Paramount Global is owned primarily by public shareholders and controlled by Skydance Media, led by David Ellison and backed by tech billionaire Larry Ellison, following a high-profile merger. For decades, the media conglomerate tracing back to CBS and Viacom operated under the absolute voting control of the Redstone family via National Amusements. That historical era ended when the Ellison family and RedBird Capital completed a multi-billion dollar acquisition and integration with Skydance, shifting the reins of one of Hollywood's oldest studios to a new tech-backed ownership group.
Understanding who owns Paramount requires looking past simple stock tickers. The corporate hierarchy involves dual-class share structures, institutional investors, and structural changes that dictate how major entertainment assets—including CBS, MTV, Nickelodeon, and Paramount Pictures—are managed and funded today.
The Shift to Skydance Control
The ownership structure underwent a fundamental rewrite when Skydance Media finalized its transaction to merge with Paramount and acquire National Amusements. Under the terms of the deal, the Ellison family and their co-investors injected billions of dollars of fresh capital into the business, taking over the voting shares that previously belonged to Shari Redstone and her family.
David Ellison took over as chairman and CEO of the combined enterprise, while veteran media executive Jeff Shell stepped in as president. Financially, Larry Ellison's substantial wealth provided the backbone for the transaction, giving the Ellison family operational control over the studio's future direction, streaming investments, and traditional television networks.
Public Shareholders and Institutional Ownership
While the Ellison family holds the controlling voting interest, a large percentage of Paramount's economic equity remains publicly traded on the Nasdaq stock exchange under ticker symbols for Class A (voting) and Class B (non-voting) shares.
Institutional investment firms and mutual fund giants hold significant portions of these non-controlling economic stakes. Major institutional stakeholders include:
- The Vanguard Group, which manages index funds holding substantial passive shares on behalf of retail investors.
- State Street Corporation, holding major positions through various sector ETFs and standard funds.
- BlackRock, owning sizable minority economic stakes via broad-market funds.
- International investment groups and alternative asset managers holding varying percentages of public Class B common stock.
Because the dual-class share architecture concentrates voting power squarely with the controlling ownership group, everyday public shareholders possess virtually no say in corporate governance, board appointments, or major strategic pivots.
Major Assets Under the Paramount Umbrella
Controlling Paramount means owning a massive portfolio of intellectual property, broadcast networks, and production houses spanning a century of media history. The asset ledger includes:
- Paramount Pictures: The historic Hollywood film studio responsible for franchises like Mission: Impossible, Top Gun, and the Godfather series, alongside animation divisions.
- CBS Entertainment Group: The CBS television network, CBS News, CBS Sports, and a massive library of syndicated television productions.
- Paramount Media Networks: Cable television staples such as MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, BET, and Smithsonian Channel.
- Streaming Platforms: Paramount+ and the free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) service Pluto TV.
Common Misconceptions About Media Ownership
Audiences often confuse brand licensing with direct corporate ownership. For example, people frequently assume tech giants like Apple or Amazon own traditional Hollywood studios simply because content streams on their devices or platforms distribute films. Paramount operates as an independent standalone media company under its new ownership umbrella, rather than a subsidiary of a major Silicon Valley tech platform, even though the current controlling stakeholders possess deep roots in the tech sector.
Another common point of confusion involves historical splits. Many viewers remember when CBS and Viacom operated as completely separate companies. They merged, split apart, merged again as ViacomCBS, rebranded to Paramount Global, and then underwent the Skydance integration. Each corporate restructuring shuffled the underlying debt, corporate leadership, and asset distribution without altering the fundamental consumer-facing brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Shari Redstone still own Paramount?
No. The Redstone family's decades-long era of control ended when National Amusements was acquired as part of the Skydance transaction. Shari Redstone stepped back from her active governance role following the completion of the deal.
What is the difference between Class A and Class B Paramount stock?
Class A shares carry voting rights, meaning they dictate how the company is run. These voting shares are tightly held by the controlling ownership group. Class B shares represent economic ownership and are traded publicly on the Nasdaq, but they do not carry voting power.
Is Paramount Global part of Disney or Warner Bros. Discovery?
No. Paramount is an entirely separate publicly traded media company. It competes directly with The Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros. Discovery, Comcast, and Netflix in the global entertainment and streaming market.
Where is Paramount Global headquartered?
The company maintains its primary corporate headquarters at One Astor Plaza in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, while operating major production facilities and studio lots across Los Angeles, California.
