias Döpfner brings unedited conversations with the world’s most influential voices. From politics and science to arts and business, each episode dives into the most pressing issues of our time - and sometimes the completely unexpected.

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MD MEETS is a podcast of Axel Springer SE. Produced by Daniel van Moll. All rights reserved

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