Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creative minds behind the iconic animated series South Park, have joined the ranks of Hollywood’s billionaires after finalizing a monumental $1.5 billion deal with Paramount Global. The five-year agreement secures the global streaming rights for their long-running satirical show on Paramount+, placing the duo among the highest-paid creators in the entertainment industry.
The landmark deal, valued at approximately $300 million annually, brings all 26 previous seasons of South Park to the Paramount+ streaming service in the United States for the first time. Previously, the show’s streaming rights were licensed to HBO Max. Under the new agreement, Parker and Stone’s production company, Park County, will also produce 50 new episodes for Comedy Central over the next five years, with new episodes becoming available on Paramount+ the day after they air.
This new pact elevates the net worth of both Parker, 55, and Stone, 54, to an estimated $1.2 billion each, a testament to their sharp business acumen and creative vision.
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A History of Savvy Business Decisions
The journey to billionaire status for Parker and Stone has been marked by strategic financial moves. A key decision came in 2007 when they negotiated a deal that granted them a 50% share of all digital revenue from South Park, a move that paid off immensely with the rise of streaming.
Unlike many top Hollywood creators who have sold their production companies, Parker and Stone have maintained full ownership of Park County, which they established in 2012. They route the income from their television series, films, and the successful Broadway musical The Book of Mormon through this company. This structure has allowed them to retain creative control and maximize their financial returns. Their previous deal with Paramount, which was set to conclude in 2027, was valued at $900 million.
Tense Negotiations and a Controversial Premiere
The massive new deal did not come without friction. The agreement was reached after a period of tense negotiations, during which the creators publicly expressed their frustration with the then-ongoing merger between Paramount and Skydance Media. In a post on X.com (formerly Twitter), they stated, “This merger is a mess, and it’s disrupting South Park”.
The resolution of the negotiations paved the way for the premiere of the show’s 27th season, which had been delayed5. True to their reputation, Parker and Stone immediately signaled that their new financial status would not dull their satirical edge. The season premiere featured a storyline that appeared to mock Paramount and included a scene with a caricature of former President Donald Trump.
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The deal underscores the immense value of established intellectual property in the competitive streaming landscape. As one former Comedy Central executive noted, “In a business where nobody knows anything, there is one certainty: ‘South Park’ always wins”. The willingness of Paramount to invest such a significant sum highlights the enduring popularity and cultural relevance of the show, nearly three decades after its debut.
