Why Hollywood cares about this year's Oscars, but not about Gulf money buying Warner: A chat with insider Matt Belloni

Tech Insider : Politics, Business, Sports
Adrien Brody accepts the Best Actor In A Leading Role award for
Adrien Brody won the Best Actor in award at the 2025 Oscars. Depending on who you ask, this year's favorite is either Michael B. Jordan or Timothée Chalamet.

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

A key Paramount ally makes the case for using Middle East money to buy Warner Bros.: 'The world is changing.'

Tech Insider : Politics, Business
Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia (middle) sits next to Elon Musk (right) and U.S. Treasury secretary Scott Bessent (left) at a U.S.-Saudi business conference in Washington, DC., November 2025.
In the second Trump administration, American businesses and government officials have been eager to do deals in the Middle East. Paramount's deal to acquire Warner Bros.

The US Embassy in Riyadh was attacked by 2 drones, Saudi Arabia says

Tech Insider : Business, Technology, Travel
Riyadh skyline
The US Embassy in Riyadh was struck by drones, Saudi officials said.

Bernd von Jutrczenka/picture alliance via Getty Images

How wealthy people are getting out of the Middle East: $200,000 charter flights and chauffeured drives across borders

Tech Insider : Business, Travel
Dubai
With Dubai's airspace shut down, wealthy expats and tourists have chartered flights and hired chauffeurs to evacuate the city amid the ongoing war between the United States and Israel and Iran.

Fadel SENNA / AFP

Paramount won't say whether Middle East money is funding its WBD deal

Tech Insider : Politics, Business
Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman, at a US-Saudi event in Washington, DC; November 2025.
Saudi Arabian ruler Mohammed bin Salman at a US-Saudi investment event in Washington DC, in November 2025. In December, Paramount said a Saudi-controlled fund would pitch in $10 billion towards its bid for Warner Bros. Discovery.

BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images

I tried 'the Chick-fil-A of Saudi Arabia.' I was more impressed by the value than the taste.

Tech Insider : Travel, Business, Economy
The exterior of an Al Baik, a Saudi-based chicken restaurant.
Al Baik is a Saudi-based chicken restaurant.

Mohamed Hamam Barakat/Shutterstock

Middle Eastern money raised questions about Paramount's WBD bid — but that's not why Netflix won

Tech Insider : Politics, Business
David Ellison with a purple background
Paramount CEO David Ellison wanted to use $24 billion of funding from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi to help fund his bid for Warner Bros. Discovery.

PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi want to put billions into Paramount/WBD. Why?

Tech Insider : Business
Larry Ellison and David Ellison in 2013
Larry Ellison, one of the richest men in the world, and his son David want to buy Warner Bros. Discovery. They'd like to use money from Saudi Arabia and two other petrostates to make that happen. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for The Hollywood Reporter)

Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for The Hollywood Reporter

Paramount's Larry and David Ellison might look to Middle East petrostates to help finance a deal for WBD. That's tricky.

Tech Insider : Politics, Business
President Donald Trump welcomes Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia at the White House, November 18, 2025
Donald Trump welcomed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia at the White House in November. Now bin Salman's country is reportedly backing Larry and David Ellisons' bid for Warner Bros. Discovery

Win McNamee/Getty Images

Apple's ICEBlock takedown shows how easily Washington can pull the plug on the internet

Tech Insider : Politics, Business
Split image of an ICE agent on the left and Attorney General Pam on the right
Attorney General Pam Bondi says she told Apple to take down an ICE-tracking app.

Scott Olson//Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

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