Adorable Story #114: Bill and Babe Paley

The Manhattan Power Couple

“In business, the competition will bite you if you keep running; if you stand still, they will swallow you.”

— William S. Paley

This week, we turn our spotlight on one of the most glamorous and influential couples of the 20th century: William S. Paley, the broadcasting titan who transformed CBS into an American media powerhouse, and his wife, the iconic style queen Babe Paley.

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Table of Contents:

A. William “Bill” Paley: The Visionary Behind CBS / Early Life / The Rise of CBS / Strategic Growth and Innovation / Impact on Broadcasting / Marriages and Family Life

B. Barbara "Babe" Paley: The Fashion Icon / Early Life / Marriages and Family / Later Years: Health Issues, and Farewells

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A. William “Bill” Paley: The Visionary Behind CBS

Early Life

William Samuel Paley was born on September 28th, 1901, in Chicago, Illinois, into a family of Jewish immigrants who embodied the American Dream.

His father, Samuel Paley, emigrated from Ukraine (then part of the Russian Empire) in the late 19th century in order to escape the widespread antisemitism and economic hardships faced by Jewish communities in the Russian Empire.

A skilled cigar maker, Samuel worked tirelessly to build a successful business, eventually founding the Congress Cigar Company in 1896. The company became known for its popular “La Palina” brand of cigars, named after Samuel’s wife, Goldie Drell Paley.