Gulf funds agree to back Paramount’s $81 billion takeover of Warner

Commitments from Middle East entities will help offset costs for Ellison family

Posted Monday, April 6, 2026 10:50 am

Jessica Toonkel and Lauren Thomas | The Wall Street Journal

Paramount has received signed equity commitments of close to $24 billion from three sovereign-wealth funds led by Saudi Arabia to help back its takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, according to people familiar with the matter.

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has agreed to provide roughly $10 billion of the nearly $24 billion to Paramount, run by David Ellison, the son of billionaire Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison.

The agreements with investors also include Qatar Investment Authority and Abu Dhabi’s L’imad Holding Co., the people said.

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Gulf funds agree to back Paramount’s $81 billion takeover of Warner

Commitments from Middle East entities will help offset costs for Ellison family

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