David Ellison

Money Moves

As of October 2026: Chairman and CEO of Skydance Corporation, which completed its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery on October 6, 2026.

On October 6, Paramount Skydance completed its $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, creating a combined company named Skydance and ending a 13-month bidding war that survived federal and state antitrust challenges. The deal closed after a federal judge approved a settlement with 12 states on September 30, and shares of Skydance began trading on the NYSE under the ticker SKYD.

Updated Oct 9

Money Moves

As of October 2026: Retains full voting control of Paramount

The Federal Communications Commission approved a plan that lets the sovereign wealth funds of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar hold nearly half the equity of the company that owns CBS and is buying Warner Bros. Discovery. The investors receive only non-voting shares; the Ellison family keeps full voting control.

Updated Oct 3

Rule Changes

As of May 2026: Overseeing CBS News restructuring after merger completion

Three hours before airtime on December 22, CBS News killed a 60 Minutes investigation into Venezuelan migrants tortured in an El Salvador prison after Trump deportations. The segment had passed five screenings, legal review, and standards checks. New editor-in-chief Bari Weiss—appointed two months earlier when Paramount Skydance bought her media company for $150 million—demanded the piece include Trump administration comment or an interview with hardline advisor Stephen Miller. When the White House refused, she spiked it.

Updated May 16

Money Moves

As of May 2026: Escalating hostile takeover attempts through litigation and board challenges; extended tender deadline to February 20

On December 5, 2025, Netflix announced a definitive deal to acquire Warner Bros.' film and television studios and streaming businesses, including HBO and HBO Max, valued at $72 billion in equity and $82.7 billion including debt. On January 20, 2026, the parties amended to an all-cash structure at $27.75 per share, with a shareholder vote expected by April 2026.

Updated May 10

Money Moves

As of May 2026: Driving hostile $30/share tender offer to acquire all of WBD and supplant Netflix deal

After Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery announced their $72 billion equity-value agreement on December 5, the transaction quickly became a live bidding contest and a regulatory test case. On December 8, Paramount Skydance launched an unsolicited all-cash tender offer at $30 per share to derail the Netflix deal and keep WBD intact, including networks slated for its Discovery Global spin-off. Within days, Netflix began a coordinated shareholder push backing its signed merger agreement and emphasizing regulatory execution, while WBD prepared formal filings to respond to the tender offer.

Updated May 9