David Zaslav

Money Moves

As of October 2026: Former CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, exited when the acquisition closed 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 May 2026: Named defendant in Paramount lawsuit; defending Netflix deal and pushing for April 2026 shareholder vote

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: Seller of Warner Bros. studios and streaming; future head of spun‑off Discovery Global

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