Shari Redstone is the daughter of late media mogul Sumner Redstone and, through the family holding company National Amusements (NAI), controlled Paramount Global -- the parent of CBS, Paramount Pictures, MTV, Nickelodeon, and other major media properties -- after consolidating power following her father's decline.
In a landmark deal completed in 2025, Skydance Media (backed by the Ellison family and RedBird Capital) acquired National Amusements for about $2.4 billion and merged with Paramount, ending the Redstone family's control of one of Hollywood's storied studios. Redstone reportedly received about $350 million from the NAI sale, plus severance and pension considerations, and exited the Paramount board.
The sale, which closed after regulatory approval in July 2025, drew shareholder lawsuits alleging the Redstone-controlled NAI received preferential terms over public investors.
What they control
- Former control of Paramount Global via National Amusements
- A legacy stake in major media brands (CBS, Paramount, MTV, Nickelodeon)
- Influence over the Paramount-Skydance transaction
Key institutions & holdings
Family holding company that controlled Paramount; sold to Skydance for ~$2.4 billion.
Parent of CBS and Paramount Pictures.
Key facts
- Controlled Paramount Global through National Amusements.
- Daughter of media mogul Sumner Redstone.
- Skydance acquired National Amusements for ~$2.4 billion (2025).
- Reportedly received ~$350 million from the NAI sale.
- Exited the Paramount board after the deal closed in July 2025.
Timeline
- 2019Oversees the re-merger of CBS and Viacom into ViacomCBS (later Paramount Global).
- 2024-07Reaches a preliminary deal to sell National Amusements to Skydance.
- 2025-07The Paramount-Skydance merger receives FCC approval and closes.
Controversies
Skydance deal terms · 2025
Investor Mario Gabelli and others sued, alleging National Amusements received a far higher per-share price than public Paramount shareholders.
Family control battle · 2016-2019
Redstone's consolidation of control amid her father's decline featured a contentious corporate and family fight.
Network
- Sumner RedstoneFatherBuilt the Viacom/CBS media empire.
- David EllisonAcquirerSkydance founder who took over Paramount.
Why this matters
Control of a major studio and broadcast network shapes news (CBS) and entertainment for millions. The transfer of that control between billionaire families -- on disputed terms -- highlights how concentrated media ownership changes hands largely outside public input.