World's Richest Men: Larry Ellison and Elon Musk Buy Huge Media Companies with Ease
ByAinvest
Friday, Sep 12, 2025 2:25 pm ET2min read
PSKY--
Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns Warner Bros. studios, HBO, and CNN, has been restructuring its media business. The company plans to separate its declining cable television operations from its studio and streaming units. However, Skydance is seeking to acquire all of Warner Bros. Discovery’s media assets in a mostly cash deal, including Warner Bros. studios, HBO, and CNN [1].
The potential acquisition comes at a time when Warner Bros. Discovery shares have surged as much as 30%, following the news of the potential bid. This rise in stock price reflects investor excitement and anticipation of a possible merger [1]. Meanwhile, Paramount’s stock has also seen a notable increase, jumping by 15% [1].
Larry Ellison, who recently overtook Elon Musk as the world's richest man, is backing the acquisition plan. The deal would see the Ellison family own both Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount, further consolidating their control in the entertainment industry [2].
David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, is reportedly looking to set up a bidding war for his media conglomerate. He has met with his bankers at Goldman Sachs to gauge interest from other media and tech outfits, including Amazon, Apple, and Netflix [3]. Zaslav's goal is to propel the stock price possibly to $40 a share, which would close just above $16 with a market value of $40 billion [3].
While the exact terms of the potential acquisition are unclear, it is expected that the deal could include a substantial cash offer. This is in line with the Ellison family's history of all-cash acquisitions, such as their recent $8 billion purchase of Paramount [3].
The regulatory environment under the Trump Administration has been seen as more favorable to mergers compared to the Biden Administration. This could potentially facilitate the deal, given Ellison's close ties to President Trump [3].
Both companies have declined to comment on the potential merger, and it remains to be seen whether the deal will go through. However, the significant increase in stock prices suggests that investors are optimistic about the potential acquisition.
WBD--
Larry Ellison, the world's second-richest man, is considering buying Warner Bros. Discovery, a media giant that owns HBO, CNN, and Warner Bros. studio, following in the footsteps of Elon Musk's purchase of Twitter. Ellison's son David is backing the plan, which could see the Ellisons own both Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount. The deal is likely to go through without opposition due to Ellison's wealth and control of Paramount.
The Ellison family, led by Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison and his son David, who serves as CEO of Paramount Skydance, is reportedly preparing a bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. This potential deal could significantly reshape the entertainment industry, bringing together some of Hollywood's most recognizable brands, including DC Comics superheroes, Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants, and major news networks like CNN [1].Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns Warner Bros. studios, HBO, and CNN, has been restructuring its media business. The company plans to separate its declining cable television operations from its studio and streaming units. However, Skydance is seeking to acquire all of Warner Bros. Discovery’s media assets in a mostly cash deal, including Warner Bros. studios, HBO, and CNN [1].
The potential acquisition comes at a time when Warner Bros. Discovery shares have surged as much as 30%, following the news of the potential bid. This rise in stock price reflects investor excitement and anticipation of a possible merger [1]. Meanwhile, Paramount’s stock has also seen a notable increase, jumping by 15% [1].
Larry Ellison, who recently overtook Elon Musk as the world's richest man, is backing the acquisition plan. The deal would see the Ellison family own both Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount, further consolidating their control in the entertainment industry [2].
David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, is reportedly looking to set up a bidding war for his media conglomerate. He has met with his bankers at Goldman Sachs to gauge interest from other media and tech outfits, including Amazon, Apple, and Netflix [3]. Zaslav's goal is to propel the stock price possibly to $40 a share, which would close just above $16 with a market value of $40 billion [3].
While the exact terms of the potential acquisition are unclear, it is expected that the deal could include a substantial cash offer. This is in line with the Ellison family's history of all-cash acquisitions, such as their recent $8 billion purchase of Paramount [3].
The regulatory environment under the Trump Administration has been seen as more favorable to mergers compared to the Biden Administration. This could potentially facilitate the deal, given Ellison's close ties to President Trump [3].
Both companies have declined to comment on the potential merger, and it remains to be seen whether the deal will go through. However, the significant increase in stock prices suggests that investors are optimistic about the potential acquisition.

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