Jun 09, 2026

Gerry Cardinale

Sean Gregory

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Senior Correspondent

Daniele Mascolo—Reuters

Gerry Cardinale might just be the most powerful person in sports you’ve never heard of. RedBird Capital Partners, Cardinale’s $14 billion investment firm, is one of the controlling shareholders of Paramount Skydance, and Cardinale was a key player in the conglomerate’s $110 billion offer to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery in February. Paramount Skydance pays billions to broadcast the NFL (on CBS, one of its properties) and the UFC (through the $7.7 billion rights deal Paramount made with the combat-sports organization in August 2025); once the Warner Bros. Discovery deal goes through, Cardinale’s capital will help fuel properties such as the NHL and U.S. Soccer as well. RedBird also owns a majority stake in AC Milan, the iconic Italian soccer club whose games are streamed in the U.S. by Paramount+, and French soccer club Toulouse FC and has an investment in Fenway Sports Group (owners of the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool) and the United Football League (the spring operation co-owned by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson).