Michael Hiltzik: What 'Succession' got wrong about what happens when moguls die
Near the very end of Sunday's episode of HBO's hit show "Succession," Roman Roy shows his siblings a stock price chart on his smartphone.
The image indicates that the shares of Waystar Royco, their family-controlled corporation, are falling off a cliff thanks to the announcement of the death of the company patriarch, Logan Roy.
"There he is," Roman says, measuring the breadth of the decline between thumb and forefinger. "That is Dad."
The fictional moment communicates how crucial Logan Roy's role had been to the company's success. It's not, however, supported by history.
In real life, the death of hyper-controlling business moguls often turns into occasions to reassess their handiwork. The assessments are not always positive.
Let's examine what may be
