One of the world’s richest men is making moves to buy one of the world’s most influential media companies — and, just like Elon Musk’s Twitter takeover, there’s little indication anyone can stop him.
According to reports, Larry Ellison is backing his son David Ellison’s bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) — the powerhouse behind HBO, CNN, and Warner Bros. Pictures — only weeks after taking control of Paramount. The deal, if completed, would cement the Ellisons as some of the most powerful players in global media.
Déjà Vu: A Billionaire Buys Media “Because He Can”
If this feels familiar, that’s because it is. In 2022, Elon Musk shocked the world by offering to buy Twitter. No competing bids emerged, and he quickly sealed the deal. What followed was a turbulent transformation: Musk rebranded Twitter as X, gutted staff, rewrote rules in real time, and turned the platform into his personal megaphone.
Financially, Twitter under Musk has been chaotic. Advertising revenue plunged, high-profile users fled, and valuations fluctuated wildly. Still, none of it truly mattered to Musk. When you’re worth $200 billion-plus, buying a platform like Twitter is less a financial play than a vanity project — and Musk’s net worth has since soared to around $385 billion.
For Ellison, the parallels are clear. He doesn’t need shareholders’ approval. He doesn’t need to justify overpaying. He doesn’t even need to worry about rivals, because his fortune gives him a decisive edge. Just as Musk’s “best and final” bid for Twitter priced it far above market value — effectively boxing out competitors — Ellison’s financial firepower makes it unlikely that Comcast, Disney, or other traditional media players could mount a serious counteroffer for WBD.
Why Warner Bros. Discovery?
Warner Bros. Discovery is home to some of the most iconic brands in entertainment and news:
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HBO and Max (prestige TV powerhouse)
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CNN (global news network)
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Warner Bros. Pictures (Hollywood’s legendary studio)
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DC Comics (a superhero universe rivaling Marvel)
The company has struggled financially since its 2022 merger, weighed down by debt and internal restructuring. Investors have soured, and WBD’s stock price has lagged, making it a tempting target for an outside buyer willing to take risks.
By stepping in, the Ellisons are betting they can consolidate WBD with Paramount into a mega-studio and streaming empire, potentially reshaping the global media landscape.
Political and Regulatory Overtones
Another striking parallel with Musk: politics. Musk has positioned himself as a cultural warrior and ally of Donald Trump, often clashing with regulators and politicians.
Larry Ellison is also a Trump backer, though he has maintained smoother ties with the former president. That could help ease regulatory approvals for the WBD deal, especially if the political winds shift in Trump’s favor.
David Ellison, however, is harder to pin down. He has donated to Democrats, including a $1 million contribution to Joe Biden’s campaign, and has emphasized his role as an “apolitical” media owner. During the Paramount negotiations, he worked hard to reassure regulators and political stakeholders across the spectrum.
That blend of political positioning may help the Ellisons navigate what would otherwise be a messy approval process.
How Would They Run It?
Unlike Musk, who loudly declared his intention to reinvent Twitter, the Ellisons have not outlined a vision for WBD. Analysts and insiders are left to speculate:
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Would CNN stay under their ownership or be spun off?
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Would they fold WBD’s assets into Paramount’s operations or sell pieces to competitors?
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Would the Ellisons lean into political influence, or focus purely on content and profitability?
At this point, the answers are unknown. What is clear, however, is that the Ellisons’ financial muscle means they can afford to figure it out later.
A Pattern of Billionaire Media Power
Musk’s Twitter buyout showed what happens when one of the richest men on earth decides he wants a global media platform: it’s his, whether or not it makes sense financially. Now, Ellison’s pursuit of WBD suggests we may see a repeat.
For ordinary investors, employees, and even regulators, the lesson is the same: when billionaires decide to buy media companies, they usually succeed — not because the deal is logical, but because they can.
Final Thoughts
If the Ellisons succeed in acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery, they will control two of the most storied entertainment empires in history — Paramount and WBD. That level of consolidation would reshape Hollywood, streaming, and news media all at once.
Just as Musk turned Twitter into an unpredictable personal project, Ellison may soon wield unprecedented influence over how millions consume entertainment and information. Whether that’s a good thing remains to be seen.
But one fact is already clear: in today’s world, the richest men aren’t just buying yachts and private islands — they’re buying media empires.
