David Ellison
Mentioned in 87 analyzed podcast episodes across 10 shows
CEO of Paramount Skydance who led a $108 billion acquisition bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, ultimately winning the deal with backing from his father Larry Ellison. Podcasts frequently discussed his role in this major media consolidation, including debates over the strategic soundness of the leveraged deal, his political connections to the Trump administration, and criticism regarding his experience level. His prominence in podcast discourse reflects broader conversations about media industry consolidation, nepotism in business leadership, and the intersection of politics and corporate dealmaking.
Appears On
Episode Appearances
TBPN · Aug 12, 2026
Nvidia’s $500B Compute Deal, Paramount Threatens CA Exit, Musk’s “Shortcut” to $1T Payday | Diet TBPN
“Threatening to move Paramount HQ out of California if CA AG doesn't begin merger settlement talks by August 1.”
The Powers That Be: Daily · Jul 16, 2026
Bonta’s Trust Issues
“Republican billionaire acquiring Paramount; target of antitrust lawsuit and political criticism”
TBPN · Jul 14, 2026
IBM Nukes, Demis Govt Plan, Paramount WBD Deep Dive | Dylan Byers, Noah Schochet, Saam Motamedi, Ioannis Antonoglou, Jack Dent, Evan Burns & Jamie Seltzer, Tyler Page
“Leading the $111B Paramount-WBD acquisition; discussed his empire-building ambitions and threat to leave California.”
TBPN · Jul 13, 2026
Apple Sues OpenAI, Experts Sign Another AI Warning Letter, Paramount Threatens CA Exit | Diet TBPN
“Advisors urging him to reconsider California footprint after state AGs sued to block the Warner Bros. Discovery merger.”
TBPN · Jul 13, 2026
Apple vs OpenAI, Paramount Threatens to Leave CA, Mark Gurman Joins | Alexis Ohanian, Morgan Housel, Nico Christie & Michael Jarman
“Advisors urging him to reconsider California footprint after state AGs sued to block Warner Bros Discovery merger.”
Pivot · Jun 16, 2026
The White House UFC Fight, SpaceX’s Big Pop, and Fox’s Roku Deal
“Leading Paramount-Skydance merger; deal closing by September 2025; owns CNN through Paramount; Kara Swisher critical of his leadership”
Pod Save America · Jun 16, 2026
80-Year-Old Man Loses War
“Benefited from UFC broadcast deal on Paramount Plus days after Trump DOJ approved his Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition”
The Lawfare Podcast · Jun 16, 2026
Lawfare Daily: For-Profit Cage-Fighting at the White House
“Allied to president, seeking regulatory approval for Warner Brothers acquisition, benefits from streaming rights”
Morning Wire · Jun 15, 2026
Evening Wire: Trump Warns the G7 & Africa’s Birth Tourism Network Exposed | 6.15.26
“Backing $111 billion merger deal to consolidate ownership of major entertainment and news platforms”
The Headlines · Jun 15, 2026
Inside the U.S.-Iran Deal, and Trump Hosts U.F.C. Fights
“Attended UFC fights at White House”
Up First from NPR · Jun 13, 2026
Trump's Iran Negotiations, Entertainment Mergers, NBA finals
“Son of Larry Ellison; arranged Paramount bid and will lead merged media entity”
The Vergecast · Jun 12, 2026
Siri is good now??
“Acquired Paramount and took control of CBS News as regulatory condition; hired Barry Weiss to reshape editorial”
Pivot · Jun 9, 2026
Trump's AI Stake, SpaceX's IPO Froth, and Apple's Siri Overhaul
“New CBS owner making editorial decisions on 60 Minutes; Galloway analyzes business logic of restructuring”
Letters from an American · Jun 9, 2026
Trump Walks Out
“Trump loyalist who took over CBS News; appointed Barry Weiss as director leading to editorial pressure”
The Megyn Kelly Show · Jun 8, 2026
Scott Pelley's Smug Bias, and Why Trump Was Right to Leave NBC Interview, Plus Entrepreneur and Horse Racing Owner Mike Repole | Ep. 1334
“Son of billionaire Larry Ellison; hired Barry Weiss to lead CBS News editorial changes”
The Bulwark Podcast · May 28, 2026
Kara Swisher: The Tech Bros Should Just Shut Up
“Identified as actual decision-maker behind CBS editorial direction, prioritizing movies over journalism”
Unblinded with Sean Callagy · May 21, 2026
How Iron Man Saved Marvel: David Maisel Shares the Real Story with Sean Callagy
“Acquiring Warner Brothers with father for ~$100B; positioned to revitalize DC cinematic universe under new ownership”
Raging Moderates with Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov · May 19, 2026
Trump’s MAGA Loyalty Test Heads to the Ballot Box
“Paramount CEO overseeing CBS News leadership changes and Barry Weiss appointment”
Bloomberg Intelligence · May 5, 2026
Apple Weighs Using Intel, Samsung to Build Device Processors
“Leading merged Paramount-WBD entity; expected to leverage technology and AI for operational efficiencies”
Runaway Country with Alex Wagner · Apr 30, 2026
The President and The Press
“Held private dinner with Trump before Correspondents' Dinner; attempting to acquire CNN amid regulatory scrutiny”
The Powers That Be: Daily · Apr 27, 2026
Media Monday: Malice at The Hilton & The NFL’s D.C. Blitz
“Acquiring Paramount; will become face of traditional entertainment industry post-merger; outbid Netflix for deal”
IndieWire: Screen Talk · Apr 24, 2026
CinemaCon and the Year Ahead in Movies; The Current State of Theatrical Horror; & Special Guest John Early
“Promised theater owners 30 films annually and 45-day windows in merger discussions”
World Business Report · Apr 23, 2026
Warner Brothers Discovery agree to Paramount acquisition
“Son of Larry Ellison; led persistent bidding effort to acquire Warner Brothers Discovery for Paramount”
The Powers That Be: Daily · Apr 23, 2026
The Beltway’s MAGA Prom
“Paramount owner whose company is acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery; business incentives align with avoiding Trump friction.”
PFT Live with Mike Florio · Apr 10, 2026
Questions surround Department of Justice's investigation of NFL (4/10 Hour 1)
“Acquiring Paramount stake, triggering change of control provision allowing NFL-CBS deal renegotiation”
Bulwark Takes · Apr 1, 2026
Is Hegseth the Dumbest Man in the Trump Admin?
“Mentioned by Hegseth as potential future owner of CNN to make it more Trump-friendly”
The Rewatchables · Mar 24, 2026
‘The Nice Guys’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Rob Mahoney
“Owns Warner Bros.; discussed as potential greenlight for 'Nice Guys' sequel given his taste in edgy content”
Pivot · Mar 17, 2026
Billionaire Campaign Spending, Apple's Budget Gamble, and Hegseth vs. CNN
“Taking over Paramount with reported promises about CNN changes”
Letters from an American · Mar 16, 2026
Launching an Ill-Thought-Out War
“Trump ally; new owner of CBS cited as example of media 'reform' under Trump administration”
Pivot · Mar 13, 2026
Iran War Oil Shock, Anthropic Sues, and Market Wipeout Warning
“New Hollywood power player who may combine CNN and CBS after acquisition”
Insiders: The TV Podcast · Mar 13, 2026
Uncertainty over CNN's future, new BBC funding ideas and Meghan Markle’s jam making empire consciously uncouples from Netflix
“Media mogul acquiring Paramount/Warner Brothers, making statements about CNN's future”
TBPN · Mar 12, 2026
Oracle Rips, Larry Ellison's 1997 Vanity Fair Article, Global Fertilizer Crisis | Diet TBPN
“Larry's son leading Paramount acquisition, focused on intellectual property accumulation”
TBPN · Mar 11, 2026
Oracle Rips, Ellison's Tech-First Vision, Fertilizer Crisis | Apoorv Agrawal, Owen Jennings, Amjad Masad, Shardul Shah, Mike Blue, Brian Taylor, Ivan Soto-Wright
“Leading Paramount-Warner Bros Discovery merger, son of Oracle CEO Larry Ellison”
Behind the Bastards · Mar 7, 2026
It Could Happen Here Weekly 222
“Nepo baby acquiring Paramount; Trump ally planning to increase right-wing film production”
Insiders: The TV Podcast · Mar 6, 2026
The Banijay All3 Mega Merger, BBC Bafta Fallout and Paramount emerge victorious in the battle for Warners
“Larry Ellison's son who increased Paramount's bid to win Warner Bros Discovery”
Galaxy Brain · Mar 6, 2026
Did Netflix Ruin Movies?
“Skydance Media CEO who led the $111B Paramount-backed bid to acquire Warner Bros. over Netflix”
Uncanny Valley | WIRED · Mar 5, 2026
Iran Strikes in the AI Era; Prediction Markets Ethics; Paramount Beats Netflix
“Co-owner with Larry Ellison in Warner Bros Discovery acquisition”
The Daily · Mar 4, 2026
A New Media Empire
“Son of Larry Ellison, leading the Warner Bros. acquisition and becoming major media mogul”
TBPN · Mar 4, 2026
Netflix’s Next Move, Zuck’s $170B Florida Mansion, the Billionaire Tax Push | Diet TBPN
“Skydance CEO who successfully acquired Warner Bros Discovery for $111 billion”
NPR News Now · Mar 4, 2026
NPR News: 03-03-2026 7PM EST
“Paramount-Skydance chairman and CEO; assured investors HBO would maintain independence in merged streaming platform”
TBPN · Mar 3, 2026
Ellison's Media Empire, Ken Burns Joins, Cursor Mic Drop | Matthew Belloni, Gokul Rajaram, Nik Seetharaman, Raj Rajamani, James Everingham, Dr. Felix Ejeckam
“CEO acquiring Warner Bros Discovery for $111 billion, son of Larry Ellison”
Pivot · Mar 3, 2026
Iran War: Trump's Endgame, Economic Fallout and Polymarket Profiteering
“Paramount CEO planning massive cuts after Warner Brothers acquisition”
TBPN · Mar 3, 2026
Anthropic v. DoW, Paramount wins WB, OpenAI raises $100B | Diet TBPN
“Skydance Media owner who successfully acquired Warner Brothers Discovery after multiple rejections”
TBPN · Mar 2, 2026
Anthropic vs DoW, Ben Thompson Joins, Ellison Says The Biggest Number | James Beshara, John B. Quinn, Michael Grinich, Adam Simon, Matthias Wagner, Joan Rodriguez, Zach Yadegari, Andy Markoff
“Skydance Media founder completed $81B Paramount-Warner Bros acquisition deal”
CNBC's "Fast Money" · Mar 2, 2026
Stocks Stage Comeback Amid U.S.-Iran Conflict… And Jamie Dimon’s Credit Concerns 3/2/26
“Paramount CEO announcing merger with Warner Bros Discovery and single streaming platform combining Paramount+ and HBO Max”
Fast Politics with Molly Jong-Fast · Feb 28, 2026
Anne Applebaum & Michael Tomasky
“Larry Ellison's son leading studio acquisition; criticized for lack of experience and previous business failures”
Bulwark Takes · Feb 28, 2026
62% Say Trump is Using the Presidency for Cash
“Larry Ellison's son; described as 'nepo baby' taking over CNN and media operations with foreign financing”
IHIP News · Feb 28, 2026
Real Reason Anderson Cooper Left CBS News Amid Bari Weiss & Trump's Hostile Takeover
“Paramount owner acquiring CBS; using Trump administration alignment as competitive advantage in deals”
CNBC's "Fast Money" · Feb 27, 2026
Credit Concerns Hit Banks, Private Equity… And Opportunities In The Software Selloff 2/27/25
“Paramount CEO; scheduled for exclusive Monday interview with Julia Boorstin”
Kinda Funny Games Daily: Video Games News Podcast · Feb 27, 2026
God of War TV Show First Look REVEALED! - Kinda Funny Games Daily 02.27.26
“Skydance CEO leading Paramount's acquisition of Warner Bros.; son of Oracle billionaire Larry Ellison with Trump administration ties”