Heading up the DOJ’s antitrust arm, he has made headlines for the results of his media-merger reviews. Makan Delrahim was recognized as part of 2018's Variety500 presented by verizondigital
Few government figures have influenced industry direction like Delrahim. Just months in, the assistant attorney general led DOJ’s lawsuit to block the AT&T-Time Warner merger. A federal judge rejected the government’s case, and prospects of an appeal may be a long shot.
Still, the controversial decision to challenge the merger signaled a shift in antitrust strategy, insisting companies proposing problematic mergers shed assets rather than agree to abide a set of behavioral conditions. Walt Disney won sooner-than-expected approval of its acquisition of Fox’s assets by agreeing to sell off regional sports networks, which most concerned antitrust lawyers. Up next is a decision on lifting a 70-year-old restriction that prevents major studios from owning theaters.