Sumner Redstone

Sumner Redstone
Redstone in 2001
Born
Sumner Murray Rothstein

(1923-05-27)May 27, 1923
DiedAugust 11, 2020(2020-08-11) (aged 97)
Burial placeSharon Memorial Park
Sharon, Massachusetts
EducationBoston Latin School
Alma materHarvard University (AB, LLB)
Occupation(s)Chairman of National Amusements
Chairman Emeritus of ViacomCBS
Spouses
  • Phyllis Gloria Raphael
    (m. 1947; div. 1999)
  • Paula Fortunato
    (m. 2002; div. 2009)
ChildrenBrent Redstone
Shari Redstone
Parents
Military career
Allegiance United States
Service / branch United States Army
Years of service1944–1945
Rank First lieutenant
UnitSignals Intelligence Service
Battles / warsWorld War II

Sumner Murray Redstone ( Rothstein; May 27, 1923 – August 11, 2020) was an American billionaire businessman and media magnate. He was the founder and chairman of the second incarnation of Viacom, chairman of CBS Corporation (both companies merged in 2019, a year before Redstone's death), and the majority owner and chairman of the National Amusements theater chain.

Until his death, Redstone was a majority voting shareholder of the media conglomerate ViacomCBS, the parent company of the Paramount Pictures film studio, the CBS television network, and various cable networks.

According to Forbes, as of April 2020, he was worth US$2.6 billion.[1]

Redstone was formerly the executive chairman of both CBS and Viacom.[2][3] In February 2016, at age 92, Redstone resigned both chairmanships following a court-ordered examination by a geriatric psychiatrist. He was ultimately succeeded by Les Moonves at CBS and Philippe Dauman at Viacom.[4]

  1. ^ "Forbes profile: Sumner Redstone". Forbes. April 7, 2017. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
  2. ^ Steel, Emily (February 3, 2016). "Sumner Redstone Steps Down as CBS Chairman, Replaced by Leslie Moonves". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  3. ^ Lovelace, Berkeley Jr. (December 16, 2016). "Sumner Redstone will step down from Viacom's board". CNBC. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  4. ^ Sharma, Joe Flint and Amol (February 4, 2016). "Redstone Resigns as CBS Executive Chairman". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved August 12, 2020.