Skydance locks in Ellison and top team with new deals to 2031

Skydance has locked in its top four executives for the next decade with bigger salaries, bonuses and share awards tied to its Warner Bros. Discovery deal.

The company extended and expanded employment agreements for chief executive David Ellison, president Andrew Brandon-Gordon, chief financial officer Dennis Cinelli and chief legal officer Makan Delrahim, according to Deadline reporting published on 6 October 2026.

Ellison and Brandon-Gordon are now contracted through 7 August 2031. Delrahim runs through 6 October 2031. Cinelli runs longest, through 15 January 2032.

Base pay rises across the board. Ellison goes to $5 million a year. Brandon-Gordon and Delrahim go to $4 million each. Cinelli goes to $3.4 million.

Target annual bonuses rise too. Ellison can earn $5 million. The other three can each earn $2.6 million.

The money follows the merger. From 2027, Ellison will be eligible for annual equity awards, meaning share-based pay, worth $5 million at grant. Brandon-Gordon will be eligible for $1.4 million, Delrahim for $1.25 million and Cinelli for $4.4 million.

Those annual awards jump in 2031. Ellison rises to $20 million. Brandon-Gordon and Delrahim each rise to $13.4 million. Cinelli rises to $12.5 million.

The new agreements also include one-off grants of restricted stock units, meaning shares handed over if the executive stays. Ellison gets units covering 104,167 shares of Class B Common Stock. Brandon-Gordon gets 29,167 shares. Cinelli gets 26,042 shares. Delrahim gets 91,667 shares.

A second layer of pay is linked directly to the close of the Warner Bros. Discovery merger. Ellison will receive a $50 million cash award plus restricted stock units valued at $100 million. Brandon-Gordon will receive $15 million in cash and $23 million in units. Delrahim will receive $12.5 million in cash and $12.5 million in units.

The cash is to be paid in a single lump sum within 30 days of closing. The units vest in equal quarterly instalments over five years, meaning they become the executives’ property in stages.

Three Warner Bros. Discovery executives are also in line for one-off transaction bonuses, meaning cash payments for getting the deal closed. Chief financial officer Gunnar Widenfels will receive $2.14 million. Chief revenue and strategy officer Bruce Campbell will receive $2.94 million. J.B. Perrette will receive $2.85 million. Those awards vested at closing and will be paid no later than 60 days after.

For viewers, this means continuity at the top. The Skydance newsroom lists a 6 October 2026 release titled “Paramount Completes Acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, Creating a New Global Entertainment Leader, Skydance,” alongside a 5 October announcement of a post-deal leadership team, according to the Skydance newsroom.