Sumner Redstone, the chairman of Viacom who built a global media empire encompassing MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount, and CBS, rejected one of the most common clichés in business. He illustrated the point with his battle for control of Viacom in 1987, when he challenged management in an epic takeover fight despite having the odds stacked against him — the board was in management's pocket, information was withheld, and the company deployed every defensive measure imaginable. He had multiple opportunities to exit with a tidy profit, but his conviction only grew. Six years later, he acquired Paramount in an 18-month, two-billion-dollar battle. He was 64 years old when he acquired Viacom, a reminder that the greatest opportunities often come to those who pursue them relentlessly.