Per Entrepreneur Magazine, the creation of Desilu Productions led Ball and Arnaz to be their own bosses. Thus, instead of working directly with CBS, they would produce the show and provide it to the network. Moreover, TV shows at the time were filmed in New York but Ball and Arnaz refused to move and stayed in Hollywood.

Their efforts paid off as “I Love Lucy” premiered in October 1951 and became one of the top-rated TV shows. Desilu Productions quickly expanded and also created “Mission: Impossible” and “Star Trek” (via the Lucy Desi Museum). Likewise, “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and “The Andy Griffith Show” were also produced at the studio.

All of the success in the world, however, could not keep Ball and Arnaz together. After a turbulent 20-year marriage, the couple divorced in 1960 (per History). By 1961, Ball had remarried and was starring in “The Lucy Show” with Arnaz as director.

This partnership was not working for Arnaz, who asked Ball to buy him out of Desilu Productions. She agreed and paid $2.5 million for his shares. According to Mental Floss, this made Ball the first female CEO of a major production company.

The former couple remained good friends even after their divorce. Arnaz died in 1986 and Ball in 1989 (via the National Women’s History Museum). Nonetheless, Desilu Productions completely revolutionized the way TV shows were produced.