Who

The president of N.S. Bienstock, Leibner is an agent who represents some of the biggest news personalities in the business, including Anderson Cooper and Bill O'Reilly.

Backstory

Leibner followed in his father's footsteps and became a CPA before joining his dad in the '60s at the accounting/insurance outfit he'd founded with Nate Bienstock. At the time, the firm managed the finances of prominent authors and journalists such as John Steinbeck. After the younger Leibner joined the firm—and father and son bought out Bienstock's share in the company—Richard turned to agenting and the TV news business, quickly developing a reputation for his aggressiveness at the negotiating table. Today, Leibner's company reps news producers, correspondents, and anchors; TV heavyweights like Bill O'Reilly, Paula Zahn, Anderson Cooper, Chuck Scarborough, Dan Rather, Chris Matthews, Campbell Brown, and John Roberts all hand over 5 to 7 percent of their annuals salaries. Perhaps Leibner's greatest success? He started working with Dan Rather when Rather was a local TV personality in Texas earning $17,500-a-year. By 1980, he was on the cover of Time and Leibner had negotiated him a then unheard-of $22 million, 10-year pay package. Leibner represented Rather right up to his "retirement" in 2005.

Personal

The entire Leibner family works at the firm, including Richard's wife, Carole Cooper, and their two sons, Jonathon and Adam. The Leibners own a penthouse apartment on West 57th Street and spend weekends on Fire Island.