Original title: John Malone Says He Advised David Zaslav on Warner Bros. Discovery Compensation Package, NBA Rights
Media mogul John Malone is opening up about advising David Zaslav, the chief executive of Warner Bros. Discovery, on his new contract with the media giant. In an interview with the New York Times about his memoir Born to be Wired, Malone, Zaslav’s longtime mentor, told the publication that he recently advised the WBD boss on a new contract that would maximize his potential for generating long-term wealth but also dampen down public criticism that surrounded previous pay deals by keeping the headline figure of the package “skinny.” In April, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Zaslav received a 2024 compensation package worth $51.9 million, compared with $49.7 million in 2023 and $39.3 million in 2022 when the Discovery-WarnerMedia merger closed. However, in June, WBD shareholders voted to reject the 2024 compensation packages of its top executives, including Zaslav. “It doesn’t look like it’s all that generous, but in reality, it’s your path to meaningful wealth,” Malone opined to the