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David Ellison

David Ellison speaking at the Bloomberg Screentime conference in 2025.
Source: Patrick T. Fallon / AFP / Getty Images, via Los Angeles Times · License: Copyright retained by Patrick T. Fallon, AFP, and Getty Images; unlicensed low-resolution editorial use · Crop: 640 by 800 pixels at x=460, y=0 from the 1,200 by 800 source; output 480 by 600 WebP
PersonInner circle5 relationships

The Skydance founder who became chair and chief executive of Paramount Skydance after the FCC-approved merger and later appointed Bari Weiss to lead CBS News.

Relationship to TrumpParamount chair with direct presidential accessbusiness · personal · political / 1 source

Status

  1. Paramount Skydance chair and chief executiveoffice / 2025-08-07–2026-08-041 source · Lead source

Exact relationships

  1. Donald J. Trump

    Relationship to TrumpParamount chair with direct presidential access

    businesspersonalpoliticalOpen evidence · 1 sourcereported
  2. Donald J. Trump

    appointed CBS editor after Trump-era approval

    businesspoliticalOpen evidence · 5 sourcesdocumented
  3. Donald J. Trump

    became CEO after Trump-era approval

    businesslegalpoliticalOpen evidence · 3 sourcesdocumented
  4. Donald J. Trump

    led buyer requiring Trump-era FCC approval

    businesslegalpoliticalOpen evidence · 2 sourcesdocumented
  5. Donald J. Trump

    oversaw CBS parent during report hold

    businesspoliticalOpen evidence · 1 sourcereported

Record timeline

  1. Skydance agreement set the terms for control of Paramount and CBSled buyer requiring Trump-era FCC approval · documented · 2 sources
    1. investmentNew Paramount primary capital$1.5 billion
      Committed investor / source
      Skydance investor group
      Committed investment recipient
      New Paramount
      committed · 2024-07-07 · observedPopulation Primary capital committed to Paramount's balance sheet under the definitive agreementPeriod 2024-07-07 to 2024-07-07Basis Direct capital commitment stated in Paramount's definitive-agreement announcement.Limits The amount is a transaction component, not a valuation or estimate of enterprise value.Open cited evidence
    2. equityInvestor-group pro forma ownershipapproximately 70% percent of pro forma shares
      Estimated ownership holder / recipient
      Skydance investor group
      estimated · 2024-07-07 · observedPopulation Outstanding equity of New Paramount after closing and the growth-equity investment, assuming full participation in the Class B cash electionPeriod 2024-07-07 to 2024-07-07Basis Paramount's announced post-transaction ownership estimate under the assumptions stated in the definitive-agreement release.Limits Approximate and conditional on full participation in the Class B cash election; the release separately specified 100% of Class A and 69% of Class B shares.Open cited evidence
    3. paymentNational Amusements cash acquisition$2.4 billion
      Committed by / source
      Skydance investor group
      Committed to
      National Amusements shareholders
      committed · 2024-07-07 · observedPopulation Cash-free, debt-free purchase of National Amusements by the Skydance investor group under the July 7, 2024 definitive agreementPeriod 2024-07-07 to 2024-07-07Basis Direct contractual amount stated in Paramount's definitive-agreement announcement; this measures the announced transaction term, not personal income or a settlement.Limits No range reported for this component; later closing is documented separately.Open cited evidence
    4. paymentPublic-shareholder consideration$4.5 billion
      Committed by / source
      Skydance investor group
      Committed to
      Paramount public shareholders
      committed · 2024-07-07 · observedPopulation Cash and stock-merger consideration made available for publicly traded Paramount Class A and Class B sharesPeriod 2024-07-07 to 2024-07-07Basis Direct amount stated in Paramount's definitive-agreement announcement; recorded as an announced transaction term.Limits The release described elections and proration mechanics; this is the stated total consideration available, not a reconstructed payout total.Open cited evidence
  2. Paramount-Skydance merger closed after FCC approvalbecame CEO after Trump-era approval · documented · 3 sources
  3. Paramount acquired The Free Press and installed its founder at CBS Newsappointed CBS editor after Trump-era approval · documented · 5 sources
  4. Bari Weiss held a scheduled CBS report on Trump deportees sent to CECOToversaw CBS parent during report hold · reported · 1 source
  5. David Ellison hosted Trump and joined his White House birthday eventParamount chair with direct presidential access · reported · 1 source