Today Hearst Corp. owns 15 daily newspapers (Houston Chronicle, San Antonio Express-News), 15 U.S. magazines (Esquire, Harper's Bazaar), TV and radio stations.

FORBES: #296 George Randolph Hearst Jr.

In the 1930s he was a star correspondent on the Daily Express and later the Daily Mail, then the most successful newspapers in Britain.

ECONOMIST: Lord Killanin

Two determined British bidders, the Daily Mail and General Trust Group, which owns the Daily Mail in Britain, and Richard Desmond, owner of Express Newspapers, will be particularly disappointed.

ECONOMIST: Enter the Barclay brothers. Exit Lord Black