David Ellison
David Ellison (born January 9, 1983) is an American film producer. He is the son of multibillionaire and Oracle Corporation co-founder Larry Ellison. He was a founder and CEO of Skydance Media, established in 2006 until 2025. He has produced films, including Top Gun: Maverick (2022), which earned him an Academy Award nomination for the Best Picture. Since August 2025, Ellison has served as Chairman and CEO of Paramount Skydance Corporation. Early life and educationEllison was born on January 9, 1983 in Santa Clara County, California. He is the son of billionaire Oracle Corporation co-founder and chairman Larry Ellison and his ex-wife, Barbara Boothe Ellison. His father is of Italian and Jewish heritage.[1] Ellison grew up in Woodside, California with his mother, who nurtured his love for film.[2] He attended the University of Southern California, but dropped out of its film school in 2005 to make his first movie, Flyboys.[3][4] Ellison was influenced by businessman Steve Jobs, a friend of his father, and pitched Jobs his idea for Skydance Media before revising it under Jobs' advice.[2] He has one sister, film producer Megan Ellison, who founded Annapurna Pictures.[1] CareerEllison is the CEO and founder of Skydance Media. The company's films include Mission: Impossible – Fallout, Annihilation, World War Z, True Grit, Jack Reacher, Star Trek Into Darkness, and Star Trek Beyond. Ellison was named to Variety's Dealmaker list for 2010[5] and the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2011.[6] Ellison was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture for Top Gun: Maverick. As an actor, Ellison has performed in the films Flyboys, Little Fish, Strange Pond, and Hole in One. Ellison's company Skydance Media expanded in 2013 with the launch of its television division. He has executive-produced shows such as Altered Carbon and Grace and Frankie. In 2014, Ellison launched a new line of men's clothing called the "LANAI Collection."[7] In 2017, Ellison helped launch Skydance Animation in partnership with Spain's Ilion Animation Studios. He hired the former Pixar CCO John Lasseter to run Skydance Animation.[8] Paramount Skydance CorporationIn January 2024, it was reported that Ellison was interested in merging Skydance Media with Paramount Global and buying the latter's parent company National Amusements from Shari Redstone.[9] The merger received approval from the FCC in July of 2025. The merger was completed by August 7, 2025, and Paramount Skydance Corporation was formed. Ellison serves as Chairman and CEO of the merged company.[10] Personal lifeEllison is a licensed pilot with instrument ratings for helicopter aviation, aerobatics, commercial aviation, fixed-wing aircraft, and multi-engine aircraft. In 2003, aged 20, he was selected to perform as part of Sean D. Tucker's "Stars of Tomorrow" aerobatic team at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.[11] Ellison is a member of the Producers Guild of America and Television Academy.[12] He married Sandra Lynn Modic, an actress and singer, on October 1, 2011, in Palm Springs, California.[13] They have two children.[14] FilmographyFilmExecutive producer
Producer
Television
References
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