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👨👦 Larry Ellison Personally Guarantees the WBD Deal
The battle for Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has entered a new phase. Oracle founder Larry Ellison has officially confirmed that he will personally secure financing for a $40.4 billion transaction, making the bid from his son David Ellison (Paramount) exceptionally strong.
Paramount’s offer: $30 per share in cash. Ellison stresses that he intends to acquire WBD in its entirety in order to preserve a “Hollywood icon,” ramp up content production, and expand theatrical distribution.
Netflix is also vying for the acquisition, raising $25 billion in debt. However, the streaming giant plans to keep only the studios and streaming operations, spinning off the linear TV networks into a separate business.
Paramount has increased the breakup fee to $5.8 billion (matching Netflix’s terms) and extended the tender deadline to January 21, 2026.
The market is now waiting for the WBD board’s decision: whether they will opt for Netflix’s asset-split strategy or the Ellison family’s proposal to preserve the integrity of the media empire.
