Unscripted

What happens when power, obsession, and scandal collide in the world of billionaires, media empires, and Hollywood’s elite? "Unscripted" unveils truths stranger than fiction.

1. Sumner Redstone: Billionaire, Survivor, and Troubled Patriarch

Sumner Redstone wasn't a typical businessman or family man. His relentless drive helped him build an empire, including National Amusements, Viacom, CBS, and Paramount, and amass a fortune of over $2.5 billion. Despite his achievements, Sumner’s life was riddled with infidelities, family conflicts, and ongoing legal battles, even into his nineties.

His resilience became legendary after he survived a fire in 1979, hanging from a window ledge for life while flames engulfed his arm. He recounted refusing to let go despite “excruciating pain.” This same determination defined both his approach to business and relationships, often creating a volatile personal life.

Sumner’s complex relationship with his daughter Shari Redstone became a core conflict as his health declined. Though Shari possessed the intelligence and aptitude to help steer the family business, their disagreements escalated into public verbal attacks, with Sumner openly insulting her and engaging in power struggles that strained their bond.

Examples

• Sumner blasted Shari with profanity-laced emails, copying Viacom executives.
• His survival story during a fire symbolized his tenacity and fierce will to live.
• Despite their clashes, Sumner and Shari later reconciled in the final stages of his life.

2. The Wild World of Sumner’s Romances

Sumner Redstone’s romantic escapades were as headline-grabbing as his business triumphs. Even in his eighties and nineties, he pursued relationships with much younger women, often lavishing them with expensive gifts and shares in his empire.

One such romance involved 26-year-old flight attendant Malia Andelin. Though she initially rejected his advances, his persistence led to her becoming his companion. More pronounced were the relationships with Sydney Holland, a 39-year-old entrepreneur, and Manuela Herzer, an Argentinian he’d once proposed to. Both women became central figures in Sumner’s life, wielding significant influence over him during his later years.

These relationships were not without controversy. Over time, Sumner gifted Holland and Herzer millions of dollars, stock holdings, and properties – even granting them positions in his estate’s trust.

Examples

• Sumner proposed to Sydney Holland with a nine-carat diamond ring.
• A jeweled panther-shaped handbag was gifted to Malia Andelin with a flirty note: “I’m a panther and I’m going to pounce.”
• Holland and Herzer received $45 million each after convincing Sumner to cash his stocks.

3. Power, Manipulation, and a Double Breakup

Holland and Herzer’s manipulation over Sumner's life and finances raised alarms among staff and Sumner’s family. Both women reportedly dominated his care, made financial demands, and even fed him improperly, risking his health. As Sumner became more dependent on them, concerns about their intentions mounted.

The relationship unraveled when Holland’s affair with actor George Pilgrim came to light. Their engagement, despite her ongoing connection with Sumner, sparked Herzer to confront her. This feud escalated until Holland was ejected from Sumner’s mansion.

After Holland, Herzer’s power only increased until mansion staff staged a revolt, warning Sumner about her behavior. Her expulsion came swiftly, restoring some balance to his life and allowing Shari to re-enter the picture.

Examples

• Staff reported Herzer's attempts to manipulate Sumner’s medical care.
• Holland’s engagement to George Pilgrim disintegrated under Herzer’s accusations.
• Shari’s intervention grew stronger after staff revealed Herzer’s manipulative actions.

4. The Relationship Between Father and Daughter

Sumner’s tumultuous bond with Shari Redstone shaped much of the family drama. Their opposing visions for Viacom and CBS created decades of conflict. While Shari sought stability and long-term planning, Sumner clung to his controlling instincts and often dismissed his daughter’s perspectives.

Shari’s willingness to stand her ground, however, proved instrumental later. After Holland and Herzer were removed from her father’s life, she slowly rebuilt a strained relationship and took on increasing responsibility over its business operations.

The relationship moved from public confrontations to quiet reconciliation, evident in her dedicated role over Sumner’s remaining years.

Examples

• Disputes over splitting Viacom into two companies sparked years of tension.
• Sumner publicly belittled Shari in emails, creating workplace embarrassment.
• Shari’s persistence eventually earned her oversight of Viacom and CBS.

5. Les Moonves: Scandals in the Wake of ##MeToo

Les Moonves, the successor to the CBS chair offered to Shari, became the center of his own explosive scandal. Despite publicly endorsing the ##MeToo movement, Moonves was accused by numerous women of sexual harassment and assault, including workplace misconduct with his assistant.

The company showed reluctance in addressing the initial allegations. Irony and outrage peaked when Moonves’s predatory behavior mirrored the abuses of Harvey Weinstein. Moonves ultimately resigned, though not before damaging CBS’s legacy.

Public pressure and Shari’s efforts to hold Moonves accountable played vital roles in finally confronting the issue.

Examples

• Moonves’s assistant confirmed long-standing workplace harassment.
• Investigative journalist Ronan Farrow broke the details of six more allegations against Moonves.
• Shari pushed CBS’s board to launch an investigation, leading to Moonves’s resignation.

6. The Stranglehold of Greed

Throughout “Unscripted,” greed emerges as a driving force, intertwined with power and betrayal. Sumner’s girlfriends manipulated him not just emotionally but financially, draining millions while vying for favorable positions in his trust.

This theme extended to CBS’s indecision over Moonves’s misconduct, revealing how corporations protect executives to safeguard profits rather than ethics or justice.

The lows of these scandals seem to highlight how wealth and ambition can corrupt human behavior in both personal and professional settings.

Examples

• Sumner gave away more than $20 million to various girlfriends in his later years.
• Holland and Herzer siphoned off $90 million, including properties and stock.
• CBS prioritized Moonves’s career until public outrage forced their hand.

7. Hollywood Glitz Hides a Darker Reality

The book paints Hollywood not just as a land of glamor but as an industry entrenched in abuse, excess, and misused power. Powerful figures like Sumner, Moonves, and their entourages sustained the façade of success while covering up scandals.

From the opulence of Sumner’s mansion to corporate boardrooms, the fallout of moral compromise becomes evident. The ##MeToo movement, for all its revelations, barely scratched the surface of systematic corruption.

This stark juxtaposition of charisma and impropriety underscores the moral dilemmas in entertainment and media.

Examples

• Moonves outwardly championed gender equality while perpetuating abuse.
• Staff at Sumner’s mansion noted the toxic environment his girlfriends created.
• The ##MeToo movement revealed endemic issues within Hollywood’s power structures.

8. Deception at Every Step

Deception weaves through the book’s most gripping moments. Sumner’s girlfriends misled him on major decisions while his mother lured him into a second marriage for appearances. Similarly, Moonves’s charm disguised his serial misconduct for years.

Even institutions like CBS played deceptive games, delaying accountability for executives and prioritizing image control over genuine reform.

This atmosphere of continuous betrayal and cover-ups serves as a reminder of the consequences of unchecked power.

Examples

• Holland pretended to be loyal while secretly engaged to someone else.
• Herzer manipulated Sumner’s health staff to increase her influence.
• CBS’s board initially dismissed multiple credible allegations against Moonves.

9. The Unexpected Hero: Shari Redstone

The most unassuming but determined figure, Shari emerges from the chaos as a composed, ethical leader who attempts to restore balance in troubled times. Where others sought to exploit or evade accountability, Shari worked to protect her father and the Redstone legacy.

Her advocacy featured prominently in Les Moonves’s eventual downfall and helped guide Viacom and CBS to steadier ground. She symbolized steadiness amid destruction.

Examples

• Shari built bridges with executives despite her father’s earlier sabotage.
• She demanded accountability from CBS even when opposed by the board.
• Her leadership ensured the family business survived post-Moonves.

Takeaways

1. Examine power dynamics critically and advocate for accountability in workplaces where unethical behavior persists.
2. Recognize manipulation in relationships and intervene when necessary to protect loved ones or vulnerable individuals.
3. Avoid succumbing to greed or excess by emphasizing ethical practices in both personal and professional realms.