Ynon Kreiz, as David Ellison’s right-hand man at the merged Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery, is getting a big pay bump over his pay package as CEO of Mattel.
Kreiz, 61, signed an initial five-year employment contract with Paramount. He starts Oct. 5, one day before Paramount is set to close its $111 billion merger with Warner Bros.
Kreiz’s pay package in the first year at Paramount-WB (the official name has not been revealed) will total more than $46.5 million, the company disclosed in an SEC filing Thursday. That includes a one-time signing award of restricted stock units valued at $31.5 million.
By comparison, as CEO of Mattel, Kreiz in 2025 received a total compensation package of $15.1 million (including at $1.6 million salary).
On the first anniversary of his employment, Kreiz will be granted an annual equity award of $20.1 million, according to the filing.
It’s worth noting that Kreiz’s stock awards (with the exception of the signing award) will vest in equal quarterly installments over a three-year period subject to his continued employment with the company through the applicable vesting date.
