Paramount’s Jeff Shell strikes back against Vegas gambler

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Jeff Shell, the President of Paramount, has publicly responded to a dispute with Robert “R.J.” Cipriani, a Las Vegas gambler who also works as an FBI informant. Shell claims Cipriani fabricated details about their interactions and is spreading untrue and scandalous stories in an attempt to get a large sum of money.

Just one week after being sued by a wealthy individual in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Shell filed a countersuit.

Marco Cipriani sued Shell, claiming they broke a verbal agreement to assist him in creating an English-language version of a Spanish music show available on Roku TV. He alleged fraud and is seeking $150 million in damages as a result.

Shell filed a lawsuit on Monday in Los Angeles claiming he was extorted and his reputation was damaged.

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According to Shell’s lawsuit, R.J. Cipriani wasn’t trying to enforce a verbal agreement; he was attempting to blackmail them. Shell claims Cipriani operates by befriending prominent individuals through mutual acquaintances, then falsely creating the impression of a close relationship while claiming to have secretly assisted them.

Shell claims Cipriani initially asked to be paid for work Shell didn’t request, then falsely presented this as a reason he deserved money. He then allegedly threatened to make the situation public to try and force Shell to pay him.

This development follows increased attention on Shell after his employer, Paramount, launched an investigation into his secret interactions with Cipriani, a man known as a “fixer.” The investigation is looking into whether Shell shared confidential company information while working with Cipriani, who offered to handle Shell’s public relations during difficult times.

Shell denied the claim in his lawsuit.

Shell hadn’t shared any of this information and wouldn’t pay any money at all. According to California law, Cipriani’s threats to get money from him were clearly extortion. Additionally, Cipriani falsely and damagingly accused Shell of breaking securities laws, both in the media and to many other people, which constitutes defamation.

In August 2024, attorney Patty Glaser brought Shell and Cipriani together. At the time, she represented both men, and they suspected Cipriani was trying to create bad publicity for Shell. This was allegedly an attempt to derail Shell’s efforts to rebuild his career after being removed from his three-year position as CEO of NBCUniversal.

Shell’s lawsuit was brought by Steven Olson of O’Melveny & Myers in Los Angeles.

Though the deal officially closed in August with David Ellison taking control of Paramount, Shell had been working with Ellison’s team for almost two years. They were preparing for this moment, building Ellison’s media company by first acquiring Paramount and then Warner Bros. Discovery.

The longtime media executive also serves as a member of Paramount’s board.

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After Netflix finalized its purchase of Warner Bros., the Ellisons and their colleagues immediately started planning how to regain their position.

Cipriani and his attorney were not immediately available for comment.

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2026-03-16 21:31