SUMNER REDSTONE, the chairman of Viacom and patriarch of one of America’s most powerful media dynasties, has locked horns with his own son in a legal battle over more than $1 billion (£577 million) worth of shares in the family empire.

Brent Redstone is suing his father and sister Shari in an attempt to dissolve National Amusements, the family’s $8 billion holding company, and release his one-sixth share.

The younger Redstone, a lawyer who has hardly spoken to his father or sister since his parents divorced in 1999, claims that the pair “misappropriated millions of dollars” from National Amusements, and engaged in “self-dealing”, including using company funds to pay off personal loans.

Sumner Redstone, 82, owns 66 per cent of National Amusements, which in turn controls 71 per cent of both Viacom and CBS. Mr Redstone is chairman of both the media and entertainment companies, while Shari is second in command at all three.

Brent Redstone is a director of National Amusements, but claims that he has little to do with its day-to-day affairs, National Amusements said that the allegations were “completely unfounded”.

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