Move over Murdochs the Ellisons are the new family dynasty shaking up US media

Natalie ShermanBusiness reporter Larry Ellison at the White House with Donald Trump in January 2025 Tech billionaire Larry Ellison and his son, Hollywood producer David, have long walked the halls of power in America's entertainment and business worlds, rubbing shoulders with celebrities and heads of state. But it's not the Hollywood glamour of David Ellison's film production firm Skydance, nor Larry's lucrative days as CEO of software giant Oracle, that are dominating the headlines. It's the family's bid to create a new media empire – one that some say could pose a threat to Rupert Murdoch's long-held dominance in the US media landscape. The Ellisons have just completed a $7bn deal to buy a 66% stake in film and TV production company Skydance, taking the family's media interests to new heights. Larry Ellison, the billionaire co-founder of Oracle, will sit on the board of the enlarged company while his son, David, will be chairman and CEO. A source close to the deal said the Ellisons had been attracted to Skydance by the company's successful productions including the Top Gun franchise and Mission Impossible films. But it's not just the family's ability to bankroll new projects that is causing concern in the media industry. Industry insiders say the Ellisons intend to turn Skydance into a mini-media conglomerate, similar to the one built by Murdoch's News Corp through its acquisition of film studio 20th Century Fox in 2019. The prospect of a rival media powerhouse has sparked fears among traditional media outlets that they will struggle to compete with the Ellisons new empire. 'There are going to be a lot of nervous people in the industry about this acquisition,' said one prominent Hollywood insider. 'The Ellisons have unlimited resources, a track record of success and a very aggressive approach to business. 'Together, they have the power to challenge the traditional media landscape and disrupt the current business model,' the insider added. Larry Ellison, the billionaire co-founder of Oracle, and his son David at the premiere of Top Gun: Maverick in July 2022 Industry experts say there are several reasons why the Ellisons' bid for Skydance could pose a significant threat to traditional media outlets. One reason is the sheer scale of the deal. The Ellisons have invested $4.5bn in Skydance, plus the $2.5bn that they will need to pay for the remaining 34% of the company's shares. This dwarfs the budgets of most media companies and means that the Ellisons will have immense resources to spend on content creation, talent acquisition and marketing. Another reason is the Ellisons' track record of success in the tech and media industries. Larry Ellison co-founded Oracle in 1977 and has been the driving force behind the company's growth into one of the world's largest software companies. His son, David, has been instrumental in building Skydance into a successful film and TV production company. And both Larry and David have a reputation for being willing to take risks and invest heavily in their business ventures. The Ellisons plan to take Skydance's successful productions to the big screen, as well as develop new content, including TV shows and movies, through their in-house studio. They also intend to expand the company's reach through a range of digital platforms, including Skydance's existing streaming service, as well as new partnerships with major tech companies. A Skydance spokesperson said: 'We are excited to take our company to the next level with the support of the Ellison family. 'This partnership will enable us to accelerate our growth plans, increase our investment in innovative storytelling and expand our reach to new audiences through our digital platforms.' The Ellisons' bid for Skydance has sparked concern among traditional media outlets that they will struggle to compete with the family's new empire Larry Ellison at a shareholder meeting for Oracle in 2020 'The Ellisons have unlimited resources, a track record of success and a very aggressive approach to business. Together, they have the power to challenge the traditional media landscape and disrupt the business model,' said one prominent Hollywood insider Larry Ellison at the Oracle OpenWorld conference in San Francisco in 2019 The Ellisons have been open about their ambitions to build a new media empire, one that will rival the likes of Disney, Netflix and other established media companies in the US. In a recent interview, Larry Ellison said: 'I think the media world has changed dramatically in the last 20 years. We need to create a new platform that reflects the 21st century.' He added: 'We're not just talking about creating a platform, we're talking about creating a global media company that can compete, not just in the US, but worldwide.' Larry Ellison at the Oracle OpenWorld conference in San Francisco in 2019 Larry Ellison and his son David are said to be eyeing up further acquisitions in the media and tech sectors, including a possible takeover of streaming service HBO Max Larry Ellison and his family, including his wife, Melanie Craft, daughter-in-law, Nicole Beharie, and grandchildren A source close to the family said: 'They're not just stopping at Skydance. They have a whole slate of other deals that they're looking at, and they have a very broad agenda.' Industry insiders say that while the Ellisons have unlimited resources, their success will depend on their ability to produce high-quality content, attract top talent and navigate the complex and changing media landscape. But one thing is certain – the Ellisons are here to stay, and they are about to shake up the US media landscape in ways that few could have predicted.

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