Sony Acquires Peanuts for $457 Million

by Bruno Pferd December 19, 2025

written by Bruno Pferd December 19, 2025

Key Takeaways

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Sony has acquired a majority stake in the Peanuts franchise for $457 million, giving them an 80% ownership and making it a subsidiary of Sony.
The Schulz family retains a 20% stake in the Peanuts franchise, while Wildbrain will use the funds to grow other franchises like Strawberry Shortcake and Teletubbies, invest in digital content, and settle debts.
This acquisition significantly expands Sonys portfolio, positioning them to further develop the beloved Peanuts brand through their global network.
Shunsuke Muramatsu, CEO of Sony Music Entertainment Japan, expressed enthusiasm about enhancing the Peanuts brand value. However, the initial blog post about the deal did not mention the $457 million acquisition.

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Sony Secures Majority Stake in Peanuts Franchise for $457 Million Expansion

Sony will acquire a majority stake in the Peanuts franchise, including characters like Snoopy and Charlie Brown, through a $457 million deal involving Sony Pictures, Sony Music Entertainment Japan, and Wildbrain. Under the terms of the agreement, Sony will purchase Wildbrain’s 41% stake in Peanuts Holdings LLC. This will add to Sony’s existing 39% ownership, giving them an 80% majority stake and making Peanuts a subsidiary of Sony. The remaining 20% will stay with the Schulz family. Shunsuke Muramatsu, CEO and president of Sony Music Entertainment Japan, stated that the company has been a proud partner since 2018 and looks forward to enhancing the brand’s value through Sony’s global network. The deal enables Wildbrain to settle its debts and gain financial flexibility to grow franchises like Strawberry Shortcake and Teletubbies, as well as to invest in digital content across video networks. However, Sony’s initial blog post about the deal did not mention the $457 million acquisition. This acquisition significantly expands Sony’s portfolio, positioning them to further develop the beloved Peanuts brand.

In Case You Missed It

In other thrilling gaming news, get ready to jump for joy as everyone’s favorite marsupial is bounding back into the spotlight! Our enthusiastic colleague Sophie Laurent has just penned an article, “Former PlayStation Mascot on its Way to Netflix” (published October 27th), that dives headfirst into Netflix’s exciting plans with WildBrain Studios. They’re cooking up an animated series starring none other than our beloved Crash Bandicoot! If you’re chomping at the bit to learn more about this nostalgic gaming icon’s new adventure, don’t let this one slip by – check it out here: Former PlayStation Mascot on its Way to Netflix.

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(https://variety.com/author/todd-spangler/)::https://variety.com/2025/film/news/sony-acquire-peanuts-457-million-deal-1236612363/|SEP|Most Popular::https://variety.com/2025/film/news/sony-acquire-peanuts-457-million-deal-1236612363/|SEP|Submit a comment::https://deadline.com/2025/12/peanuts-brand-sold-sony-deal-1236653166/|SEP|More Stories By Patrick::https://deadline.com/2025/12/peanuts-brand-sold-sony-deal-1236653166/”]