What company is Waystar Royco based on?

In the world of Succession, the HBO series that has captured the minds and hearts of every finance nerd and media mogul wannabe, there's a company that looms large: Waystar Royco. The show is a biting, satirical take on the lives of the ultra-rich and powerful, and the cutthroat world of media empires. Now, one might wonder, as one is wont to do when enjoying such entertainment, are there real-life companies that compare to Waystar Royco? Can we draw some lessons from the real world to better understand this fictional juggernaut? The answer is yes, and today we shall embark on an adventure of parallels and contrasts, as we examine the Waystar Royco-esque companies of our very real and very absurd world.

Let's start with the obvious: Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. The similarities between the Murdoch family and the Roy family are as subtle as a brick to the face. Just like the Roys, the Murdochs wield incredible power in the media landscape, and their family drama is legendary. News Corp has its hands in newspapers, television, and digital properties, which is reminiscent of Waystar's grip on its fictional media landscape. Both companies have a patriarch who has been married multiple times, and whose children jockey for power within the company. If you're looking for a blueprint for Waystar Royco, look no further than News Corp. But don't stop there, because the fun is only beginning.

Another contender is the Redstone family and their media empire, ViacomCBS (now Paramount). Sumner Redstone, the late patriarch, amassed a sprawling media conglomerate with assets like MTV, Comedy Central, and Paramount Pictures. What sets the Redstones apart from the Roys, though, is the level of infighting. The Redstone family disputes were not just boardroom squabbles – they were full-blown legal battles. The Roys might be vicious, but they've got nothing on the Redstones when it comes to family feuds.

Now, let's hop across the pond to the United Kingdom, where the Maxwell family and their former company, Mirror Group Newspapers, offer yet another comparison. While Waystar Royco and the Roys are mostly modeled after American media moguls, there are shades of the Maxwells in their story too. The late Robert Maxwell, a charismatic but controversial figure, built a media empire that ultimately collapsed in scandal. Like Logan Roy, Maxwell had a penchant for strong-arming his rivals, exerting influence over politicians, and making risky financial bets. The main difference? Maxwell's real-world empire fell apart, while Waystar Royco soldiers on, providing us with endless fictional drama.

But let's not forget the recent tech disruptors, like Facebook (now Meta) and Twitter. While Waystar Royco might be a more traditional media company, its story wouldn't be complete without acknowledging the influence of these tech giants. Just like the Roys, Mark Zuckerberg and Jack Dorsey have dealt with their fair share of scandals and faced questions about their control over the flow of information. The Roys might not be coding algorithms or creating virtual worlds, but they're certainly operating in a landscape shaped by these companies.

So, what can we learn from all these real-world comparisons? Well, first of all, it's quite clear that the creators of Succession did their homework. Waystar Royco is an amalgamation of some of the most iconic and powerful media companies, which makes for a rich and engaging backdrop for the show. But more importantly, it's a reminder that the world of media, power, and family dynamics is as messy and cutthroat in reality as it is on television.