When David Ellison reached adolescence, his father, Larry, gave him a Katana stunt plane a gift that isn't often given to a thirteen-year-old.
They hadn't really spent much time together. However, the father and son could bond in the air by practicing aerobatic flips and taking control of the skies together if they had their own plane.
In an effort to jointly control Hollywood and journalism, Larry Ellison is now attempting to assist his son in acquiring a media empire.
In an effort to jointly control Hollywood and journalism, Larry Ellison is now attempting to assist his son in acquiring a media empire.
What started out as a rather weak father-son bond has developed into one of the most fascinating corporate alliances in contemporary journalism.
The swaggering 81-year-old father of Paramount CEO David Ellison, the 42-year-old CEO, is the billionaire co-founder of the massive software company Oracle.
More than two dozen persons with knowledge of their dealings claim that the two have formed an odd tag team in their quest for significant media deals. After purchasing Paramount this summer, they are now pursuing Warner Bros. Discovery with a hostile bid of $108 billion.
David Ellison informed Warner Bros. on Monday that Larry Ellison personally guaranteed $40.4 billion for Paramount's offer, making it more evident than ever that his father is the focal point of this deal. According to David Ellison, "we" or "the Ellison family" were seeking the deal. Both have attempted to coerce Warner executives.
David Ellison informed Warner Bros. on Monday that Larry Ellison personally guaranteed $40.4 billion for Paramount's offer, making it more evident than ever that his father is the focal point of this deal. According to David Ellison, "we" or "the Ellison family" were seeking the deal. Both have attempted to coerce Warner executives.
About five times a week, the father and son talk, sometimes about their shared philanthropy at the University of Oxford or their tennis matches.
However, dealmaking is a common issue these days. According to someone familiar with their contacts, David Ellison thoroughly confers with his father before making any decisions pertaining to deals.
They talk about how to deal with President Donald Trump, whose government needs to approve any significant transaction.
They talk about how to deal with President Donald Trump, whose government needs to approve any significant transaction.
According to two of the people, Larry Ellison has taken the initiative to persuade the president that Paramount should take up Warner Bros. rather than Netflix, its competitor bidder. Trump has promised to be "involved" in any decision about the approval of a deal.
Ellison, a longtime Silicon Valley celebrity, cofounded Oracle fifty years ago and amassed a personal wealth of $252 billion. According to a person familiar with the process, he has shown deference to his son during this year's transaction negotiations.
According to two persons with knowledge of the talks, he frequently brought up his history of hostile acquisitions from the 1990s and 2000s while discussing the hostile bid for Warner Bros. According to the folks, his kid observed him closing some deals while working as an intern at Oracle for two summers.
According to two persons with knowledge of the talks, he frequently brought up his history of hostile acquisitions from the 1990s and 2000s while discussing the hostile bid for Warner Bros. According to the folks, his kid observed him closing some deals while working as an intern at Oracle for two summers.
CNN, Warner Bros., and TikTok may all be part of the Ellisons economic empire if they win. The Ellisons might become as powerful as the Murdochs, whose media dynasty runs Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, and other significant outlets, as a result of the significant ramifications for the news and entertainment sectors.
According to two people familiar with the president's remarks, Trump has privately claimed that Larry Ellison promised to make CBS News, which the Ellisons acquired when they acquired Paramount, a more conservative source.
According to two people familiar with the president's remarks, Trump has privately claimed that Larry Ellison promised to make CBS News, which the Ellisons acquired when they acquired Paramount, a more conservative source.
A "60 Minutes" journalist on Sunday night accused Bari Weiss, David Ellison's hand-picked chief editor of CBS News, of making a "political" choice to withhold a story about Venezuelan males deported by the Trump administration. During a Monday call with coworkers, Weiss explained that she had postponed the part because it "wasn't ready."
Born in 1983, David Ellison spent most of his childhood with his father's third wife, Barbara, in the Silicon Valley community of Woodside.
After their divorce in 1986, she and Larry Ellison continued to have a cordial relationship, according to a number of family members, although he did not often participate in his son's life.
His coworkers at Oracle did not regularly hear him discuss David, who claimed there had been "gaps" in their relationship when he was 23.
The two didn't become close until they started taking flight lessons together. In 2006, Larry Ellison remarked, "I'm afraid I must have passed on the risk-taking gene," regarding their mutual interest in daring.
David Ellison began his acting career after leaving the University of Southern California's film school. His first big-budget film as an actor, "Flyboys," which was mostly regarded as a failure, was heavily funded by his father.
David Ellison began his acting career after leaving the University of Southern California's film school. His first big-budget film as an actor, "Flyboys," which was mostly regarded as a failure, was heavily funded by his father.
According to two people, Larry Ellison was relieved when his son quit performing to work in the entertainment industry. They claimed that when David Ellison's career took off, their connection grew closer.
Steve Jobs, one of Larry Ellison's closest friends, taught the son about the company. Ellison has long thought of himself as an expert in Hollywood.
At first, Larry Ellison had doubts about Skydance, the Hollywood firm founded by his son that acquired Paramount. However, according to a number of people familiar with the Ellisons, he has recently told acquaintances that he believes his son to be among the most intelligent individuals in the business world, respects his judgment, and generally agrees with him on business matters.
At first, Larry Ellison had doubts about Skydance, the Hollywood firm founded by his son that acquired Paramount. However, according to a number of people familiar with the Ellisons, he has recently told acquaintances that he believes his son to be among the most intelligent individuals in the business world, respects his judgment, and generally agrees with him on business matters.
"Larry is one of the smartest people I've ever met, but I honestly think David may be even smarter," stated Salesforce CEO and Larry Ellison's mentor Marc Benioff, who claimed to have known David since he was three years old.
According to someone with knowledge of the events, Larry Ellison has invited his close friends to join his son for Saturday dinners at his seaside restaurant on Carbon Beach in Malibu, California, which are frequently followed by a movie.
According to someone with knowledge of the events, Larry Ellison has invited his close friends to join his son for Saturday dinners at his seaside restaurant on Carbon Beach in Malibu, California, which are frequently followed by a movie.
In response, David Ellison has turned to his father, who believes he is an expert in healthcare, for both personal and medical guidance.
People with knowledge of the episode noted that a few years ago, he called his father for advice on how to handle a friend's medical problem during a tennis tournament.
At Skydance, Larry Ellison mostly worked in the background. According to his son, he made an unknown investment in the business as early as 2006. In 2010, he became the largest stakeholder during a $150 million fundraising round.
"He gave me an incredible opportunity by believing in me in the beginning," David Ellison stated in a 2022 interview. "I am incredibly appreciative of that.
Additionally, we collaborate and discuss projects on a regular basis. Paul Marinelli, the chairman of David Ellison's family business, and Safra Catz, the former CEO of Oracle, are now members of Paramount's board.
Because of his interactions with the press, Larry Ellison has also been considering the journalism industry. According to some people close to him, he was frequently irritated by what he perceived as sensationalized coverage of him and his private life.
The only magazines he truly valued were The Economist and The Financial Times. (Oracle frequently ran advertisements on The Economist's back page.) He grew increasingly hostile with the media in more recent years.
Some of those sentiments seem to be shared by his son. In private, he has said that if CBS News was seen as less liberal, its profits would improve.
He appointed Weiss, a frequent critic of established news outlets and the creator of The Free Press, an emerging digital news site, to head CBS News.
These criticisms of CBS News are consistent with those made by Trump, who has developed a strong bond with Larry Ellison. Ellison was a committed Democrat during the Clinton administration, but according to multiple people who have spoken to him, he has leaned toward Trump due in large part to the president's support for Israel.
(The two Ellisons are close to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom one associate compared to David Ellison's uncle.)
David Ellison continues to rely heavily on his father for support in dealing with Trump, who has the potential to spoil his father's kindness.
According to those familiar with Trump and Ellison's business, they communicate often. Trump's trade policies have occasionally irritated Ellison this year, but in recent talks with the president, he has been submissive, according to one of the sources.
Trump's talks with Ellison are being misrepresented, according to a White House official. The officer refused to provide a name or further details.
A person close to Larry Ellison claims that the Paramount deal team only sporadically talks about how to capitalize on the relationship with Trump.
However, a White House official and someone close to Trump claim that Ellison discussed Warner Bros. Discovery with the president following the announcement of Netflix's acquisition of the business.
However, it appears that the father and son's efforts are not yet yielding the expected results. "For those people that think I am close with the new owners of CBS, please understand that 60 Minutes has treated me far worse since the so-called 'takeover,' than they have ever treated me before," Trump posted to social media last week. "If they are friends, I'd hate to see my enemies!"
