Sources representing all sides in the Paramount Skydance president’s legal saga with high-stakes poker player RJ Cipriani tell Page Six Hollywood that Shell’s exit is imminent. Some insist the exit will be amicable and that he will not be fired for cause following accusations in a lawsuit Cipriani filed that Shell allegedly disclosed non-public information in a series of text exchanges.
Pro-gambler RJ Cipriani filed a lawsuit against Paramount Skydance president Jeff Shell. A person familiar with Shell’s exit talks says that results from a preliminary investigation being carried out by a third-party firm, Gibson Dunn, found no wrongdoing. That could change, of course, as the investigation continues.
The “for cause” distinction is key considering the massive amount of money at stake for Shell, who is in year one of a five-year deal with an annual $3.5 million salary — plus $1.5 million annual bonus. But that’s not where the real money is.
At the time that the merger between Paramount and Skydance closed in August, Shell also received five million shares of restricted stock that vest over five years. Based on PSKY’s stock price over the past year, ranging from roughly $10 to $20 a share, that represents $50 million to $100 million that Shell would forgo in the event that the executive breached his contract by allegedly sharing with Cipriani deal points on a streaming rights negotiation involving Paramount and the UFC.
In addition, future salary and bonus would amount to $20 million with Shell’s exit.
According to SEC filings in November 2025 and February of this year, about 500,000 shares of restricted stock had already vested for Shell, and likely cannot be clawed back. However, if Shell is fired for cause, he stands to lose 4.5 million stock options worth approximately $45 million, according to PSKY’s closing on Monday of $9.85. Sources say the unvested balance is where the wrangling is taking place.
Jeff Shell speaks to the media as he leaves lunch at the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference. Getty Images It’s also possible that pro gambler and Hollywood fixer Cipriani presents new text messages to investigators that implicate Shell. If any breach of contract took place, it could allow Paramount Skydance to attempt to claw back the 500,000 vested shares, and even already earned salary.
When Cipriani sued Shell in March, he included their purported text exchanges in the papers. “We are buying ALL of the UFC rights for the next 7 years for Paramount,” Shell allegedly wrote to Cipriani before the deal was announced, according to the complaint. “Netflix thought they had it. $7 billion +. Everything…numbered events currently PPV and all of their fight nights Exclusive. We will put it on P+ and CBS. Embargo until after Netflix earnings.” Cipriani responded: “Did your relationship with [UFC CEO and president] Dana [White] help do this.” Shell shot back, “No he actually shockingly doesn’t know yet. Ari. And Netflix thought thinks have a handshake. Very hush hush until we sign.” [The lawsuit indicates that the “Ari” in question is Ari Emanuel, executive chairman of WME Group and CEO of TKO Group Holdings, the parent company of UFC.]
