Paramount shuts down $71B Warner Bros. Discovery buyout rumors
Paramount just shot down reports that it was planning a massive $71 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, supposedly with help from Middle Eastern wealth funds.
The rumored deal would have valued Warner Bros. at about $28.65 per share, but Paramount called the whole story "categorically inaccurate."
So what's actually happening?
Warner Bros.—the company behind HBO and CNN—put itself up for sale in October 2025, with bids due by November 20.
Big names like Netflix and Comcast are eyeing parts of the business, while Paramount is interested in buying the whole thing (despite denying this particular rumor).
If any big merger happens, it could shake up Hollywood and might even raise some eyebrows with regulators.
Why does this matter?
This story is a peek into how major media companies are fighting to stay relevant as streaming wars heat up.
Even rumors can move stock prices—Warner Bros shares jumped 6% before settling down, while Paramount's rose nearly 4%.
It shows just how quickly things can shift in entertainment—and why everyone's watching what these giants do next.