In a dramatic move shaking the foundations of Hollywood, Oracle's billionaire co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, Larry Ellison, has stepped in with a colossal personal financial guarantee to support his son's ambitious bid. Ellison has pledged a staggering $40.4 billion to back Paramount's proposed takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, a strategic play explicitly designed to keep the iconic studio's assets away from streaming behemoth Netflix.
The Financial Guarantee and Market Reaction
A regulatory filing made public on Monday revealed the full scale of Ellison's commitment. The guarantee directly addresses concerns raised by the Warner Bros. Discovery board regarding the solidity of Paramount's financing. Previously, the absence of a full backing from the Ellison family had made a competing cash-and-stock offer from Netflix appear more attractive. The announcement had an immediate and positive impact on the stock market. Following the news, shares of Warner Bros. Discovery jumped nearly 4%, while Paramount's stock also saw a healthy rise of approximately 3%.
Larry Ellison: The Tech Titan Behind the Deal
The man writing this monumental cheque is no ordinary investor. Larry Ellison, born on August 17, 1944, in New York City, is the visionary chairman, CTO, and co-founder of software giant Oracle, where he holds a commanding 40% stake. His net worth has reached astronomical heights, fueled by an AI-driven surge in Oracle's stock price. In a landmark moment this September, Forbes reported that Ellison became only the second person in history to surpass a $400 billion net worth.
His influence extends far beyond Silicon Valley. After leading Oracle as CEO for 37 years, he stepped down from that role in 2014. He also served on the board of Tesla from 2018 to 2022. Furthermore, Ellison controls close to 50% of the media powerhouse Paramount Skydance, an entity formed after the merger of Paramount and his son David's Skydance in August 2025, a deal with an enterprise value of roughly $28 billion. On a personal note, Ellison relocated permanently to the Hawaiian island of Lanai five years ago, an island he reportedly owns 98% of, having purchased it for $300 million in 2012.
Strategic Implications for the Entertainment Industry
This massive financial intervention underscores several key trends in today's global economy. Firstly, it highlights the intense intersection of family, technology wealth, and high-stakes entertainment deals. Ellison's move is a powerful paternal endorsement that could reshape the competitive landscape. Secondly, it represents a direct strategic counter to the growing dominance of pure-play streaming services like Netflix. By ensuring Warner Bros. Discovery's prized library and production assets remain within a traditional studio conglomerate, Ellison and Paramount are drawing a line in the sand.
The surge in Oracle's stock, driven by artificial intelligence fervor, provided the rocket fuel for Ellison's net worth, demonstrating the sheer financial power wielded by today's tech moguls. Their capital is now actively redirecting the flow of the global media and entertainment industry, setting the stage for even larger consolidations and rivalries in the years to come.
