Chapter 148: Person of the Year
[Chapter 148: Person of the Year]
The next day, Ian got his hands on documents regarding Sony Pictures' alleged tax evasion. Tax evasion was a serious issue; the IRS was even more formidable than the FBI, notorious worldwide. It was known that the IRS had its own law enforcement branch, even a paramilitary force. The most infamous case involved Al Capone -- someone that even the FBI couldn't touch, yet the IRS had managed to bring him down.
In America, the FBI wasn't particularly frightening, but the IRS certainly was! Dare to evade taxes? That was a sure way to invite disaster!
Sony wasn't brazenly evading taxes; it was nearly impossible for major film companies to avoid some level of tax evasion. For one, the taxes in the U.S. film industry were high, prompting companies to create numerous subsidiaries to shift profits. Additionally, many companies in the industry were involved in money laundering schemes. And where money laundering existed, tax evasion inevitably followed; after all, why would they report it? Therefore, regardless of how well the books were kept, problems were bound to arise.
The issues discovered by the FBI were just the tip of the iceberg, represented by a mere two million dollars -- something just incidental to the bigger picture. However, the IRS wouldn't share that perspective. Even if there were money laundering involved, taxes still needed to be paid! They could impose hefty fines as well!
But upon reviewing these documents, Ian found himself hesitating. He was reluctant to use this as leverage. The news he had uncovered was of immense value, capable of generating continuous effects and bringing in substantial returns. To use it just for a chance to get Spider-Man and Venom seemed like a monumental waste -- something that was rightfully his, why should he need to leverage something illicit to obtain it?
So Ian decided to take a step back. Spider-Man was set to release in May 2002, and he had time to invest before that. Many regarded the advantages of rebirth as knowing which ventures would be profitable but often overlooked the crucial timing element.
Truly exceptional investments focus on the return timeline: if Spider-Man was set to premiere in May and conclude in October, investing in April would mean a mere six-month return period, whereas waiting until December would stretch it to almost a year. Entrepreneurs skilled in mergers and acquisitions placed a heavy emphasis on return periods, highlighting the significant utility of capital.
After much contemplation, Ian decided his immediate priority should be to continue gathering evidence against Sony, preparing to capitalize on it in due time.
---
By the end of December, Time Magazine announced its Person of the Year, and unsurprisingly, Ian Carr made the list. He wasn't alone, as Shawna was featured alongside him as well. This was something Ian had requested, given that Shawna was destined to become a superstar with Lockbridge Productions, a globally recognized anti-terrorism activist and a leading figure in the feminist movement... Katherine could have been among them, but she was still somewhat unclear about her direction.
As Ian gazed at the images of himself and Shawna in Time Magazine, satisfaction swept over him. He flung off the covers and pounced on Shawna...
---
In Time Magazine, Ian's handsome face graced the center of the page. He was set to become the most delectable figure of the era, a genius reporter, a brilliant businessman, and a heroic figure emerging out of nowhere.
These accolades transformed this young man into a recognizable persona across the United States and even globally.
In a lavish mansion in Manhattan's upscale neighborhood, Uhtred Boyce stared sorrowfully at the young man. "Why can't we have reporters like that? For the sake of news, willing to bet everything, even their lives and integrity!"
Uhtred Boyce was the head of ABC News. As a wealthy tycoon, he was not easily deceived. He knew much of what Ian said during interviews was fluff, mere bravado. However, he couldn't deny that when a person possessed the skills of a top-notch journalist, the face of a politician, quick reflexes, a solid business acumen, and significant bank support along with a reckless disregard for danger, as long as they stayed alive, they had already set themselves on the path to becoming a global media powerhouse.
Boyce had no intentions of targeting him; the concern was Ian's rapid rise. His development occurred so swiftly it left everyone else struggling to react, becoming a significant threat to all his competitors.
Not to mention, he hadn't been particularly friendly toward the Jewish community. He took CBS from Viacom, which was owned by a Jewish family; his wild reporting targeted DreamWorks, whose top executives were Jewish; one of the two politicians he exposed was also Jewish; nearly a third of the celebrities he reported on were Jewish; to top it all off, his company had no Jewish executives in its ranks.
Though Ian claimed to not discriminate against Jewish people, his behavior indicated hostility. Boyce obviously didn't view it as purely an ideological issue but could interpret it through the lens of self-interest -- Jewish individuals dominated American media, and for Ian to achieve his media tycoon status, he would inevitably clash with them.
Whether it was intentional or not, even if it were merely a matter of self-interest, Boyce couldn't accept it. At that moment, he was contemplating this when his phone rang.
...
Boyce picked up the phone, "It's me, Joe. Good to hear from you... Yes, I'm following this... Outstanding young man... What? The Wall Street Journal is interested in him too? He isn't primarily focused on financial news... Ah, Madoff, is it? I see. I agree with his views... Alright, I can assist a little with this. This young man has too much drive; it's time to rein him in a bit."
He had heard about the minor conflict between Ian and Madoff, who also happened to be Jewish.
...
So, he made another call, "It's me... The Viacom deal to acquire CBS has collapsed. They're doing well on their own... A forced acquisition? That would be too costly, and they could retaliate. We both know why this is happening -- it's Ian Carr."
Boyce chuckled lightly. "They can't buy him off; he's the owner of a major media company himself. Mr. Madoff has some ideas about this young man... Yes, he's giving it some thought; I don't know why, nor do I care. I mean, someone has to charge in, right? I'm just curious why this old man is being so aggressive, but we're not concerned about reasons. I'm not a reporter; delving into the essence of things isn't my job."
"Yes, our job is simply to cooperate with his vision."
Boyce laughed, saying, "When the wall is falling, everyone pushes it. But the truth is, people can push even when the wall is standing. Yes, I agree with this point; then let's settle on that."
...
One call after another, Boyce finished what he had set out to do. His eyes narrowed as he mused, "Ian Carr, you may be a brilliant journalist, but evidently, you're not a savvy businessman. You don't know what you're facing... that's the inevitable outcome of reckless ambition. You could win one hundred times but can't afford to lose even once."
As he spoke, Boyce let out a low chuckle.
---
[A/N: Carr Media Asset Report (excluding personal expenses, Godwin Manor, etc.):
1. CBS shares: 14 + 8% (market stock).
Current market value of CBS is 12.5 billion, with 22% shares worth 2.75 billion.
An additional 3% is yet to be acquired.
2. The Los Angeles Herald currently circulates about 1.5 million copies and, due to its high profitability, is valued at 1 billion. It is a crucial asset for Ian's growth but has almost hit its ceiling.
3. The Los Angeles Times is still valued at 800 million, with 70% of shares worth 560 million.
4. Mayhill Construction remains unchanged at 300 million.
5. Short selling the Italian lira invested 200 million.
6. Spark TV, Lockbridge Productions, and other related business ventures are valued at 200 million.
Liabilities:
1. Lino Bank - 1.9 billion, interest 6.2%.
2. Etna Insurance Company - 1.5 billion, interest 3.8 (unpaid, meant for 12% CBS shares, which were advanced).
3. Lino Bank - 336 million (unpaid, for acquiring 3% of CBS shares).
CBS's fourth-quarter dividend gave Ian 20 million; alongside the two major newspapers' revenues, it covered Lino's interest.
Considering agreed debts and share arrangements, total liabilities stood at 3.736 billion, while the group's total value was 5.4 billion.
The debt ratio was around 69%, with a net worth of approximately 1.7 billion.]
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