David Ellison Is America’s Newest Media Mogul: The Man Who Now Controls CNN, CBS, HBO and 14 Other Networks
David Ellison, son of Oracle founder Larry Ellison, now controls CNN, CBS, HBO, Paramount, Warner Bros, and more. Here is the full list.
David Ellison Now Controls CNN CBS HBO and More Than a Dozen Networks The Full Skydance Media Empire List
David Ellison media empire david ellison cnn cbs hbo larry ellison son skydance media control ellison trump connection media consolidation 2026 cnn new owner cbs owner david ellison hbo owner skydance paramount skydance empire is david ellison a trump supporter is david ellison of skydance a trump supporter is david ellison a conservative paramount david ellison wbd bid david ellison net worth david ellison wife david ellison wife and kids david ellison religion larry and david ellison religion paramount ceo david ellison religion david ellison cbs religion. Billionaire David Ellison, son of Oracle founder Larry Ellison, has completed the largest media consolidation of 2026. On October 6 2026 Paramount Skydance closed its roughly 110 to 111 billion dollar acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery. The combined company was renamed Skydance. David Ellison now serves as Chairman and Co CEO alongside Ynon Kreiz.
Under the new Skydance structure David Ellison controls CNN, CBS, HBO, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros, DC Studios, Showtime, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, MTV, Comedy Central, Food Network, HGTV, TBS, TLC, Discovery, Paramount+, HBO Max, Pluto TV and a deep library of iconic franchises. The deal makes him one of the most powerful media executives in the world and places two major American news networks under the same ownership for the first time.
Who Is David Ellison Personal and Professional Background
David Ferris Ellison was born January 9 1983 in Santa Clara County California. He is the son of Oracle co founder Larry Ellison and Barbara Boothe. His sister is film producer Megan Ellison. He attended the University of Southern California but did not complete a degree. In 2006 he founded Skydance Media, which became known for producing major films including Top Gun Maverick.
David Ellison married actress and singer Sandra Lynn Modic on October 1 2011. The couple has two children. He is a licensed pilot with ratings for helicopters, aerobatics, commercial aviation, fixed wing and multi engine aircraft. Public information on the specific religion of David Ellison or Larry Ellison is limited and not prominently documented in major profiles.
Estimates of David Ellison net worth vary. Some place his personal fortune above 1 billion dollars after the merger payout of approximately 150 million dollars in cash and restricted stock, his Paramount holdings and real estate. Forbes generally lists the broader Ellison family wealth under Larry Ellison, whose fortune is measured in the hundreds of billions.
The Path to Controlling CNN CBS and HBO
In 2025 Skydance completed its acquisition of Paramount Global, giving David Ellison control of CBS, Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central and Paramount+. He then pursued Warner Bros Discovery. After a prolonged bidding war that included Netflix and regulatory challenges from a coalition of state attorneys general led by California, the deal closed in early October 2026.
Financing for the transaction involved the Larry Ellison family, RedBird Capital, LionTree and significant equity from the sovereign wealth funds of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi. The combined company carries roughly 80 billion dollars in debt and has targeted 6 billion dollars in cost savings.
Full List of Networks and Brands Now Under David Ellison and Skydance
| Category | Brands and Assets |
|---|---|
| News | CNN, CBS News, CBS owned television stations |
| Premium Cable | HBO, Showtime |
| Streaming | Paramount+, HBO Max, Pluto TV, Discovery+ |
| Studios | Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros, DC Studios, Skydance, New Line Cinema |
| Cable Networks | MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Food Network, HGTV, TBS, TLC, Discovery, TNT and others |
| Sports | CBS Sports, TNT Sports properties |
Key People in the David Ellison Professional Network
- Larry Ellison — Father, Oracle co founder, major financial backer of Skydance and the Paramount and Warner Bros Discovery transactions
- Ynon Kreiz — Co CEO of Skydance, former CEO of Mattel
- Bari Weiss — Editor in chief of CBS News, founder of The Free Press
- Mark Thompson — Chairman and editor in chief of CNN, remains in role under Skydance
- Laurene Powell Jobs — Emerson Collective founder, joined the Skydance board
- Bobby Kotick — Former Activision Blizzard CEO, joined the Skydance board
- Casey Bloys — Continues to oversee major premium content and streaming strategy
- Megan Ellison — Sister, film producer
- Sandra Lynn Modic — Wife
As part of the settlement with state attorneys general, Skydance agreed to create a News Editorial Independence Board to monitor CNN and CBS News.
The Ellison Trump Connection and Political Context
David Ellison has been described as an ally of President Donald Trump in recent years. He previously donated to Democratic candidates, including nearly 1 million dollars toward Joe Biden’s 2024 campaign, and has called himself socially liberal. Since the Paramount transaction and the second Trump administration, both David Ellison and Larry Ellison have been publicly linked to Trump. Trump has praised the family’s involvement in media. The concentration of CNN and CBS News under ownership with these political associations has drawn significant scrutiny.
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