Warner Bros. Discovery Executives Receive Over $1.1 Billion in Merger Compensation
SEC filings show that five senior Warner Bros. Discovery leaders earned more than $1.1 billion from the company's merger with Paramount, while the CEO is projected to become a billionaire.
SEC filings reveal that former Warner Bros. Discovery chief executive David Zaslav and four senior deputies received compensation totaling over $1.1 billion linked to the company’s merger with Paramount, now operating under Skydance. The payouts include $600 million for Zaslav and between $120 million and $150 million each for streaming and games head JB Perrette, chief financial officer Gunnar Wiedenfels and distribution chief Bruce Campbell, with international chief Gerhard Zeiler receiving about $90 million.
"Nearly half of the company’s 35,500 employees now hold equity, up from roughly 8,500 in 2022," a company representative told Deadline.
The executives’ compensation is subject to taxes, with some opting to defer portions of their payouts. Additional senior staff also earned sizable sums, including chief legal officer Priya Aiyar with more than $57 million, former board member Debra Lee with $1.3 million, and former board chair Samuel Di Piazza with $3.1 million.
The merger follows a series of prior transactions, including the 2022 combination of Discovery and WarnerMedia, and reflects a broader trend of high executive remuneration in large media deals.