Cable Cowboy Set to Rode Off into the Sunset: John Malone Stepping Down as Media Empire Chair
In a move that marks the end of an era, billionaire media mogul John Malone is relinquishing his chairmanship of Liberty Media and its subsidiary, Liberty Global. Known affectionately as the "Cable Cowboy" for his trailblazing role in shaping the modern telecom and TV industries, Malone will be stepping down from his roles in January, effective immediately.
According to sources, Malone's decision to step back comes after decades of deal-making and strategic maneuvering that have left an indelible mark on the media landscape. Under his watchful eye, Liberty Media acquired a string of cable and media companies, while also accumulating a vast portfolio of stakes across various sectors.
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Malone revealed that he will now focus on high-level strategy and deal-making, rather than getting bogged down in operational details. "I'm stepping back a notch," he said, indicating a desire to scale back his involvement in the companies while still maintaining a level of influence.
As part of this transition, Mike Fries, Liberty Global's long-time CEO, will assume the role of chair, replacing Malone's leadership. Robert "Dob" Bennett, a veteran executive within Malone's inner circle, will also take on an increased leadership role at Liberty Media.
Malone, 84, has been a driving force in shaping the media industry for decades, often alongside fellow mogul Rupert Murdoch and Viacom founder Sumner Redstone. His departure from the corporate world marks the end of an era, with only Murdoch remaining from his generation of media moguls actively involved in their businesses.
Beyond his corporate pursuits, Malone is also one of the largest landowners in the US, owning approximately 2.2 million acres (890,000 hectares) of land alongside his wife, Leslie. With a personal net worth estimated at around $10.6 billion, Malone has undoubtedly cemented his status as a media giant.
While Malone's departure marks the end of an era, it also raises questions about what comes next for this influential figure. As he joked earlier in the year, he's been telling his wife he'd retire since the age of 30 – but it seems that retirement may be taking longer than expected. Instead, Malone plans to maintain his control over various private enterprises and will continue to play a key role as an advisor and strategic partner.
As the "Cable Cowboy" rides off into the sunset, his legacy will undoubtedly endure for generations to come.
In a move that marks the end of an era, billionaire media mogul John Malone is relinquishing his chairmanship of Liberty Media and its subsidiary, Liberty Global. Known affectionately as the "Cable Cowboy" for his trailblazing role in shaping the modern telecom and TV industries, Malone will be stepping down from his roles in January, effective immediately.
According to sources, Malone's decision to step back comes after decades of deal-making and strategic maneuvering that have left an indelible mark on the media landscape. Under his watchful eye, Liberty Media acquired a string of cable and media companies, while also accumulating a vast portfolio of stakes across various sectors.
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Malone revealed that he will now focus on high-level strategy and deal-making, rather than getting bogged down in operational details. "I'm stepping back a notch," he said, indicating a desire to scale back his involvement in the companies while still maintaining a level of influence.
As part of this transition, Mike Fries, Liberty Global's long-time CEO, will assume the role of chair, replacing Malone's leadership. Robert "Dob" Bennett, a veteran executive within Malone's inner circle, will also take on an increased leadership role at Liberty Media.
Malone, 84, has been a driving force in shaping the media industry for decades, often alongside fellow mogul Rupert Murdoch and Viacom founder Sumner Redstone. His departure from the corporate world marks the end of an era, with only Murdoch remaining from his generation of media moguls actively involved in their businesses.
Beyond his corporate pursuits, Malone is also one of the largest landowners in the US, owning approximately 2.2 million acres (890,000 hectares) of land alongside his wife, Leslie. With a personal net worth estimated at around $10.6 billion, Malone has undoubtedly cemented his status as a media giant.
While Malone's departure marks the end of an era, it also raises questions about what comes next for this influential figure. As he joked earlier in the year, he's been telling his wife he'd retire since the age of 30 – but it seems that retirement may be taking longer than expected. Instead, Malone plans to maintain his control over various private enterprises and will continue to play a key role as an advisor and strategic partner.
As the "Cable Cowboy" rides off into the sunset, his legacy will undoubtedly endure for generations to come.
He's been around for ages and has played a huge part in shaping the media landscape. I mean, who else can say they've had a hand in creating some of the biggest cable and media companies out there? It's crazy that he's still going strong at 84! 
But at the same time, it's good to see him passing the torch to Mike Fries and Dob Bennett - they're both experienced execs who know what they're doing. I'm curious to see how Malone will continue to be involved in his various private enterprises... maybe we'll still see him making some big deals 
... John Malone has been a huge player in shaping what we watch and listen to, and it's weird that he's stepping down so suddenly. I mean, 84 is still pretty young, right? 
But seriously, I think his legacy will live on through the companies he built and the deals he made. It'll be interesting to see who takes over as chair of Liberty Media... Mike Fries seems like a solid choice 
. Mike Fries stepping up as chair is gonna be interesting, especially with Dob Bennett holding down the fort too 
. The future of media is about to get a lot more exciting and I'm hyped! 
john malone has been a HUGE part of shaping our TV & cable landscape over the years and now HE'S STEPPING DOWN!!! 
John Malone is finally stepping down!! He's like the ultimate OG in the media industry. I mean, he's been building his empire since forever and it's crazy to think that Mike Fries will be taking over as chair now 
. He'll still be advising and being a strategic partner, so we'll definitely see more of his name popping up in the future 
. Can you even imagine what kind of deals he's gonna make now that he's "stepping back" 
84 is still pretty young to be ridin' off into the sunset tho lol. anyway, gotta say i'm curious about what's next for john malone. all this talk of focus on high-level strategy and deal-making makes me think he's just gettin' started 
. i mean we'll probably see more consolidation and whatnot in the industry. anyway, gotta give props to mike fries for takin' the reins at liberty global 
but i guess you can't keep going forever right? he's still gonna be involved tho, which is cool because he knows what he's doing 
anyway, it'll be interesting to see what happens next with liberty media 
. He's been a part of this industry for ages and shaped it in so many ways 
. But at 84, he deserves some time off 
. It'll be interesting to see how Mike Fries takes the reins and what Robert "Dob" Bennett brings to the table 
. I mean, we all know John Malone's legacy will live on, but it's cool to think about the next gen of media moguls comin' up 
. Guess you could say he's ridin' off into the sunset, but his impact will be felt for a long time 
!
it's crazy that rupert murdoch is the only other guy from his generation still running their own empire 
robert dob bennett seems like an old mate, gotta respect how he's jumping into a leadership role at liberty media 
10.6 billion net worth tho? that's insane 
I wonder if he's gonna stay active, though - is it about control or just keeping busy? Maybe it's a bit of both... we'll see what happens next.
. Mike Fries taking over as chair is a solid choice, but I'm curious to see how he navigates without Malone's guidance 
. It's crazy to think that only Rupert Murdoch from his generation is still actively involved in their business... time flies! 
What's next for this guy? I feel like we'll see more of him popping up in other ventures, possibly even taking on a mentorship role or two 
Anyone think he'll still try to retire & fail again