Ynon Kreiz is stepping into his new role as Co-CEO of the combined entity formed by the merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery with a paycheck that reflects the massive scale of the deal. According to a recent SEC filing, the sixty-one year old executive will see his first-year compensation soar to more than 46.5 million dollars. This represents a significant leap from his time leading Mattel, where his total compensation for 2025 was roughly 15.1 million dollars.
The bulk of this windfall comes from a substantial signing incentive consisting of restricted stock units valued at 31.5 million dollars. Beyond the initial sign-on bonus, Kreiz’s basic terms include an annual base salary of 5 million dollars and eligibility for a yearly performance bonus targeted at nearly 5 million dollars. He is also slated to receive 1.25 million shares of Class B common stock as part of a pre-closing award, further tying his financial success to the health of the newly merged media giant.
As David Ellison’s primary partner in managing the consolidated organization, Kreiz begins his tenure on October 5, just twenty four hours before the anticipated closing of the staggering 111 billion dollar merger. The company has yet to announce an official name for the joined venture, but it is already making waves with these high-level leadership investments. Following the merger’s completion, Kreiz will be eligible for additional grants totaling up to 5.1 million dollars shortly after closing, followed by another equity award of about 20 million dollars on his first anniversary.
To ensure long term stability during this transition, most of these stock awards are structured with specific strings attached. With the exception of the immediate signing reward, those equity grants will vest in equal quarterly installments over a three year window. This means Kreiz must remain employed with the firm through those dates to fully realize the gains, aligning his personal wealth with the successful integration of two entertainment titans into one singular powerhouse.
