Byron Allen sells his 10.7% stake in Starz for about $45 million

Allen’s sale, completed in August‑September 2026, nets a $20 million profit after buying the shares for $25 million in March.

By Felo News Desk · Published Thu, 29 Oct 2026 23:53:22 GMT

Media investor Byron Allen has sold his entire 10.7% stake in Starz, netting just under $45 million, according to SEC filings released Thursday.

What happened

Allen’s family office bought a 10.7% stake – 1.8 million shares – from former Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin’s Liberty 77 Capital in March 2026 for $25 million. The shares were sold over August and September 2026, generating about $44.9 million, roughly $20 million more than the purchase price.

What the reports add

Variety reported the exact profit figure of $44.9 million and noted that the sale was disclosed in an SEC filing on Thursday. The Hollywood Reporter said the filing shows Allen “netted him a bit less than $45 million.” Both outlets confirm the stake size (10.7%) and the purchase price of $25 million. Variety also added Starz’s Q3 2026 earnings, showing a narrowed net loss of $34.8 million and flat revenue of $322.4 million, while the Hollywood Reporter highlighted the company’s “growing revenue and declining losses” in the same quarter.

What was said

Allen told The Hollywood Reporter that he had once planned to buy the whole company, saying, “When I decide to buy the whole company — I will buy the whole company — I do plan on controlling Starz.” The quote is attributed to the Hollywood Reporter.

How it came about

Allen’s acquisition of the Starz stake was part of a broader expansion that also included a controlling 51% stake in BuzzFeed earlier in 2026, a deal that involved $20 million in cash and a $100 million promissory note. The Starz purchase followed a private transaction with Mnuchin’s fund, and the subsequent sale coincided with Starz’s Q3 earnings release, which showed improving financial performance. Allen’s media holdings also include the Weather Channel and a nightly comedy block on CBS, and he was recently named a Daytime Emmy Gold Circle inductee, a story covered by Felo News here.

Key facts

Byron Allen sold his entire 10.7% stake in Starz for just under $45 million. (variety.com)
The stake consisted of 1.8 million shares acquired in March 2026 for $25 million. (hollywoodreporter.com)
Starz reported a Q3 2026 net loss of $34.8 million and flat revenue of $322.4 million. (variety.com)

Timeline

2026-03-01 — Allen Family Capital acquires 10.7% stake in Starz for $25 million from Mnuchin’s Liberty 77 Capital.
2026-08-01 — Allen begins selling his Starz shares.
2026-10-29 — SEC filing reveals completion of the sale, netting just under $45 million.