“Late Show” host Stephen Colbert hit back at his corporate bosses on Wednesday when asked what “major lesson” he learned in 2025.
“Don’t trust billionaires,” Colbert told CNN’s Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen during their New Year’s Eve broadcast. “They don’t get rich by finding that money on the side of the road, brother.”
CBS announced the end of the “Late Show” last summer, although it will remain on the air through May of this year.
The media company insisted it was “purely a financial decision” and claimed the show, which is No. 1 in its time slot, was losing $40 million a year.
But most observers cast doubt on that number, with fellow late night TV host Jimmy Kimmel calling the corporate claims about Colbert “obviously lies.”
Instead, many believe political pressure played a role.
The decision came as corporate parent Paramount was trying to complete a merger with Skydance Media, which required FCC approval, and after President Donald Trump repeatedly attacked Colbert and called for him to be canceled.
The deal was approved the following week, putting David Ellison, son of billionaire Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, who reportedly bankrolled the merger, in charge of the combined entity.
In the meantime, Colbert hasn’t held back. He’s repeatedly called out the company that fired him ― including last month, when it launched a $108 billion bid for a hostile takeover of Warner Bros.
“Wow. I gotta say, if my company’s got that kind of green, I’m sure they can afford to uncancel one of their best shows,” Colbert cracked.
See his full New Year’s Eve CNN interview below. His comments about the billionaires come about 4 minutes in.
