For more than half a century, Barry Diller has carved his name into the annals of Hollywood history as one of the industry's most formidable figures. Known for his intense management style and a reputation that instilled fear among colleagues, Diller's legacy includes stints at major studios such as 20th Century Fox and Paramount, as well as leadership roles at IAC and Expedia. Tales of his heated temper are legendary; one infamous incident recounts how he threw a videotape against a wall in frustration, prompting a staff member to frame the hole it made as a reminder of Diller’s formidable presence. Even the iconic Oprah Winfrey admitted to feeling intimidated before their first dinner together.

However, the recent release of his memoir, titled Who Knew, offers a revealing glimpse into a different facet of the 83-year-old media mogul. In its pages, Diller opens up about his life and identity, announcing that he is gay. Beyond revealing this significant aspect of his personal life, he shares heartfelt reflections on his marriage to renowned fashion designer Diane von Fürstenberg, whom he affectionately refers to as “the miracle of my life.” Diller, who wed von Fürstenberg in 2001, articulates a deep love for her family, including her children and grandchildren, embracing them as his own.

Diller’s upbringing was marred by challenges; he had distant parents and a brother who struggled with addiction. These experiences shaped his outlook on life, and he candidly shares moments of vulnerability in his memoir, describing instances where he shed tears during both personal and professional trials. Yet, nothing evokes a more profound emotional response from Diller than the memory of his cherished late dog, Shannon. The billionaire speaks fondly of her five cloned “daughters,” who he refers to as his “little Irish girls,” albeit technically closer to replicas of Shannon than clones in the traditional sense.

“How can you even describe what you love?” Diller muses when reflecting on his beloved Jack Russell terrier, Shannon. He recalls the day they met in Ireland back in 1999, though the exact town escapes him. After enjoying lunch at a quaint restaurant, he encountered Shannon on the street, and she began to follow him. Intrigued, he learned that the dog belonged to a waitress, but later discovered that she had no owner. “I scooped her up,” he says, recounting how he whisked her away, transforming her from a stray in Ireland to a beloved companion traveling in luxury.

During their journey back to the United States, their layover at Shannon Airport provided the perfect opportunity to give her a name. “She made it to New York as an undocumented immigrant,” Diller jokes. Together, they spent years at the luxurious von Dillers’ Beverly Hills mansion until Shannon’s passing in 2014, marking the end of a fairytale bond.

In a twist that blends science and love, Diller took extraordinary steps to keep Shannon’s spirit alive through cloning. Before her death, tissue from Shannon was biopsied and sent to a biotech company in South Korea, leading to the creation of cloned embryos. This pioneering endeavor resulted in the birth of several clones: Dina, Evita, Tess, Luna, and Bossie, with Diller asserting that they embody the “ethos” of Shannon, showcasing similar personalities with only slight variations.

Diller has actively engaged with his clones, taking Dina back to Ireland to explore her roots. Unfortunately, Dina’s life was tragically cut short during a hike in Costa Rica, where she fell victim to a crocodile attack, leaving Diller with a bitter memory of the country. “A country I’ll never return to,” he laments.

As a trailblazer in the realm of animal cloning, Diller has inspired curiosity among other celebrities, including Barbra Streisand and Simon Cowell, who have expressed interest in cloning their pets. When asked if he sees himself as a trendsetter, Diller responded with humility, indicating that he has shared extensive details about his cloning experience with those who inquire.

In a light-hearted moment, Diller humorously addressed the speculation surrounding von Fürstenberg’s potential cloning, affirming her position as the only woman he has ever loved while jokingly contemplating the idea of a carbon-copy wife to accompany his cloned pets. “Of course,” he laughs, encapsulating the blend of warmth and wit that defines his personality.