Elon Musk has reportedly invested $1 billion in David Ellison’s Skydance media empire, making the world’s richest man a part-owner of CNN and CBS News.
According to Semafor, Musk has injected approximately $1 billion into the newly merged entertainment giant, which recently completed its $110 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery.
The deal brings Musk into a huge collection of media properties that includes CNN, CBS, HBO, Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon.
The investment comes just weeks after Skydance completed its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery on October 6, bringing CNN under the control of David Ellison, son of Oracle billionaire Larry Ellison.
Musk’s precise ownership stake has not been disclosed, nor is it clear whether the investment grants him any board representation.
🚨 LMAO! Elon Musk has reportedly bought into the company that now OWNS CNN
He reportedly put about $1 BILLION into David Ellison’s Skydance, which took over Warner Bros. Discovery this month
So people who have ownership stakes over CNN include Elon Musk and Trump ally David… pic.twitter.com/g6AQKEwpqx
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) October 22, 2026
The investment also strengthens Musk’s longstanding financial ties to the Ellison family, whose vast fortune stems largely from patriarch Larry Ellison’s stake in technology giant Oracle.
Ellison, who is said to be a close friend and ally of Musk, invested $1 billion in the billionaire’s $44 billion acquisition of Twitter in 2022.
He also purchased a significant stake in Tesla in 2018 and served on the electric vehicle manufacturer’s board until 2022.
However, he has mostly delegated control of his fortune to his son David, who is currently CEO of Skydance.
Musk, who recently became a trillionaire, is now returning the favour by helping finance the Ellisons’ rapidly expanding media empire.
The investment comes as Skydance faces considerable financial pressure following its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
According to financial filings, the combined company carries approximately $82.5 billion in debt, while Ellison has outlined plans to deliver at least $6 billion in annual cost savings over the next three years.
Musk’s arrival is particularly notable given his longstanding hostility toward CNN, which is notorious for its aggressive left-wing bias.
His latest investment means he now holds an indirect financial interest in two of America’s largest television news organizations.
However, there is currently no indication that Musk will exercise editorial control over either CNN or CBS.
Neither Musk nor Skydance has publicly commented on the reported investment.
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The development marks another expansion of Musk’s sprawling business empire, which already includes Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink and The Boring Company.
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