Sumner Redstone's extraordinary life: From an army cryptographer to a media tycoon who boasted that he'd live forever after surviving a deadly hotel inferno and a prostate cancer battle

By MAILONLINE REPORTER

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Sumner Redstone's death on Tuesday comes after a colorful life that began humbly in Boston and saw him rise bombastically through the TV and movie world, collecting film studios and cable conglomerates all while juggling two marriages, a string of messy affairs, family feuds and mammoth business deals. The ViacomCBS giant died aged 97, his family revealed on Tuesday, after a sad existence in recent years.

Sumner Redstone's death on Tuesday comes after a colorful life that began humbly in Boston and saw him rise bombastically through the TV and movie world, collecting film studios and cable conglomerates all while juggling two marriages, a string of messy affairs, family feuds and mammoth business deals. The ViacomCBS giant died aged 97, his family revealed on Tuesday, after a sad existence in recent years.

After being hospitalized in 2014 with pneumonia and having ingested food in his lungs, he spent much of the last six years unable to speak. He communicated through an iPad and was cared for round-the-clock by nurses who have claimed he was often reduced to tears and screaming by an ex-girlfriend, Sydney Holland, who they say tried to keep him from his family. That life in his final days is a far cry from the trail he blazed in the world of entertainment over the last 50 years.

After being hospitalized in 2014 with pneumonia and having ingested food in his lungs, he spent much of the last six years unable to speak. He communicated through an iPad and was cared for round-the-clock by nurses who have claimed he was often reduced to tears and screaming by an ex-girlfriend, Sydney Holland, who they say tried to keep him from his family. That life in his final days is a far cry from the trail he blazed in the world of entertainment over the last 50 years.

Born Sumner Rothstein in Boston in 1923, his father Max sold linoleum from the back of a truck and his mother was a housekeeper. When he was a teenager, his father changed the family name to Redstone. Redstone was dismayed and thought his father was trying to abandon their Jewish heritage. Friends close to the family have since suggested that Max did not want the family to be associated with the famous gangster, Arnold Rothstein, who fixed the world series. After high school, he enrolled at Harvard, on a scholarship, and graduated within three years. He was so skilled in languages that he was invited to Washington during World War II to work as an army cryptographer to decipher Japanese military codes.

Born Sumner Rothstein in Boston in 1923, his father Max sold linoleum from the back of a truck and his mother was a housekeeper. When he was a teenager, his father changed the family name to Redstone. Redstone was dismayed and thought his father was trying to abandon their Jewish heritage. Friends close to the family have since suggested that Max did not want the family to be associated with the famous gangster, Arnold Rothstein, who fixed the world series. After high school, he enrolled at Harvard, on a scholarship, and graduated within three years. He was so skilled in languages that he was invited to Washington during World War II to work as an army cryptographer to decipher Japanese military codes.

Sumner Redstone with his first wife, Phyllis, in 1997. The pair were married for 52 years, during which time he had several affairs, before they divorced in 1999

In 1947, Redstone married his first wife, Phyllis. They welcomed their children Shari and Brent and the family lived for a time in San Francisco, where he worked in a law firm and later teaching at a university. Redstone's first foray into the world of TV and movies came in 1954, when he abandoned his law career to join his father who had saved enough money to buy a drive-in movie theater. Together and with the contribution of Sumner's brother, they bought 11 more. Redstone married his passion for movies with his legal expertise to sue film studios which, at the time, didn't allow drive-ins to lease first-run films. 

In the early 1960s, as the appetite for drive-in theaters declined, he tore them down and started building multiplexes in their places. Redstone became CEO of his father's company - National Amusements Inc - in 1964. For the next several years, he invested on he side in studios but his quickly ascending career was brutally halted in 1979 in a hotel fire. Redstone was staying at The Boston Copley Plaza when a fire tore through the hotel. He was staying with his mistress and escaped by clinging on to a window ledge as flames burned his hands.

In the early 1960s, as the appetite for drive-in theaters declined, he tore them down and started building multiplexes in their places. Redstone became CEO of his father's company - National Amusements Inc - in 1964. For the next several years, he invested on he side in studios but his quickly ascending career was brutally halted in 1979 in a hotel fire. Redstone was staying at The Boston Copley Plaza when a fire tore through the hotel. He was staying with his mistress and escaped by clinging on to a window ledge as flames burned his hands.

Redstone was rescued from the hotel on a ladder. He later wrote in his autobiography: 'The fire shot up my legs. The pain was searing. I was being burned alive'. Redstone had to undergo five surgeries but nothing could correct the damage to one of his hands. He would later say that he felt lucky to be alive.

Redstone was rescued from the hotel on a ladder. He later wrote in his autobiography: 'The fire shot up my legs. The pain was searing. I was being burned alive'. Redstone had to undergo five surgeries but nothing could correct the damage to one of his hands. He would later say that he felt lucky to be alive.

Redstone circa 1981, in another portrait shot by The Boston Globe
A portrait of Redstone shot by the Boston Globe in 1986

Redstone circa 1981, in another portrait shot by The Boston Globe (left) and in 1986 (right). By then, he'd recovered from the fire injuries and was quickly charging ahead with buying up movie studios 

In 1987, he went after Viacom, his biggest business play to date. He bought it was $3.4billion. Next, he bought Paramount in 1993 for $8.2billion. CBS was folded into Viacom in 1999 through a stock merger worth $37billion - the largest deal in media history at the time. He separated the pair in 2006 and put Les Moonves in charge of CBS. Hi daughter Shari brought the two companies back together with her coup over the last few years which resulted in the ViacomCBS merger, a $30billion deal. Pictured: Sumner (center) with Shari (second from right) and Phyllis (far right) along with children believed to be Shari's kids and TomF Freston and Michael Stipe in 1993.

In 1987, he went after Viacom, his biggest business play to date. He bought it was $3.4billion. Next, he bought Paramount in 1993 for $8.2billion. CBS was folded into Viacom in 1999 through a stock merger worth $37billion - the largest deal in media history at the time. He separated the pair in 2006 and put Les Moonves in charge of CBS. Hi daughter Shari brought the two companies back together with her coup over the last few years which resulted in the ViacomCBS merger, a $30billion deal. Pictured: Sumner (center) with Shari (second from right) and Phyllis (far right) along with children believed to be Shari's kids and TomF Freston and Michael Stipe in 1993.

Redstone with Bill Clinton during Clinton's presidency in 1996. He remained friends with the Clintons for years and fundraised for their charity enthusiastically.

Redstone with Bill Clinton during Clinton's presidency in 1996. He remained friends with the Clintons for years and fundraised for their charity enthusiastically.

Redstone married New York City teacher Paula Fortunato in 2003

Sumner, at the time of his death, owned 80 percent of the company and Shari owns 20 percent. His shares will be divided now into two trust; one for his two children - Shari and Brent - and their kids, and one for his first wife, Phyllis. Phyllis remained married to him until 1999 - staying by his side throughout many affairs, including with Winer, who he was caught in the fire with. Three years after divorcing Phyllis, and at the age of 79, he married 40-year-old New York City public school teacher Paula Fortunata, pictured. 

Redstone married New York City teacher Paula Fortunato in 2003

They were married for five years before Redstone filed for divorce. The pair had a pre-nuptial agreement in place which awarded her $1million for every year they were married. 

In 2006, Redstone separated CBS from Viacom. He'd folded it into Viacom as part of a $37billion merger but when the Viacom stock price started stagnating, he took them apart again and put Les Moonves in charge of CBS. Moonves is shown with him in 2013. He was ousted from CBS during the #MeToo movement as allegations of sexual misconduct emerged. The two men are shown with Moonves' wife, Julie Chen, and Redstone's then-girlfriend, Sydney Holland. It was one of his final outings before his health took a drastic downturn.

In 2006, Redstone separated CBS from Viacom. He'd folded it into Viacom as part of a $37billion merger but when the Viacom stock price started stagnating, he took them apart again and put Les Moonves in charge of CBS. Moonves is shown with him in 2013. He was ousted from CBS during the #MeToo movement as allegations of sexual misconduct emerged. The two men are shown with Moonves' wife, Julie Chen, and Redstone's then-girlfriend, Sydney Holland. It was one of his final outings before his health took a drastic downturn.

Sumner Redstone in 2014 with the cast of Teenage Mutant Turtles, including Megan Fox, in 2014.

Sumner Redstone in 2014 with the cast of Teenage Mutant Turtles, including Megan Fox, in 2014. 

In 2014, Redstone's health took a drastic turn for the worse when he was hospitalized with pneumonia. Pictured: Redstone receiving his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2012.

In 2014, Redstone's health took a drastic turn for the worse when he was hospitalized with pneumonia. Pictured: Redstone receiving his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2012.

It was during those years that Manuela Herzer, pictured, one of the ex-girlfriends he accused of stealing $150million from him, claims they cemented their relationship. In court documents, she said they were close friends and confidantes since 1999. Herzer worked in his home while he was in a relationship with Sydney Holland. Details of their complicated relationships became public in 2015, after he'd thrown both women out of his home. With her father's health getting worse and worse, Shari feared for how the women were controlling him.

It was during those years that Manuela Herzer, pictured, one of the ex-girlfriends he accused of stealing $150million from him, claims they cemented their relationship. In court documents, she said they were close friends and confidantes since 1999. Herzer worked in his home while he was in a relationship with Sydney Holland. Details of their complicated relationships became public in 2015, after he'd thrown both women out of his home. With her father's health getting worse and worse, Shari feared for how the women were controlling him.

Redstone boasted famously that he'd never die. In an  interview with Larry King (above) he said: ''The people who fear dying are people who are going to die. I¿m not going to die.' According to his family, however, the giant died on Tuesday aged 97.

Redstone boasted famously that he'd never die. In an  interview with Larry King (above) he said: ''The people who fear dying are people who are going to die. I’m not going to die.' According to his family, however, the giant died on Tuesday aged 97.