Bari Weiss’ The Free Press Acquired by Paramount Skydance for $150M

Paramount Skydance makes a bid for The Free Press, a digital newspaper run by Bari Weiss and Paradigm's latest purchase, Weiss, pays Doris Kearns Goodwin a rumored $30,000 for a two hour conversation. Weiss is also appointed editor-in-chief of CBS News, a remarkable leap within the fabric of American journalism. The Free Press and Weiss's new role at CBS News is expected to be worth around $150,000,000, the average attention will almost guarantee a profitable turnover.

When Bari Weiss Founded The Free Press

Bari Weiss and her spouse, Nellie Bowles, and sister, Suzy Weiss, positioned The Free Press as a non-ideological biased independent, "anti-woke" and "safe" journalism offering. Weiss co-founded The Free Press after leaving her position as editor for the New York Times and as a contributor for the Sunday Opinion.

Bari Weiss Career Journey: From Times Rebel to Media Entrepreneur 

Bari Weiss is a quickly rising journalist and editor at The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. In 2020, she wrote under The New York Times title and passionately claimed that The New York Times was not allowing underrepresented views to be expressed. Later Weiss founded The Free Press and tended to it as her digital media outlet, which transformed into a prominent digital media outlet with a dedicated readership. In addition to her media efforts, Weiss's comments on the journalism sphere, culture, politics, and the social sphere have resulted in her being awarded for her courage in journalism. 

Why Bari Weiss Sold The Free Press?

After The Free Press grew in size and was evaluated at over 200$ million, Weiss made a deal with David Ellison, CEO of Paramount Skydance, for The Free Press's$ 150 million acquisition as his freely available media outlet. Weiss will be editor-at-large for The Free Press and is stepping into the editor-in-chief position at CBS news, allowing a greater audience reach.

An announcement from @BariWeiss: The Free Press is joining Paramount.

Read more: https://t.co/tFH1mA3t4F pic.twitter.com/3PIlAh6gNc

— The Free Press (@TheFP) October 6, 2025

Bari Weiss Net Worth 2025

Bari Weiss's net worth in 2025 is estimated to be around $12 million. This comes largely from the success of her media company, The Free Press, which was valued at about $150 million in a planned acquisition deal by Paramount Skydance. Apart from The Free Press, her income sources include writing, podcasting, public speaking, and editorial roles. Her growing influence in media and new leadership roles at CBS News also contribute to her rising wealth.

Implications for CBS News and U.S. Media.  

The hiring of Bari Weiss as CBS News editor-in-chief suggests the first steps of integrating independent journalism into the mainstream. Weiss’s influence on the CBS News coverage of politics, culture, and the Israel-Gaza conflict will be telling. This is also evidence of an increasing number of media outlets seeking innovative business models that integrate opinion with reporting and digital interaction.