How Barack Obama Made His Fortune
Obama made his money from a few sources, and has it invested and stored in a few surprising -- but also easy to track -- ways.
Random House
WikiLeaks' Julian Assange to Write His Memoirs
As the embattled 39-year-old Australian hacker's lawyers fight his extradition to Sweden, he'll be working on a memoir. The book will be published in the U.S. by Knopf, a division of Random House, and in the U.K. by Canongate. Admirers -- and detractors -- can't wait.
Random House's Fastest-Selling Picture Book: Obama's 'Of Thee I Sing'
President Barack Obama's children's book, "Of Thee I Sing," has become the fastest-selling picture book in Random House's history. Released a week ago, the book sold 50,000 copies in its first five days.
E-Books' Success Is a Mixed Blessing for Publishers
E-book sales continue to climb. But the popularity of digital titles is forcing publishers to ask some thorny questions about pricing, negotiations with writers and the future of the publishing industry.
Random House Reaches for Another Star: Newsweek's Jon Meacham
Newsweek's former editor-in-chief just happens to be a Pulitze Prize-winning author for Random House, so it's no surprise he's landing there. It's also another example of how the publisher keeps reaching for big names to add to its editorial ranks.
Jay-Z's Book Blitz: Marketing Most Unlike the Industry's Standard
Celebrity books normally get a big marketing push. But the campaign for Decoded, the rap mogul's new book of lyrics, is unprecedented. Thanks to backing from Clear Channel and Microsoft's Bing, it's surely in a league of its own.
Ruth Reichl's Post-Gourmet Gig: Random House Author -- and Editor?
After Conde Nast's surprise shuttering of Gourmet last fall, Ruth Reichl, its editor-in-chief, was out of a job. While the 70-year-old title is back as an iPad app, Reichl herself has moved away from magazines and back to book publishing.
Tony Blair Stirs Big Sales -- and Big Controversy
Despite -- or probably partly because of -- a considerable public outcry, Tony Blair's memoir is doing brisk business on both sides of the Atlantic. Will George W. Bush find similar success with his book later this fall?
Random House, Hachette Cash In on Bestsellers
Two of the largest publishing houses have demonstrated again that when authors like Stephenie Meyer or Stieg Larsson become big phenomenons, big sales -- and big profits -- are the result.
Random House's E-Book Deal With Wylie Leaves Much Unanswered
Random House and top literary agent Andrew Wylie have settled their fight over his plans to publish e-books of older works from big name authors he represents. But while the battle is over, the settlement announcement raises more questions than it answers about the future of e-publishing.
Random House Makes a Big Bet on Janet Evanovich
Janet Evanovich, whose bestselling books feature the romantically challenged bounty hunter Stephanie Plum, has moved to Random House, in a deal worth tens of millions. But as the book business changes, will Random House be able to recover the cost?
Random House Wages War Over Amazon E-Book Sales
Random House is throwing down the gauntlet with an announcement that it will stop doing English-language business with a top literary agency, Wylie Agency, because the agency signed an exclusive deal to sell e-books to Amazon.
Will E-Books Send Hardcover Prices Soaring?
Alberto Vitale, former CEO of Random House, believes the prices of hardcover books could climb by a third in the next five years, even as prices for e-books decline. Not surprisingly, other industry experts disagree.
Will Random House's New M&A Exec Expand or Shrink the Publisher?
The publisher has a long string of acquisitions to its name, but lately it has been streamlining significantly too. The latest reshuffle has created a high-level M&A role. Some worry this may mean further consolidation -- along with more turmoil.
Random House Reports Flat 2009 Earnings
Media company Bertelsmann's overall year-end earnings report cited a "difficult economic environment" for plunging earnings and profits, but giant publishing division Random House sent out its own annual missive full of surprising optimism, thanks to triple-digit increases in e-book sales.