David Ellison, the 41-year-old son of billionaire Oracle founder Larry Ellison, is making waves in Hollywood with his bid to take over Paramount Global. With a background in Silicon Valley, Ellison brings a unique perspective to the entertainment industry.
Ellison’s journey to Hollywood began with summers spent writing computer code for his father’s software company and learning about the movie business from Steve Jobs at Pixar Animation Studios. Now, he is orchestrating a multi-step transaction that could result in the merger of his independent studio, Skydance Media, with Paramount.
If the merger goes through, Ellison plans to revitalize Paramount by delivering high-quality content and reimagining the Paramount+ streaming service. His tech-savvy approach and risk-taking nature have already led to successes in the industry, with box office hits like “True Grit,” “World War Z,” and “Mission: Impossible” under his belt.
Ellison’s ambitious plans for Skydance include expanding into gaming, animation, and sports-related content. Backed by investments from the Ellison family, RedBird Capital Partners, KKR, Tencent, and Studio Dragon, Skydance is poised for growth under Ellison’s leadership.
With his passion for film and television, attention to detail, and track record of success, Ellison is poised to become a major player in the entertainment industry. As Bryan Lourd of Creative Artists Agency puts it, Ellison is “an owner-operator that actually loves film and television and stories, and that is needed now more than ever.”