Oracle Founder Larry Ellison Backs Son’s Massive Bid for Warner Bros. Discovery
In a dramatic move that has shaken up a major media merger battle, tech billionaire Larry Ellison has stepped in to personally guarantee a huge portion of his son’s bid for Warner Bros. Discovery. The Oracle co-founder is backing his son David Ellison, the founder of Skydance Media, in a high-stakes attempt to acquire the entertainment giant.
A Father’s Financial Guarantee
The key detail sending shockwaves through Hollywood and Wall Street is the size of Larry Ellison’s commitment. Skydance’s total offer for Warner Bros. Discovery is valued at approximately $78 billion. To convince the target company’s skeptical board, Larry Ellison has now personally guaranteed over $40 billion of that sum. This guarantee acts as a powerful financial backstop, assuring Warner Bros. Discovery that the massive funding for the deal is certain and secure.
This intervention directly addresses what had been a major point of doubt. Corporate boards are extremely cautious when evaluating multi-billion dollar acquisition offers, and the certainty of financing is a critical factor. By putting his vast personal fortune on the line, Larry Ellison has removed a significant obstacle for his son’s bid and placed immense pressure on Warner Bros. Discovery’s directors to take the offer seriously.
Intensifying a High-Stakes Battle
This bid is not happening in a vacuum. Warner Bros. Discovery, home to iconic franchises like Harry Potter, DC superheroes, and HBO, is already considering a strategic merger with rival streaming giant Netflix. The Skydance bid, supercharged by Larry Ellison’s guarantee, is a direct and hostile challenge to that potential Netflix deal.
The situation creates a complex dilemma for the Warner Bros. Discovery board. They must now weigh two very different paths for the company’s future: a combination with the streaming pioneer Netflix, or a sale to a production company, Skydance, with deep financial backing from one of the world’s richest men. The Ellison guarantee makes the Skydance option far more credible and competitive than it was before.
Shareholder Pressure Mounts
The board’s decision is being made under an intense spotlight. Warner Bros. Discovery’s shareholders are acutely aware of the new bid and the colossal financial guarantee behind it. Many investors, eager for a transaction that maximizes the value of their shares, are now likely to increase pressure on the board to fully engage with Skydance or seek an even better offer.
When a figure like Larry Ellison, with a net worth exceeding $140 billion, personally stands behind a deal, it signals ultimate seriousness. For shareholders, this reduces the perceived risk of the deal falling apart due to lack of funds. This shift in perception can quickly turn into demands for the board to pursue the offer that appears most likely to close and deliver a premium.
The battle for Warner Bros. Discovery has entered a new and more aggressive phase. What began as a potential merger with Netflix has transformed into a fierce takeover contest, defined by a father’s extraordinary commitment to his son’s ambitious deal. The coming weeks will reveal whether financial certainty and shareholder pressure will be enough to convince the board to change course and accept the Ellison-backed bid.
