Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Michael Redstone

Michael Redstone is an businessman and member of the Redstone family, notable for his role in the family-owned Inc. (NAI), a major theater chain that formerly controlled significant stakes in media conglomerates including (formerly ViacomCBS), and for initiating a prominent against family members over alleged mismanagement of family shares. Born as the son of Edward Stanton Redstone (1928–2011), brother of media executive (1923–2020), is Sumner's nephew and cousin to Sumner's children, and . He worked at NAI, the founded by his grandfather "" in the mid-20th century, which grew into a powerhouse that controlled assets like , , , and through its media investments. During his career, reportedly provided support for 's employment and education at the company. In November 2006, Michael Redstone, along with trustees representing interests of Redstone family members, filed a lawsuit in against his uncle and father Edward Redstone, accusing them of , breaches of fiduciary duty, and . The suit alleged that share redemption transactions in 1972 and the early 1980s undervalued and deprived Michael and his late sister, Ruth Ann Redstone, of their rightful inheritance in NAI, which was then worth an estimated $8 billion; it sought damages equivalent to a 50% stake in the company. NAI described the claims as baseless, noting Sumner's prior assistance to Michael. In December 2009, a Massachusetts judge ruled in favor of , dismissing the case and upholding the validity of the share transactions. The legal battle highlighted longstanding tensions within the Redstone family dynasty, which has been marked by multiple intra-family disputes over control of NAI and its media empire, including separate suits by against his father Sumner. These tensions culminated in the 2025 merger of with , ending the Redstone family's in the media assets. Despite the outcome, the case underscored Michael's position as a peripheral but litigious figure in one of America's most influential media families.

Early Life

Birth and Family Background

Michael Redstone was born Max Rothstein on April 11, 1902, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Morris Rothstein and Rebecca Rothstein (née Bornstein), Eastern European Jewish immigrants who had settled in the city. Morris Rothstein, who had emigrated from what is now Ukraine around 1892, operated a bakery supply business with his brothers, supporting the family through modest means in Boston's working-class neighborhoods. The Rothsteins lived in poverty amid the bustling Jewish immigrant community of Boston's West End, a dense enclave of Eastern European Jews where families often faced economic hardship and frequent relocations within the city to find . The family later moved to the neighborhood, continuing their life in similar immigrant enclaves characterized by tight-knit Jewish networks and cultural traditions. In adulthood, Rothstein anglicized his first name to and adopted the nickname "," while changing the family surname to around 1940—a literal English translation of "Rothstein" that sounded less overtly Jewish and helped avoid associations with the infamous gambler . This name change reflected broader patterns of among second-generation Jewish Americans in early 20th-century . The family expanded with the birth of his son Sumner in 1923.

Early Career

Michael Redstone began his professional life in during the 1910s and 1920s with modest jobs that reflected the demands of his immigrant family's circumstances. As a youth, he sold newspapers on the streets to help support his household, an experience that underscored the value of in the face of limited opportunities. Later in the decade, he worked as a , gaining practical skills in and delivery while navigating the city's bustling economy. The , beginning in 1929, profoundly shaped Redstone's early career by creating widespread economic hardship that forced him to adopt an opportunistic and resourceful approach to earning a living. Amid soaring and financial instability, he transitioned to peddling door-to-door, a role that required direct salesmanship and quick adaptation to customer needs in a contracting market. Following the repeal of in , he took a position in his brother-in-law's , capitalizing on the sudden legalization of alcohol sales to secure steady income during the ongoing crisis. These roles highlighted his ability to identify and exploit emerging niches for survival and modest gains. Redstone's first independent ventures emerged in the early 1930s as he sought greater autonomy, including operations in liquor distribution that built on his store experience. In 1934, he partnered with associate Harry "Doc" Sagansky to open Boston's Mayfair nightclub, marking his entry into the entertainment sector and managing daily operations and hospitality services. In 1945, he expanded by purchasing Boston's Latin Quarter nightclub from Lou Walters, the father of journalist Barbara Walters. These moves represented his initial forays into leisure and performance venues, setting the stage for his later focus on theaters while demonstrating his knack for turning underutilized assets into profitable enterprises during economic recovery.

Business Career

Michael Redstone worked at Inc. (NAI), the family-owned theater chain founded by his grandfather. His uncle provided support for his employment and education at the company. As of the mid-2000s, he was described as a productive employee at NAI.

Personal Life

Marriage and Children

Michael David Redstone was born on December 23, 1957, in . He had a sister, Ruth Ann Redstone (August 7, 1954 – April 21, 1987). Redstone was married twice. His first wife was Shelley Redstone. He later married Joy Redstone, who had two children from a previous relationship, Laurel and Galen. The couple resided in . Redstone and Shelley had three children: Jesse, Alex, and Emily Redstone.

Later Years and Death

In his later years, Redstone lived in , after previously residing in , . Redstone died on May 8, 2014, in , at the age of 56. He was buried on May 13, 2014, in . A celebration of life was held on June 22, 2014, at Willowbend Country Club in .

Legacy

Impact on the Entertainment Industry

Michael Redstone's contributions to the entertainment industry were primarily through his employment at Inc. (NAI), the family-owned theater chain founded by his grandfather. While not in a leadership role, his work supported the operations of a company that controlled major media assets, including stakes in ViacomCBS. Sumner Redstone provided assistance for Michael's position and education at NAI, though specific details of his operational impact remain limited in public records.

Family Business Succession

Michael Redstone's legacy is most notably tied to intra-family legal disputes over NAI shares, highlighting tensions in the Redstone dynasty's succession. In 2006, he sued his uncle and father Edward Redstone, alleging and undervaluation of shares redeemed in 1972 and the early 1980s, which deprived him and his late sister Ruth Ann of inheritance potentially worth billions in the then-$8 billion ; the sought damages equivalent to a 50% stake. NAI called the claims baseless, citing Sumner's prior support for Michael. In December 2009, a Massachusetts judge dismissed the case in favor of Sumner, upholding the transactions. This litigation, part of broader family conflicts including suits by Sumner's son Brent, underscored challenges in managing succession and fiduciary duties in the closely held NAI, influencing public perceptions of the Redstone family's control over its media empire.

References

  1. [1]
    Nephew sues Viacom chairman Sumner Redstone - Reuters
    Aug 9, 2007 · Sumner's son, Brent Redstone, sued his father in February this year, also charging that his father had "breached his fiduciary duties" by ...
  2. [2]
    Nephew sues Redstone over stake in business - Los Angeles Times
    Nov 21, 2006 · The nephew of Viacom Inc. Chairman Sumner M. Redstone is suing the media mogul for allegedly cutting him and his late sister out of their stake in the family ...
  3. [3]
    Sumner Redstone prevails in nephew's suit against him
    Dec 2, 2009 · Michael Redstone and his trustees first filed a suit in 2006, alleging that he had been undercompensated for selling his shares in privately ...
  4. [4]
    Family Laundry Redux - The New York Times
    Michael Redstone is suing his uncle, Viacom chairman Sumner M Redstone, and his father Edward Redstone, claiming they cheated him and his sister out of ...
  5. [5]
    Michael Redstone - Ancestry.com
    Born in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA on 11 Apr 1902 to Morris Rohtstein and Rebecca Blanche Bornstein Rohtstein. Michael Redstone married Bella Ostrovsky ...
  6. [6]
    1902: The Boston Trucker Who Founded the Firm That Swallowed ...
    Apr 11, 2016 · April 11, 1902, is the birthdate of Michael “Mickey” Redstone, the hard-driving founder of the family entertainment empire now headed by his ailing 92-year-old ...
  7. [7]
    [PDF] business families - Creaghan McConnell Gould
    When Sumner's grandfather Morris Rothstein emigrated to the U.S. from modern- day Ukraine in 1892, he and his two brothers each opened their own bakery supply ...Missing: scrap metal
  8. [8]
    Trouble in the House of Redstone - Boston Magazine
    Nov 23, 2009 · (Mickey, who had changed the family name from Rothstein to sidestep the anti-Semitism of blueblood Boston, also palled around with former Mayor ...Missing: community | Show results with:community
  9. [9]
    B…Who?: Sumner Redstone - The Quad
    Mar 4, 2013 · Born on May 27, 1923, Sumner Murray Rothstein grew up in a poor Jewish household in Boston's West End and Brighton neighborhoods. His father ...Missing: early relocation
  10. [10]
    Michael “Mickey” Rothstein Redstone (1902-1987) - Find a Grave
    The couple had two sons – Sumner Murray, born in 1923, and Edward ... Sumner Redstone. 1923–2020. Edward Stanton "Eddie" Redstone. 1928–2011. Flowers ...
  11. [11]
    History of National Amusements Inc. - FundingUniverse
    His father, born Max Rohtstein, changed his name to Michael Redstone and supported his family by selling newspapers on the streets of Boston. Later, the ...
  12. [12]
    Sumner Redstone obituary - The Guardian
    Aug 12, 2020 · His father, Michael, moved from peddling linoleum to liquor, then into owning nightclubs and, in 1934, to running one of America's first drive- ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  13. [13]
    Redstone drama may be a movie biz love story - The Boston Globe
    Jun 23, 2016 · Before Viacom shareholders approved it, Michael Redstone died unexpectedly after an operation, and three months later, Sumner's mother passed ...
  14. [14]
    Media mogul Sumner Redstone, whose empire included Viacom ...
    Aug 12, 2020 · He pursued power and wealth through the accumulation of content companies. In his 2001 autobiography, “A Passion to Win,” Redstone wrote that ...Missing: concessions | Show results with:concessions
  15. [15]
    Statement From National Amusements - Business Wire
    Aug 12, 2020 · Eventually, Michael Redstone saved enough money to buy a drive-in movie theater in Valley Stream, Long Island. Following the success of this ...
  16. [16]
    75 Years Ago: The Dedham Drive-in Opens: Part 1
    Aug 11, 2023 · Hundreds of cars are lined up along Elm St as selectmen and local business leaders gather with owner and operator Michael Redstone to cut the ...
  17. [17]
    Dedham Drive-In - Cinema Treasures
    The Dedham Drive-In opened August 11, 1948. By 1955 it was operated by Redstone Drive-In Theaters & Daytz Theatre Enterprises Corp.
  18. [18]
    a history of the drive-in theatre industry, 1933-1983 - Digital Repository
    ... theatres declared legitimate businesses. By the early 19603 the shortage of good films and the competition from television caused some drive-in operators to ...
  19. [19]
    https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/216541088/ruth-ann-redstone
  20. [20]
    Sumner Redstone | Encyclopedia.com
    May 21, 2018 · Sumner Murray Redstone was born on May 27, 1923, to Max and Belle Rothstein in Boston, Massachusetts. Redstone's father got his start selling ...
  21. [21]
    Gifts in honor of Sumner Redstone - TBF - The Boston Foundation
    Mr. Redstone was born in Boston, Massachusetts on May 27, 1923 to Belle Ostrovsky and Max Rothstein. His father, who later changed his name to Michael Redstone ...Missing: son | Show results with:son
  22. [22]
    Belle Ostrovsky Redstone (1903-1987) - Memorials - Find a Grave
    Max Rothstein married Belle Ostrovsky, daughter of Russian-Jewish immigrants. The couple had two sons – Sumner Murray, born in 1923, and Edward Stanton, ...
  23. [23]
    Fort Sumner
    ### Summary of Michael Redstone's Marriage to Belle Ostrovsky
  24. [24]
    Family Feud - Forbes
    Oct 27, 2007 · The Redstone family battle centers on a rift between Sumner and his 54-year-old daughter, Shari. Five years ago he saw her as the heir to his control position.Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
  25. [25]
    Sumner Redstone Fast Facts | CNN
    May 16, 2013 · Sumner Murray Rothstein. Father: Michael Redstone, businessman ... His father changed the family name from Rothstein to Redstone in 1940.Missing: Morris occupation
  26. [26]
    MICHAEL REDSTONE - The New York Times
    Apr 9, 1987 · He was 85 years old. Mr. Redstone was the retired president and chairman of National Amusements and Northeast, which are both based in Dedham, ...
  27. [27]
    National Amusements Inc. | Encyclopedia.com
    Michael Redstone opened the third drive-in theater in the United States and expanded it into a chain that proliferated following World War II. It was a ...Missing: 1936 Valleyfield
  28. [28]
    https://dspace.mit.edu/bitstream/handle/1721.1/78995/20121651-MIT.pdf?sequence=2
  29. [29]
    Sumner Redstone Dead at 97: Mogul Helped Shape Modern Media ...
    Aug 12, 2020 · Sumner Redstone, a towering figure in media who built his father's drive-in theater business into an empire that included Viacom, Paramount Pictures and CBS ...
  30. [30]
    The Family Redstone: multibillion history of dysfunction
    Aug 5, 2007 · For his part, Michael, after being rescued from a mental hospital by Sumner, served as an executive at National Amusements before leaving ...
  31. [31]
    Media Mogul's Gift to Children Motivated by Love, Not Business
    Dec 9, 2015 · Michael Redstone and the trustees of certain Redstone family trusts sued Sumner, Edward, and NAI, advancing two major contentions. First, they ...
  32. [32]
    Family Laundry Redux - The New York Times
    Nov 21, 2006 · Redstone, the Viacom chairman, is Michael Redstone, his nephew. He is suing both Sumner Redstone, 83, and his own father, Edward Redstone, 78, ...Missing: cause | Show results with:cause
  33. [33]
    Sumner Redstone Dies At 97: The Media Titan Made Viacom ... - NPR
    Aug 12, 2020 · He described the harrowing episode in his autobiography A Passion To Win: I was enveloped in flames. The fire shot up my legs. The pain was ...Missing: concessions | Show results with:concessions
  34. [34]
    Redstone Family Saga Writ Large In Favorable Tax Court Decision
    Oct 31, 2015 · The Estate of Edward Redstone, brother of Viacom Chairman Sumner Redstone, received a favorable ruling from the Tax Court in its challenge ...