Taylor Sheridan, the creative force behind the hit series "Yellowstone," stated that his purchase of the Four Sixes Ranch for $330 million directly led to a new exclusive deal with Paramount, preventing his planned retirement.
Sheridan, 56, explained on the "Rodeo Time" podcast that he had intended to retire after "Yellowstone," having already purchased a ranch in Weatherford, Texas, outright. He had planned to focus on showing horses and managing a small herd.
"I was set up to retire. I was going to be done after ‘Yellowstone.’ I’d bought the ranch in Weatherford, and I paid cash. I didn’t owe anybody anything,” Sheridan said. "And I was going to put my feet up and show horses and have my little hobby herd over here and that was it. I knew that if I bought this ranch that I was not going to be quitting my day job for a while."
He detailed that before acquiring the Four Sixes Ranch, he ensured its general manager would remain to oversee daily operations and that his son was prepared to take on future responsibilities. The ranch itself had previously served as a filming location for season four of "Yellowstone," and Sheridan had met its owner, Anne Marion, during that period.
Following Marion's death, Sheridan learned the ranch was not bequeathed to her daughter and was slated to be sold off in parts. He was approached with the proposition to purchase the property with the condition that he would maintain its original vision.
"But before they did that, she had asked if they would try to find someone who would maintain her vision,” he recalled. “And, so, the person they came up with was me."
Upon being presented with the $330 million price tag, Sheridan humorously noted his financial shortfall. He then contacted Paramount, which had been persistent in seeking an overall deal with him.
"Paramount had been after me to make an overall deal. They were terrified that I was going to go to greener pastures and leave them and go somewhere else, which I probably was,” Sheridan said. “So, they’d been for years trying to get me to sign an exclusive deal with Paramount, and I’d said no."
However, the ranch acquisition changed his calculus. "But once this happened, I called them and I said, ‘You know what? I think I’m ready to make an overall deal.’ They said, ‘That’s great. Do you have a number in mind?’ And I said, ‘Why, yes, I do. I sure do.'"
The sale, which closed on January 21, 2022, involved Sheridan leading an investor group. Since entering the agreement with Paramount, Sheridan has developed several series for the streamer, including "Mayor of Kingstown," "1883," "1923," "Lioness," "Landman," "Tulsa King," and "The Madison."
One of his recent projects, "Lioness," is currently airing its third season. Michael Kelly, a star in the series, recently commended Sheridan's work, telling ScreenRant, "I have told Taylor, I’m like, ‘Bro, anything you ever want me to do, I’ll do. I love being in Texas. I love saying your words.’ I think he’s truly a standalone talent. There’s nobody who’s doing or has ever done what he’s doing. It’s incredible what he does. And he’s just one of the smartest dudes you’ll ever meet. He’s fricking brilliant, man. Brilliant. And just one of the greatest storytellers."