Netflix Buys Warner Bros. After White House Coffee Date With Trump
KEY POINTS
- •In November, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos met with President Donald Trump to discuss Netflix's bid for Warner Bros.
- •Netflix offered $82.7 billion this week, outbidding Paramount, which was backed by CEO David Ellison and his father Larry Ellison.
- •Despite public complaints from Paramount and potential regulatory challenges, Netflix currently leads the acquisition race.
In November 2025, Netflix's co-CEO Ted Sarandos took his charm offensive straight to the White House, meeting with then-President Donald Trump for a ‘lengthy’ pow-wow about Netflix’s plan to buy Warner Bros. Sarandos walked away convinced there’d be no White House veto to his billion-dollar Netflix shopping spree. Flash forward, and Netflix just slapped down an $82.7 billion check, snatching Warner right from under Paramount’s noses—where David Ellison and his famous father Larry Ellison had swaggered in, claiming only their political wizardry could clear regulatory hurdles. Spoiler: Sarandos called bull and won, although Paramount can still scream 'hostile takeover!' or rally the DOJ fashion police to try canceling the party. Meanwhile, Sarandos gets to savor a personal victory after previously floundering to buy Paramount itself.
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Netflix schmoozes Trump, drops $82.7B on Warner Bros., and blindsides the Ellisons. It’s like buying the last slice of cake after distracting your sibling with questions about regulatory hurdles.
Ted Sarandos' White House meeting: the corporate equivalent of borrowing sugar before stealing the whole bakery.
Larry Ellison's political clout turned out about as effective as a screen door on a submarine when Netflix came knocking.
Source: Theverge | Published: 12/7/2025 | Author: Terrence O’Brien
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