Story perspectives

Ynon Kreiz named co-CEO as Paramount-WBD merger closes

By Drooid · Oct 3, 2026, 2:01 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Ynon Kreiz will serve as co-CEO of the merged Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery.
The $110 billion merger is scheduled to close on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
Kreiz’s contract includes a $5 million base salary, $4.9 million bonus and a $31.5 million RSU signing bonus.
David Ellison will oversee strategy and creative vision.
Kreiz will manage day-to-day operations and integration.

History

Historical Context

The 2000 AOL-Time Warner merger, valued at $180 billion and giving AOL shareholders a 55 % stake, set a precedent for massive media-tech unions that later faltered. After later deals such as AT&T’s 2018 acquisition of Time Warner and Discovery’s 2022 merger with WarnerMedia, Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery announced a 2026 combination, naming Ynon Kreiz co-CEO to mirror earlier joint-leadership models.

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Story summary

Ynon Kreiz will serve as co-CEO of the merged Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery.
The $110 billion merger is scheduled to close on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
Kreiz’s contract includes a $5 million base salary, $4.9 million bonus and a $31.5 million RSU signing bonus.
David Ellison will oversee strategy and creative vision.
Kreiz will manage day-to-day operations and integration.

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