Core Viewpoint - Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav could receive approximately $500 million if the company is sold at the price offered by Paramount Skydance, highlighting the ongoing takeover battle in the media industry [1][3]. Group 1: Financial Implications - Paramount Skydance has proposed a purchase price of $23.50 per share, valuing Warner Bros. Discovery at about $56 billion [3]. - Zaslav's potential payout would come from 21 million shares that would vest immediately upon the sale [1][11]. - Zaslav has received a total compensation of $470 million since 2019, including a $200 million award linked to his contract renewal prior to the merger of Discovery and WarnerMedia [5]. Group 2: Company Performance and Market Position - Warner Bros. Discovery's shares have decreased roughly 60% from their 2021 levels, although speculation about a takeover has recently boosted their value [6]. - The company has achieved record-breaking box office results and a significant rebound in streaming subscriptions, with its Max platform reaching approximately 125.7 million subscribers globally [12][11]. - Warner Bros. became the first studio to surpass $4 billion in global ticket sales this year [12]. Group 3: Strategic Moves and Bidding Process - Warner Bros. Discovery has received unsolicited interest from multiple parties and is exploring strategic alternatives to maximize shareholder value, effectively putting the company on the auction block [7]. - Zaslav has reportedly rejected three private offers from various bidders, including those backed by billionaire Larry Ellison and private equity firms [9][17]. - Zaslav is seeking at least $30 per share for the company, which would value it at over $70 billion, significantly above recent bids [8].

Warner Bros. Discovery on Tuesday said it is open to a sale after receiving “unsolicited interest” from multiple parties — sending the media giant’s stock up more than 8% in early trading.The surprise announcement came as CEO David Zaslav expanded the company’s ongoing strategic review, confirming that the embattled entertainment giant will consider offers for all or part of the business.Zaslav said Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns HBO, CNN and the Warner Bros. studio, has been preparing to split into two ...