Paramount won't say whether Middle East money is funding its WBD deal
Business Insider
March 2, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Paramount’s $81 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has raised questions about whether Middle Eastern countries are still funding the deal. Initially, in December, Paramount revealed that Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar were set to contribute $24 billion toward the purchase. However, with Netflix stepping back from the deal, it remains unclear if these Gulf states will remain involved. While Paramount confirmed that $47 billion of the acquisition cost will come from equity commitments by Larry and David Ellison, along with private-equity firm RedBird Capital Partners, the company has not specified how much of this sum will be self-funded versus sourced from other investors.
The potential involvement of foreign state-controlled funds in a major U.S. media company has sparked intrigue, particularly given Saudi Arabia’s history, including its role in the 2018 killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. This raises questions about regulatory and political implications, though it appears these concerns have not yet gained significant traction beyond isolated criticisms from figures like Sen. Elizabeth Warren. The increasing trend of Middle Eastern investment in U.S. companies, such as Saudi Arabia’s planned majority stake in video game giant Electronic Arts and Abu Dhabi’s 15% ownership of TikTok, suggests that foreign involvement in major American businesses is becoming more normalized.
This situation highlights the growing influence of Gulf state capital in the global business landscape. The deal’s outcome could set a precedent for how foreign investments are managed in key U.S. industries, particularly media, which operate with significant public and political visibility. As Middle Eastern investment continues to expand into major American companies, understanding the extent of this involvement—and its implications—will be crucial for both businesses and regulators alike.
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Originally published on Business Insider on 3/2/2026