When Moguls Attack

Mega business moguls are fun to watch.

They're simply fascinating to us. They typically live fairly lavish lifestyles, although mostly far out of the public lens. They're usually depicted as hard-driving frontier types that take the biggest risks and, therefore, reap big rewards.

Mega business moguls often run through marriages like the average person drinks water.

Yea, they're so much more interesting aren't they?

Mega business moguls aren't trappers by nature. They go out hunting for prey. They seek out gigantic grizzly bears, knowing that either they or the bear will be having a good meal that night.

But mega business moguls are willing to take that risk. After all, it's in their DNA.

So let's face it. In the business world, watching a couple of mega business moguls ferociously going at it is big fun.

I imagine it's like King Kong vs. Godzilla. They'd pummel the hell out of each other, smash into buildings, tear up streets, and level the landscape around them. The smoke and dust from their wanton destruction would be seen for miles.

This is nothing new. Mega mogul fights have occurred frequently in business history.

And, not to disappoint, there's one going on right now that's particularly intriguing.

It's Mega Business Mogul John Malone vs Mega Business Mogul Barry Diller!

In a very brief nutshell, mega mogul Barry Diller runs and controls the voting shares of conglomerate IAC/Interactive.

Mega business mogul John Malone has a significant investment in IAC/Interactive. Mogul Malone thinks mogul Diller is a bad manager.

So mogul Malone is trying to give the steel-toed boot to mogul Diller.

We'll have to wait to see who wins this heavyweight bout.

In the meantime, here's more information about each of them.

The Barry Diller Dossier

Media Mogul: Barry Diller

Company: CEO, IAC/Interactive

Notable Achievements: Pioneered the Movie-of-the-Week programming during stint at ABC in the 70's; CEO of Fox Inc. for several years until clashing with Rupert Murdoch.

Legacy: Spawned other mega business moguls such as Michael Eisner and Jeffrey Katzenberg.

Personal Wealth: Reported to have made $295 million in 2005 - highest paid executive that year.

Importance: Old media mega mogul that has acquired new media assets such as Ask.com and Expedia.

Mis-step(s): Pissing off a large investor who also happens to be a mega business mogul!

The John Malone Dossier

Media Mogul: John C. Malone

Company: Chairman, Liberty Media Corp.

Notable Achievements: Built TCI into the largest U.S. cable operator before selling to AT&T.

Legacy: Prolific media deal maker; Brutally tough negotiator.

Personal Wealth: #553 on the 2008 Forbes Billionaire list with $2.2 billion.

Importance: Via Liberty Media, invested in many then fledgling cable networks such as BET.

Mis-steps: Unraveling of mega-deal to sell TCI to Bell Atlantic in 1994.

Stay tuned for the final round to this mega mogul fight.

One thing's for sure ...

It's bound to be a helluva scene!