WINNERS PETER JACKSON

After a public squabble, “Lord of the Rings” director agrees to produce prequel “The Hobbit” for New Line Cinema.

BILL ACKMAN

Pershing Square hedge fund boss looks like a genius after betting against MBIA stock, which sunk nearly 13 percent earlier this week.

DENNIS FITZSIMONS

As Tribune Co. goes private, the Chicago media company’s boss heads for the exit with a nearly $40 million payday.

LOSERS ALBERT LORD

The beleaguered Sallie Mae chief cursed its shares, which plunged 21 percent earlier this week.

BARRY DILLER

Concert promotion behemoth Live Nation plans to ditch Diller’s Ticketmaster at the end of next year to start its

own rival ticketing service.

RALPH CIOFFI

Bear’s hedge fund manager departs amid a federal probe over personal sales while pumping the funds before they collapsed.