Warner Bros. is caught in a heated bidding war between Netflix and Paramount, but the real winner might be its 65-year-old CEO David Zaslav. With a compensation package of $51.9 million in 2024 alone, Zaslav has become one of the media’s highest-paid leaders. A new contract signed earlier this year could add up to $420 million in value, making him a billionaire.
Zaslav’s journey began in corporate law before transitioning to media, where he became president of NBCUniversal’s cable and domestic TV distribution. He took over as CEO of Discovery Communications in 2006 and orchestrated the landmark Discovery-WarnerMedia merger in 2022. Control of HBO, CNN, and TBS is now part of his portfolio.
However, Zaslav attributes his success to hard work rather than luck or timing. As a teenager, he almost became a tennis star but realized that talent alone wasn’t enough. He vowed to never be outworked again after his coach told him so at the age of 14. Since then, Zaslav has become known for his relentless work ethic.
Zaslav tells Gen Z graduates that working hard is crucial to success. He wakes up every morning at 4:45 a.m., puts in an hour-and-a-half walk to the office, and continues to grind. His message of creating opportunities, finding what you love, and never giving up resonates with young people.
With a new deal potentially pushing his net worth over $1 billion, Zaslav is joining a rare group of non-founder CEOs who have become billionaires. His focus on hard work and dedication has made him an inspiration to many.
Source: https://fortune.com/2025/12/10/warner-bros-ceo-david-zaslav-nearing-billionaire-club-thanks-to-netflix-paramount-bidding-wars-secrets-for-success-career-advice-gen-z-graduates-never-be-outworked