Ellison backs Paramount-WBD bid with $40.4B personal guarantee
Ellison backs Paramount-WBD bid with $40.4B personal guarantee
Larry Ellison personally guarantees $40.4 billion to bolster Paramount Skydance's bid to win Warner Bros Discovery's assets from Netflix.
A personal guarantee of $40.4 billion from Larry Ellison is turning heads as Paramount Skydance presses a new bid to win Warner Bros Discovery’s prized Hollywood assets away from Netflix.
Paramount has amended its offer but did not increase the bid, maintaining that its combination remains superior to Netflix’s approach. Ellison’s guarantee adds a new level of financial backing, signaling deep-pocket support for Paramount’s strategy to outbid the streaming giant.
The move heightens the competition in one of Hollywood’s most watched mergers, raising questions about regulatory scrutiny, financing risks, and how much sway billionaire investors can have over global media deals. WBD’s assets—spanning film studios and streaming rights—have long been central to the tug-of-war among Hollywood giants, and Ellison’s commitment could affect how other bidders price risk and structure financing.
Analysts say the development could accelerate negotiations, but they caution that any final agreement will still have to navigate antitrust reviews and long regulatory processes. If the financing stands, Paramount Skydance could gain leverage in negotiations, potentially speeding a resolution that has lingered as Netflix remains a formidable competitor.
Overall, the bid scene in Hollywood is shifting from offers and counteroffers to how far financiers will go to secure marquee properties, with Ellison’s guarantee marking a notable turn in the ongoing saga.
