Tags: david zaslav | warner brothers discovery | paramount | deal

Zaslav May Pocket $887 Million From Paramount Deal

Zaslav May Pocket $887 Million From Paramount Deal
David Zaslav arrives at the season three premiere of "The White Lotus" in Los Angeles. (Chris Pizzello/AP/2024 file)

Tuesday, 17 March 2026 10:05 AM EDT

Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav is likely to receive up to $887 million after completion of the media company's sale to Paramount Skydance , according to a regulatory filing Monday.

WBD last month agreed to be acquired by Paramount Skydance in a $110 billion deal, ending a high-stakes bidding war after Netflix walked away from its agreement with the HBO Max owner.

According to the terms of the deal, Zaslav is expected to get cash severance of about $34.2 million, including salary continuation and bonus components triggered by a change-in-control termination.

The pay also includes $115.8 million in vested equity.

The WBD CEO is set to receive $517.2 million in unvested share awards — future stock grants that would be triggered when the sale goes through.

The payout includes estimated tax reimbursements of about $335 million for Zaslav. This payment is based on tax-code rules "that are expected to cause it to significantly decline with the passage of time," the company said in the filing.

The tax payout will be zero if the completion of the deal gets pushed into 2027.

Paramount expects the deal to close in the third quarter this year.

© 2026 Thomson/Reuters. All rights reserved.


StreetTalk
Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav is likely to receive up to $887 million after completion of the media company's sale to Paramount Skydance , according to a regulatory filing Monday.
david zaslav, warner brothers discovery, paramount, deal
193
2026-05-17
Tuesday, 17 March 2026 10:05 AM
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