Tycoon (novel)  Tycoon (sometimes subtitled "Tycoon: A Novel"), published in 1997, is the 23rd novel by Harold Robbins. Starting in the 1930s and ending in the 1970s, it follows the career and love-life of Jack Lear, an entrepreneur who builds an empire in broadcasting. Typically for a Robbins novel, it contains a large amount and variety of sexual content. "Kirkus Reviews" describes it as a "roman à clef", with Lear's career resembling that of William S. Paley. A review by Reed Business Information inc. concludes: ""Wooden prose notwithstanding, the intricate blend of corporate intrigue and carnal gymnastics makes this a highly seductive read.""