Warner Bros. Discovery CEO Zaslav's 2025 Pay at $165 Million

David Zaslav, president and chief executive officer of Warner Bros. Discovery, received total compensation of $165 million for 2025, more than triple his $51.9 million pay the prior year, according to a proxy statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

The bulk of the increase stemmed from a one-time grant of 20,898,776 stock options awarded on June 12, 2025, and valued at $109.6 million. Warner Bros. Discovery's board compensation committee described the grant as an inducement to incentivize the successful completion of a proposed corporate split into two publicly traded entities: one focused on studios and streaming services, and the other on television networks. That plan has since been abandoned amid a pending $111 billion acquisition of the company by Paramount and Skydance.

Zaslav's remaining 2025 compensation included a $3 million base salary, $22.6 million in stock awards, a $25.7 million cash bonus and $4.1 million in other items, primarily personal security costs of $3.26 million and $758,804 for personal use of corporate aircraft. The committee cited Zaslav's industry experience, leadership and role in strategic initiatives, including the sale...