The Walt Disney Company

Lore & Background

The Walt Disney Company, headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California, is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate. Founded on October 16, 1923, as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio by brothers Walt and Roy Oliver Disney, it later operated as Walt Disney Studio and Walt Disney Productions before adopting its current name in 1986. The company established itself as a leader in animation with the 1928 short *Steamboat Willie*, the first post-produced sound cartoon, which popularized Mickey Mouse as its mascot and corporate icon. After diversifying into live-action films, television, and theme parks in the 1950s, profits declined following Walt Disney’s death in 1966. A turnaround began in 1984 under CEO Michael Eisner, marked by international theme park expansion and the Disney Renaissance animation period from 1989 to 1999. Under Bob Iger (CEO from 2005), the company acquired Pixar (2006), Marvel Entertainment (2009), Lucasfilm (2012), and 21st Century Fox (2019). Bob Chapek became CEO in 2020 but was ousted in 2022, with Iger reinstated; Josh D’Amaro became CEO in 2026. Disney operates the largest television and film studio in Hollywood, including Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, 20th Century Studios, 20th Century Animation, and Searchlight Pictures. Other business units include ABC, Disney Channel, ESPN, Freeform, FX, National Geographic, publishing, merchandising, music, theater divisions, streaming services (Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu, Hotstar), and Disney Experiences, which encompasses theme parks, resort hotels, and cruise lines worldwide. A public company since 1940, it trades on the NYSE and has been a Dow Jones Industrial Average component since 1991. As of August 2020, about two-thirds of its stock was held by large financial institutions. The company has won 135 Academy Awards, 26 awarded to Walt, and celebrated its 100th anniversary on October 16, 2023.

Reader's Guide

Its influence extends across media, with a vast portfolio of studios, cable networks, and streaming services. The company's ability to adapt—from the post-Walt decline to the Disney Renaissance and aggressive acquisitions under Bob Iger—has kept it at the forefront of the industry. Disney's characters, particularly Mickey Mouse, have become cultural icons, and its theme parks have shaped the modern amusement industry.

Founded in 1923 by Walt and Roy Disney as an animation studio, the company revolutionized the field with the 1928 short *Steamboat Willie*, the first post-produced sound cartoon, which popularized Mickey Mouse as its enduring mascot. After diversifying into live-action films, television, and theme parks in the 1950s, profits declined following Walt’s death in 1966. A turnaround began in 1984 under CEO Michael Eisner, driven by international park expansion and the highly successful Disney Renaissance animation period (1989–1999). Under Bob Iger (CEO from 2005), the company grew into a major conglomerate by acquiring Pixar, Marvel Entertainment, Lucasfilm, and 21st Century Fox. It now operates the largest Hollywood studio, encompassing Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, and 20th Century Studios, alongside the ABC network, cable channels (Disney Channel, ESPN, FX, National Geographic), streaming services (Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu, Hotstar), and global theme parks, resorts, and cruise lines. A public company since 1940 and a Dow Jones component since 1991, Disney has won 135 Academy Awards and is consistently ranked among the world’s largest and most influential entertainment brands.