Rocco Commisso darts around his office, gnawing a stick of nicotine gum and playing show-and-tell. "Look at the rates," he says, holding up a plaque celebrating a $2.4 billion financing round from 2001, his cable firm's largest ever. Up next are some personal keepsakes: a picture with fellow billionaire Charles Dolan, a golden telescope to take in views of the Catskill Mountains, a signed photo of Pelé, the Brazilian footballer.

Every few minutes Commisso calls out to his assistant as if this tour is taking place against his will. "Jen, this guy wants to see all of my personal stuff!" he yells. Then he scans the room for another prize to trot out. Forgive him the braggadocio. Commisso, 68, has risen farther than nearly anyone in America. The son of a penniless carpenter, he immigrated from Italy at age 12 unable to speak a word of English.