Media giant Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. paid its chief legal officer $23.3 million last year as the company navigated competing offers for its operations.
The compensation disclosure in Thursday’s proxy statement marks the first time Warner Bros. Discovery named a legal chief among its highest-paid executives. Priya Aiyar’s pay came mostly in the form of stock awards. Her salary was $1.3 million.
The amount reflects 10 months on the job last year. She joined the company in February 2025 after three years as American Airlines Group Inc.'s general counsel. She was previously a partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP and Washington-based boutique firm Kellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel & Frederick PLLC.
Aiyar had a busy first year. Warner Bros. Discovery had planned to restructure in early 2025 but received acquisition interest from a host of bidders. Paramount Skydance Corp. and Netflix Inc. faced off with bids to take over the company. The former ultimately won with a $110 billion agreement earlier this year. Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders overwhelmingly approved the deal at an April 23 special meeting, with 1.7 billion votes in favor, 16.2 million votes against, and 2.4 million abstentions.
The Warner Bros. Discovery disclosure comes three days after Paramount Skydance reported a $63.6 million payday for its own chief legal officer, who was hired in 2025’s final quarter.
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