Overview
- Warner Bros. Discovery said in an SEC filing Thursday that CEO David Zaslav earned $165 million in 2025, driven by $109.6 million in options from a June 12, 2025 one-time grant tied to a shelved corporate split.
- Shareholders approved the sale to Paramount at an April 23 special meeting, while a separate advisory vote rejected the golden‑parachute packages for top executives.
- Because the pay vote was non-binding, the board’s disclosed exit terms remain in force and could pay Zaslav at least about $550 million plus up to $335 million in tax reimbursements if the merger triggers his package.
- WBD also renewed CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels through April 2028 with a $2.5 million base salary, a 175% bonus target, eligibility for $10 million in annual equity and a one‑time $2 million restricted stock award.
- The roughly $111 billion Paramount–Skydance bid at $31 a share is still under review, with a 25‑cent per‑share ticking fee for delays and a $7 billion termination fee if regulators block the deal.