Inside the Lawsuit Brought By Pro Gambler RJ Cipriani Against Paramount President Jeff Shell

Professional gambler RJ Cipriani has now officially filed a lawsuit against Paramount Skydance President Jeff Shell. Cipriani alleges that he provided services to Shell and Paramount, but was not paid. He is seeking $150 million in damages.

News broke last month that Cipriani was planning to take legal action against Shell. He has now filed the complaint in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles, West District. In addition to Shell, Cipriani is also bringing the suit against his wife, Laura Fay Shell.

The lawsuit states, “This case arises from the oldest form of fraud: a powerful man took everything a less powerful man had to offer, promised to repay him, lied to him when he asked about it, and then refused to compensate him at all.”

It goes on to allege that Cipriani provided Shell with “sophisticated, high-value crisis communications services, entirely without compensation” for 18 months, from August 2024 through February 2026.

As part of his services, Cipriani, a renowned gambling figure in Las Vegas, claims he saved Paramount $1.5 billion in a streaming rights dispute with South Park.

Text Messages Used as Evidence

The lawsuit includes numerous messages between Shell and Cipriani. In one, Cipriani says, “I will do whatever I can
to protect you and help you stay out of negative news.”

Shell occasionally messages him for advice, such as during the South Park dispute.

He appears more than willing to advise Shell on a range of matters. Shell appears grateful for the advice and in one message, even writes, “I love you”.

Cipriani responds in kind, writing, “I don’t let people threaten my friends!“

After threatening Shell with a lawsuit, his lawyer offered Cipriani $150,000 to settle the dispute. Cipriani, however, rejected this, claiming he is owed far more for his services.

In addition to claiming he is owed money for his advisory role, Cipriani says Shell promised to help him make an English-language version of the Spanish show “Serenata De Las Estrellas” (Star Serenade). The lawsuit says Cipriani created the show “as a lasting legacy for his beloved and deceased mother, Regina.”

It goes on to say that Shell broke the promise to commission the show, then “lied about why, and — when confronted — refused to provide any compensation whatsoever.”

Who is RJ Cipriani?

Cipriani describes himself in the lawsuit as “a nationally recognized media strategist with an extraordinary network of relationships in the entertainment, gaming, and media industries.”

In addition to suing Shell, he has filed a complaint against Resorts World in Las Vegas. He alleges that top executives at the casino drummed up false charges against him in response to reporting the presence of illegal bookies gambling on the premises.

His Instagram profile states, “I try every day to change the world for the better!” His account regularly features updates on the case of Owen Hanson, the subject of the Amazon documentary series Cocaine Quarterback.

On the latest lawsuit, Shell’s lawyer Patricia Glaser said the complaint is “riddled with clear errors of fact and law. We will strongly respond.”

Glaser has also previously served as Cipriani’s lawyer and allegedly connected him with Shell a few years ago.