Today's Business Headlines: 12/17/25
Paramount Skydance ’s hostile all-cash bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, a move that would mark the single biggest financial commitment of his life and potentially force a reshaping of his vast wealth.How Trump's Big Beautiful Bill could impact your tax refundsUS economy unexpectedly surges 4.
3% in third quarter — its strongest growth in two years Over decades, Ellison built the world’s third-largest fortune by clinging to his massive stake in cloud computing giant Oracle, rarely selling shares and instead borrowing against them to fund investments, real estate Roughly 30% of Ellison’s Oracle stake is already pledged as collateral for personal loans, according to the company’s 2025 proxy statement. The value of those pledged shares has climbed to about $69 billion, up roughly 25% in the past year, while his unpledged shares are worth another $161 billion.His wealth is still up about $60 billion since the start of the year. Much of that fortune is illiquid. Turning stock gains into cash to support a $40 billion-plus guarantee could force Ellison to do something he has spent years avoiding: sell Oracle shares or materially reduce his exposure to the company that made him rich. Oracle’s board has said it does not view Ellison’s pledging arrangements as risky, noting that none of the loans are margin loans and expressing confidence that he could repay the debt without selling pledged stock.Larry Ellison has agreed to personally guarantee up to $40.4 billion to backstop Paramount Skydance’s hostile all-cash bid for Warner Bros. Discovery.The deal would concentrate more of Ellison’s wealth in a business far removed from enterprise software. If successful, the transaction would shift a significant chunk of his fortune into a heavily leveraged media conglomerate led by his 42-year-old son, David Ellison, whose Skydance Media only recently completed its takeover of Paramount’s parent, National Amusements.initially relied on financing from partners including the Qatar Investment Authority, RedBird Capital Partners LP and Affinity Partners. The equity portion was to be guaranteed by assets held in Larry Ellison’s revocable trust.In a Dec. 17 letter urging shareholders to reject the offer, the company said Paramount had “consistently misled” investors by claiming it had a “full backstop,” arguing that a revocable trust was no substitute for a personal commitment from a controlling stockholder. The revised bid would answer that criticism by putting Ellison’s personal balance sheet directly on the line. In addition to guaranteeing up to $40.4 billion in equity, Ellison has also agreed to cover potential damages claims tied to the deal.Since 2010, he has sold only about $7.5 billion worth of Oracle shares in total, and no more than $1 billion in any single year.That discipline paid off handsomely this year, when Oracle shares surged 168% from an April low through mid-September, including a single-day 36% jump on Sept. 10 that briefly made Ellison the world’s richest person.In addition to guaranteeing up to $40.4 billion in equity, Ellison has also agreed to cover potential damages claims tied to a potential Paramount takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery.Hundreds of millions of dollars are tied up in real estate, art and other hard-to-sell holdings. He spent about $300 millionHe also owns commercial properties including the Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa in Florida, appraised at $203 million, along with hotels and restaurants in California and Hawaii.Ellison has pledged to give away at least 95% of his wealth under a pledge he signed in 2010. Before that happens, he may now have to decide how much of Oracle he is willing to risk to reshape Hollywood.Judge orders JPMorgan to keep paying fraudster's $74M legal bills -- including $530 in gummy bearsLorne Michaels desperately wanted Bowen Yang to stay on ‘SNL’ — but here’s why unhappy star left in a hurryTrans instructor fired after flunking Oklahoma University student’s Bible-based essay on genderLarry Ellison has agreed to personally guarantee up to $40.4 billion to backstop Paramount Skydance’s hostile all-cash bid for Warner Bros. Discovery.In addition to guaranteeing up to $40.4 billion in equity, Ellison has also agreed to cover potential damages claims tied to a potential Paramount takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery.
David Ellison Larry Ellison Oracle Paramount Skydance Warner Bros Discovery
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Larry Ellison guarantees $40.4 billion in Paramount’s hostile bid for Warner Bros. DiscoveryBeyond doubling down on Ellison’s backing, Paramount also said it would increased its payout if the deal is blocked by regulators.
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Paramount Skydance Doubles Down on Warner Bros. Bid with Larry Ellison's Financial GuaranteeParamount Skydance is intensifying its pursuit of Warner Bros. Discovery, with Oracle founder Larry Ellison personally guaranteeing $40.4 billion in equity financing to strengthen its offer and counter Netflix's bid. The move, aimed at swaying shareholders, comes as Netflix refinances part of its loan for its own proposed acquisition, escalating the battle for the media giant.
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Paramount and Skydance Persist in Bid to Acquire Warner Bros. Discovery with Larry Ellison's BackingParamount and Skydance are intensifying their efforts to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, with Larry Ellison, the father of Paramount's CEO, personally guaranteeing $40.4 billion in equity financing and covering potential damage claims. This move aims to counter Netflix's $72 billion bid for Warner Bros.'s studio and streaming assets. Paramount is offering an all-cash bid for the entire Warner Bros. company, including CNN and Discovery. Paramount is also increasing its payout if the deal is blocked by regulators, matching Netflix's offer.
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Warner Bros. Discovery Says It Will “Carefully Review and Consider” Paramount’s Revised OfferDavid Ellison submitted his revised tender offering, backed by his father Larry Ellison, Monday morning.
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