Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav is likely to receive up to $887 million following the completion of the company’s sale to Paramount Skydance, according to a regulatory filing released Monday.
Warner Bros. Discovery last month agreed to be acquired by Paramount Skydance in a $110 billion deal, ending a high-stakes bidding war after Netflix withdrew from its agreement with the HBO Max owner.
Zaslav’s compensation package includes about $34.2 million in cash severance, covering salary continuation and bonuses triggered by a change-in-control termination, as well as $115.8 million in vested equity. He is also set to receive $517.2 million in unvested share awards, which would vest upon the deal’s completion.
In addition, the payout includes an estimated $335 million in tax reimbursements, though the company noted this amount is expected to decline significantly over time under tax rules and would drop to zero if the deal closes in 2027.
Paramount expects the transaction to be finalized in the third quarter of this year.