David Ellison (born 1983) is an American film producer, media executive, and former actor. He founded Skydance Media, which developed from a film-production business into a company spanning television, animation, and sports entertainment. In August 2025, he became chairman and chief executive officer of Paramount Skydance following the combination of Skydance and Paramount Global. His producing work includes Top Gun: Maverick, for which he received an Academy Award nomination as one of its producers. (sec.gov)
Background and early career
Ellison is the son of Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle Corporation. He studied filmmaking at the University of Southern California and pursued acting before concentrating on production and company management. An experienced aerobatic pilot, he appeared in Flyboys (2006), a drama about American volunteer aviators during World War I. He also helped finance the film, which was an early Skydance production. (sfchronicle.com)
Development of Skydance
Skydance’s origins date to Ellison’s production activities in 2006, although the company’s own corporate biographies identify 2010 as the founding year of its diversified media business. Its early development centered on financing and producing feature films, including projects made in partnership with Paramount. Under Ellison, the business subsequently expanded beyond theatrical releases. (apnews.com)
Skydance Television launched in 2013. Further expansion included animation and sports divisions, extending the company’s activities into series, animated features, and sports programming for broadcasters and streaming platforms. In 2020, Skydance acquired the animation unit of Spain’s Ilion Studios and established Skydance Animation Madrid. (skydance.com)
Film production and recognition
Ellison’s production career includes major studio franchise films, notably entries in the Mission: Impossible, Star Trek, and Top Gun series. These projects formed part of Skydance’s feature-film business before its combination with Paramount. (sec.gov)
His most prominent awards recognition came for *Top Gun: Maverick* (2022). At the 95th Academy Awards in 2023, the film was nominated for Best Picture, with Ellison named alongside Tom Cruise, Christopher McQuarrie, and Jerry Bruckheimer as its nominated producers. The nomination recognized their producing roles rather than an acting or directing contribution by Ellison. (oscars.org)
Paramount and subsequent expansion
The combination of Skydance and Paramount Global closed on August 7, 2025, creating Paramount Skydance Corporation. Ellison assumed the positions of chairman and chief executive, moving from leadership of an independent production company to management of a broader entertainment group encompassing film studios, television networks, and streaming services. (sec.gov)
The company subsequently pursued the acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. In an announcement dated October 5, 2026, Ellison and co-chief executive Ynon Kreiz presented the leadership team intended to manage the combined business, which the announcement said would be named Skydance following completion. That announcement described the transaction as awaiting closing and the proposed leadership arrangements as contingent on completion. (ir.skydance.com)
References
- Paramount Skydance Corporation: Director Biographiessec.gov
- Leadership | Skydanceskydance.com
- 2023 Academy Awardsoscars.org
- THRILL SEEKER / Billionaire's son flies on his ownsfchronicle.com
- 'Flyboys'aopa.org
- Paramount Skydance Corporation: Form 8-K12Bsec.gov
- David Ellison and Ynon Kreiz Announce their CEO Leadership Team for Skydance Following Anticipated Close of Warner Bros. Discovery Acquisitionir.skydance.com