David Zaslav to receive $606 million following Warner Bros. Discovery merger

David Zaslav, the former president and CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, is set to receive approximately $606.1 million following the company's merger with Paramount. According to SEC filings, the payout stems from shares held in the company, including restricted stock units that converted to cash upon the merger's closure on October 6.

The total amount includes $381.7 million in stock options, which is subject to withholding and capital gains taxes. This exit follows Zaslav's sale of nearly $200 million in WBD stock since the Paramount deal was first announced in February.

The merger, which brings Skydance Corporation into the fold, leaves the newly formed Paramount-Warner entity with an estimated $80 billion in debt. While Zaslav managed to reduce WBD's debt from $53 billion to $33.1 billion during his tenure, the combined company faces significantly higher financial obligations.