Mirror Review
September 8, 2025
“Back to the office full-time, or take the buyout.”
That was the blunt message from David Ellison, Paramount’s new CEO, just months after Skydance’s $8 billion merger with the studio.
Ellison’s demand for discipline has shaken an industry still adjusting to hybrid work. But this isn’t surprising once you understand the man behind the decision.
David Ellison is too often reduced to being “Larry Ellison’s son”, but he has his own story full of risks, contradictions, and lessons that explain how he’s leading Paramount in 2025.
Here are 10 unbelievable David Ellison facts that go beyond the shadow of his father, and help explain his Hollywood rise.
10 Amazing Facts About David Ellison
1. He’s a World-Class Aerobatic Pilot
Long before he was a studio head, Ellison was a pilot. But he doesn’t just fly private jets; he’s a licensed commercial pilot and an accomplished aerobatic performer who has flown in airshows.
His passion for aviation heavily influenced Skydance’s biggest hits, like Top Gun: Maverick, where he insisted on real actors flying in real F-18s.
This comfort with calculated, high-G-force risk in the cockpit mirrors his appetite for nine-figure production budgets in the boardroom.
2. His Sister is an Indie Film Powerhouse
Ambition runs in the family, but it expresses itself in different ways.
While David was building a blockbuster empire with franchises like Mission: Impossible, his sister, Megan Ellison, founded Annapurna Pictures.
Her studio became a haven for auteur directors, producing critically acclaimed indie hits like Her, Zero Dark Thirty, and Phantom Thread.
The siblings represent two sides of the modern film industry: David bets big on commercial IP, while Megan champions unique, director-driven visions.
3. He Dropped Out of USC Film School
Like many visionary entrepreneurs, Ellison didn’t follow a traditional path. He attended the prestigious USC School of Cinematic Arts but dropped out to pursue his ambitions directly.
He was impatient to start building. This shows self-belief and a preference for learning by doing. It’s a trait that has defined his rise from film student to the head of one of Hollywood’s most storied studios.
4. Had a Brief but Real Acting Career
Before becoming a producer, Ellison tried his hand at acting. He starred in the 2006 World War I drama Flyboys, a $60 million film he co-financed with his father. But the movie was a critical and commercial flop.
This failure became a pivotal moment, teaching him that his true talent wasn’t being in front of the camera, but enabling the best storytellers from behind the scenes.
It was a humbling lesson in where his skills could make the most impact.
5. Mentored by Steve Jobs
As one of his father’s closest friends, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs was a major influence on a young David Ellison.
When Ellison first pitched his idea for a production company, Jobs was brutally honest. He reportedly told him not to bother if he was just going to make more “crap.”
Jobs pushed him to build a company with the quality standards of Pixar, telling him to “aspire to make movies better than anyone else.”
That harsh but invaluable advice became the North Star for Skydance’s focus on high-quality, technically ambitious films.
6. Franchise Builder with a $3.3B Run
Ellison’s genius lies in identifying valuable but underperforming intellectual property (IP) and injecting it with new life. Skydance’s track record is staggering:
- Mission: Impossible:- Turned the franchise into a global juggernaut, with the last five films grossing over $3.3 billion.
- Top Gun: Maverick:- Revived a 36-year-old property and turned it into a $1.5 billion cultural phenomenon.
- Star Trek:- Successfully rebooted the film series for a new generation, earning over $800 million.
He proved that with the right talent and a commitment to quality, old franchises could become bigger than ever.
7. Tech Runs in His Veins
Ellison isn’t just bringing tech money to Hollywood; he’s bringing a tech mindset. He has openly stated his goal is to turn Paramount into a “tech-forward” media company.
These David Ellison facts aren’t just talk. Skydance has already been a pioneer in using virtual production and data analytics.
His vision for Paramount is a “studio in the cloud,” using Oracle’s tech to speed up tasks like visual effects and audience testing. This will help make the process far more efficient than old studios.
8. Political Balancing Act
In the high-stakes game of media mergers, Ellison has proven to be a smart political operator. In 2024, public records showed he donated nearly $1 million to President Biden’s re-election campaign.
Yet just months later, he was photographed with President Donald Trump at a UFC event.
This political flexibility was key during the Paramount-Skydance merger, with insiders suggesting Skydance made quiet promises to temper diversity initiatives at CBS News to win favor with regulators.
9. He’s Married to a Nashville Musician
Ellison married actress and singer-songwriter Sandra Lynn Modic in 2011. She released multiple EPs, with her song “Lose the War” topping 1.1 million views on YouTube.
Though she hasn’t released new music since 2019, she remains a known figure in Nashville circles.
10. He Imposed a Strict ‘No Hybrid Work’ Mandate
His first major act as Paramount’s new leader was to end remote work.
Ellison believes that creative magic and true collaboration happen face-to-face, a conviction likely developed on high-pressure film sets.
This straightforward stance places him in contrast to other media and tech leaders and big CEOs who have embraced flexibility, signaling a return to a more traditional, high-intensity work culture.
The Takeaway
These David Ellison facts show a man who is more than the Oracle co-founder’s son. He’s a risk-taker, strategist, technologist, and pilot who thrives on high-stakes decisions.
Paramount’s future under his leadership won’t just be about making films. It will test whether old Hollywood can merge with Silicon Valley’s discipline and ambition.
