A $150 million lawsuit has been filed against Jeff Shell by professional gambler and media figure Robert James ‘RJ’ Cipriani.
The complaint includes allegations of breach of contract, fraud and the disclosure of confidential corporate information.
According to Cipriani, Shell shared non-public details about major deals and strategic plans at Paramount Global. The lawsuit claims that Shell disclosed information about Paramount’s bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery before the details were publicly announced. It also alleges that Shell revealed internal information related to high-profile company agreements, including a multibillion-dollar deal involving the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Cipriani further claims that Jeff Shell had promised payment related to a television project and crisis PR consulting work, but that the project was never produced and the payment was never made. While the lawsuit does not name Paramount as a defendant, reports indicate that an internal investigation is underway within the company.
Shell previously served as CEO of NBCUniversal but left the role in 2023 following a misconduct scandal before later joining Paramount. The legal dispute comes at a sensitive moment for the company, shortly after Paramount’s major merger deal involving Warner Bros. Discovery, raising questions about Shell’s future within the organization.
