BYRON ALLEN

 Media mogul Allen is in perpetual motion, closing deals to expand his empire. Allen controls Entertainment Studios, a collection of 10 networks, including The Weather Channel. He also owns the digital Black news platform The Grio, and his Allen Media Group owns “Big Four” network television stations in California, Oregon, Indiana, and Minnesota, among other states. Allen has been litigious in pursuing his goals, settling lawsuits with media giants like Comcast to gain programming distribution and enable other African American entrepreneurs to access business opportunities. Next goal: pursue ownership of CNN.