David M. Zaslav is an American business executive born on 15 January 1960, and is best known as the president and chief executive officer(CEO) of Discovery Communications, and from his former position as an executive at NBC Universal.
Have you ever wondered how rich David Zaslav is? According to sources it has been estimated that David Zaslav’s overall net worth is $200 million. This extremely successful businessman has accumulated his wealth thanks to brokering joint ventures for OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network), with his net worth continuing to increase after he took over the CEO position of Discovery Communications in 2007. David’s net worth still continues to grow.
David Zaslav Net Worth $200 Million
Zaslav graduated from Binghamton University with a bachelors degree in science and after that went on to study Law at Boston University School of Law. Upon his second graduation he started his career as a lawyer in New York. Before this, he was an adjunct professor at Fordham University where he taught about the business of cable television. David spent almost twenty years working at NBC, developing and launching CNBC, MSNBC and arranging deals for NBCU with other companies. He was the president of Cable and Domestic TV and New Media Distribution, and while in this position he supervised content distribution, led negotiations and initiated new media partnerships. During the years, his duties expanded to Bravo, SCI FI, Sleuth, Telemundo and many others on cable TV. His net worth was beginning to rise.
In January 2007, Zaslav started managing Discovery. During his leadership, the company started public trading on the Nasdaq stock exchange, which led to its growth of market capitalization to approximately $17 billion, and acquired subscribers in over 220 countries. Discovery also began premiering its later awarded natural history specials, and expanded into live entertainment. David also secured the company’s elevation of brands and the launching of new ones, and so it became one of the fastest growing cable networks in the United States.
Zaslav brokered joint ventures with Hasbro and Oprah Winfrey for Oprah Winfrey Network. After its launch OWN doubled and tripled its ratings. David expanded Discovery’s international ventures with two important investments, by the acquisition of SBS Nordics and Eurosport. In November 2015, he made an agreement for Discovery to take 3.4% interest in Lionsgate, and joined the company’s board.
Apart from all these, Zaslav has made a huge impact on the company’s education projects, Discovery Education has eventually reached three million teachers and more than 30 million students. Among his other activities, David serves on the boards of Sirius XM Radio Inc., The National Cable & Telecommunications Association, Lions Gate Entertainment, Skills for America’s Future, USC Shoah Foundation and few others. In 2007, the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences awarded Zaslav with a Trustees Award for Lifetime Achievement.
Apart from being praised for turning Discovery into an international powerhouse, not much is known about David’s private life. He is married to Pam and they have three children. In his free time, he enjoys hobbies such as playing golf and tennis.
