It hasn’t been the best year for The Walt Disney Company.
Magic Kingdom
Disney CEO Bob Iger has been in the news for comments on Disney’s “woke agenda” and the proxy battle that has just been launched against his leadership. But, with 2023 coming to a close, we’re learning more about just how Iger feels about himself.
Bob Iger’s 2019 self-evaluation has recently come to light as part of a legal battle over pay equity, and it reveals quite a bit about the CEO’s opinion of himself. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Iger touted Disney’s stellar year for approval of a bonus and his 2020 base salary.
The document was unsealed as part of a class action lawsuit against Disney, where 9,000 women are claiming pay discrimination based on gender.
©Disney
Iger told the board that he “executed a highly-anticipated Investor Day providing an extensive overview of all of our direct-to-consumer offerings” and “launched an unprecedented company-wide marketing effort.” He also mentions the acquisition of 21st Century Fox into Disney’s portfolio, along with gaining operating control of Hulu from Comcast — which Disney now fully owns.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is also noted as a success — having opened in both Disney World and Disneyland during that fiscal year — along with a host of other parks projects. Iger noted the studio’s $10 billion in global box office sales as another win.
©MasterClass
The self-evaluation was passed on to a “committee” that determined Iger’s recommended compensation, which was then reviewed with the full Disney Board of Directors. The board approved a $47.5 million compensation package for Iger’s work, continuing his position as one of the highest-paid executives in the United States. You can read the full evaluation below:
via The Hollywood Reporter
This year, though, Iger’s self-evaluation may not have as much to show for itself.
The second-time Disney CEO has been recently criticized for his leadership of the company in the face of political controversy and less-than-stellar financial results. A proxy battle is on the horizon for seats on Disney’s Board of Directors thanks to Nelson Peltz, who feels Iger and “the Disney Board’s lack of focus, alignment, and accountability has resulted in chronic underperformance at one of the world’s most iconic companies.”
©Getty Images
Disney stock prices also plummeted to their lowest price in nearly 10 years — something that shareholders like Peltz aren’t too thrilled about.
©Disney
And, although we saw a LOT of big Disney movies released this year, from Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny to The Marvels to Wish and more, the box office returns for those movies have come in under expectations.
Iger’s defense of Disney’s 2023 box office failures has also come into question recently, with the CEO blaming the lack of success on the studio’s creators, saying they had “lost sight” of what their jobs should be — that it should be to “entertain first” and not be about “messages.”
©Disney
Stay tuned to DFB as we continue to bring you news on Bob Iger and The Walt Disney Company.
Does CEO Bob Iger Have the WRONG Idea About Disney Movies With “Woke Agendas?”
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.
Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
What do you think of Bob Iger’s performance review? Tell us in the comments.
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
He also took a much loved company and made half the population hate it. And he managed to crash the stock price to a historic low.