Topic
44 facts from 20 episodes, in date order. These are what speakers said on the shows, each linked to the moment it was said. They aren't independently verified.
1923
Walt and Roy Disney founded the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio in October 1923, with Roy running the business and finance and Walt the creative side.
“the two of them found the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio right there in October 1923. As a true partnership between the brothers, Roy manages the business and the finance.”
1933
Kay Kamen's 1933 deal as exclusive merchandise agent gave Disney 60% of the first $100,000 in royalties, after which revenue was split 50-50.
“Disney would get 60% of the first $100,000 in royalties that Kay is able to generate from licensing Disney brands and mascots.”
1934
Within his first year, Herman Kamen brought in about $35 million in Disney merchandise sales in the United States and an equal amount overseas.
“Cayman brought in $35 million of sales in Disney merchandise in the United States alone, and an equal amount overseas”
1937
Disney released Snow White in 1937, and Jobs said it later sold 28 million video copies.
“Disney released its first animated feature film, Snow White, in 1937. That's sixty years ago.”
1940
In April 1940 Disney sold $3.875 million of convertible preferred stock paying a 6% dividend, an over-the-counter offering the hosts call its technical IPO.
“in April 1940, Disney retains investment bankers and sells 3.875 million of convertible preferred stock with a 6% dividend, which technically is Disney's IPO.”
1941
On May 29, 1941, the Screen Cartoonist Guild targeted Disney after unionizing every other major animation studio in Hollywood and New York.
“on May 29th, 1941, the Screen Cartoonist Guild, which is a union that had unionized every other major animation studio in Hollywood and New York”
1944
Disney's 1944 theatrical re-release of Snow White brought in about $3 million in revenue on a cost of a few hundred thousand dollars.
“it brings in $3 million in revenue to Disney on just a few hundred thousand in cost.”
1955
Disney's Davy Crockett miniseries drove sales of about 10 million coonskin caps in 1955.
“Davy Crockett coonskin caps become the must-have kids product of 1955. They sell 10 million caps in 1955.”
1959
In 1959 The Walt Disney Company sought to enter Japan, and Nintendo licensed Disney characters for playing cards and later toys.
“finally, in 1959, the perfect opportunity arises. The Walt Disney Company is looking to enter Japan.”
1965
Disney quietly bought about 27,000 acres of central Florida swampland for its Florida project, announced in November 1965.
“They bought 27,000 acres. That is the size of San Francisco.”
1966
During his partnership years, Buffett invested $4 million of partnership capital in The Walt Disney Company for about 5% of the company, then sold within about a year.
“He puts $4 million of partnership capital into Disney, buys 5% of the company.”
1966
Warren Buffett bought Disney stock in 1966 after meeting Walt Disney and sold it early.
“the reason I bring this up is cause Buffett bought Disney stock after meeting Walt Disney in 1966”
1966
Brian Chesky cites a former Disney CFO saying the company has done little fundamentally new since Walt Disney died in 1966.
“Walt died in 1966. Since 1966, you still make feature length animated films, TV and Magic Kingdoms.”
1984
Michael Eisner became CEO of Disney in 1984.
“he had become CEO of Disney in 1984.”
1984
ABC Capital Cities acquired ESPN in 1984 for just under $200 million, the oldest deal on the list.
“The acquisition of ESPN, 1984. Is this the oldest? This is the oldest acquisition on our list. Acquisition price of just under $200 million.”
1990s
Michael Ovitz lasted only 14 months as Disney's number two before leaving.
“So Ovitz only lasts 14 months at the company and leaves after 14 months.”
1995
Disney acquired Capital Cities/ABC, including ESPN, in 1995 for $19 billion.
“Disney acquired Capital Cities, which included ABC and ESPN, most importantly, in 1995 for $19 billion.”
2004
Comcast launched a hostile takeover bid for Disney offering $64 billion in stock.
“They offer $64 billion in Comcast stock to take over the company”
2004
At the March 2004 shareholder meeting, 43% of Disney shareholders voted no confidence in Michael Eisner.
“an astounding 43% of Disney shareholders vote no confidence in Eisner at the shareholder meeting.”
2004
After the shareholder vote, Disney's board stripped Michael Eisner of his chairman title.
“the Disney board meets and they strip Eisner of his chairman title.”
2006
Disney bought Pixar in 2006 for $7.4 billion.
“So in 2006, Disney, which at some point we got to cover Disney on this show, you know, David? Disney bought Pixar in a landmark $7.4 billion deal.”
2009
Disney paid $4.2 billion to acquire Marvel in 2009.
“So Disney, of course, paid $4.2 billion to acquire all of Marvel in 2009.”
2009
Maisel says Disney stock around $25 at the time of the sale was undervalued, and it later reached about $200 before falling to around $110.
“I knew the stock at $25 was severely undervalued and that it was at least a double.”
2012
Disney bought Lucasfilm for $4 billion in 2012.
“Then in 2012, they buy Lucasfilm for $4 billion.”
2015
Disney's stock fell 10% the day after a late-2015 earnings call in which ESPN subscriber losses were announced.
“So the stock gets hammered down 10% the next day.”
2015
After Disney's August 2015 earnings call flagged cable disruption, its stock dropped about 10% and the company accelerated its Disney Plus plans, according to a host.
“And they had plans for Disney Plus. Stock dropped 10%. They were like, we are accelerating the plans for Disney Plus.”
2017
Disney completed a majority purchase of BAMTech in 2017.
“So in 2017, they complete a majority purchase of BAMTech.”
2017
On its August 2017 earnings call, Disney announced it would pull its content from Netflix as agreements expired.
“We're taking our content off of Netflix as our, as our content agreements with Netflix expire.”
2018
Disney's initial negotiated price for 21st Century Fox was about $52 billion, bid up to about $71 billion after Comcast competed.
“the initial negotiated deal for $52 billion, bidding that up to $71 billion.”
2018
In October 2018 Epic raised 1.25 billion dollars from KKR, Disney and other investors at a 15 billion dollar valuation.
“Epic raises their first non-strategic capital raise. They raised one and a quarter billion dollars from KKR, Disney, and several other investors at a $15 billion valuation.”
2020
Michael Colglazier, named Virgin Galactic CEO in July 2020, had spent nearly 30 years at The Walt Disney Company, mostly in parks.
“he spent his whole career, except for his internship during business school, 30, close to 30 years at the Walt Disney Company”
2023
Tony Robbins says the anti-trafficking film Sound of Freedom, which he helped make, outsold a Disney release in one week.
“Yeah, so and we beat Disney that week, and people thought it would never happen, right?”
2024
Viacom 18 and Reliance merged with Star Disney in an $8.5 billion deal in November 2024, leaving one big bidder for IPL domestic rights.
“In November 2024, Viacom 18 slash Reliance and Star Disney merged in an $8.5 billion deal.”
Undated
According to Ho Nam, Club Penguin was founded by a group of fathers in British Columbia, never raised venture funding, and was sold to Disney for roughly $400 million.
“I think four or five different dads got together and created this company and then sold to Disney for like 400 million bucks.”
Undated
Hamilton Helmer praises Bob Iger's decision to acquire Pixar, saying Iger recognized animated films were at the heart of Disney.
“I think his Pixar decision was he realized that at the heart of Disney was animated films”
Undated
A host says Fox locked up streaming rights to Indian Premier League cricket, which became a factor in Disney's acquisition of Fox.
“I believe Fox locked up all the streaming rights to Indian Premier League cricket.”
Undated
David Rosenthal took a family vacation at the Disney resort in Hawaii, called Aulani, during the hiatus.
“And the best idea that we came up with was the Disney resort in Hawaii.”
Undated
Sean Callagy says dealmakers among his guests buy and sell companies worth billions of dollars on behalf of firms such as Disney and Marvel Studios.
“who buy and sell companies for billions of dollars on behalf of the likes of Disney and Marvel Studios.”
Undated
Marvel went from a roughly $30 million purchase to a $100 million market cap and was sold to Disney for about $4 billion in cash plus stock, around $10 billion in total value, per the discussion.
“30 million to 100 million market cap and then sold to Disney for 4 billion, yeah, really, ten with stock”
Undated
Maisel says he did not shop Marvel to other studios and reached a deal with Disney CEO Bob Iger within an hour of a private meeting.
“I didn't shop it to any other studio, I just went right to Bob, had a secret meeting with him, and within an hour, we came up with a deal.”
Undated
Maisel says Ike Perlmutter bought back about a third of Marvel's stock at low prices, which became valuable when Marvel was sold to Disney.
“He ended up buying back a third of the company at that cheap price, which was very valuable when we sold it to Disney.”
Undated
Arun Chandra said he spent four years at Disney, where he modernized the customer experience function for the streaming business.
“I spent four years at Disney, ah, one of the best, uh, leading consumer brands in the world”
Undated
Arun Chandra described Disney's streaming business as having over 180 million subscribers, 110 geographies and roughly 25 to 30 languages.
“one hundred, 180 plus million subscribers, 110 geographies, twenty five, thirty languages, if you would”
Undated
Arun Chandra said his goal at Disney was to bend the cost curve so that costs flattened while subscribers grew.
“ultimately, my goal was to be able to bend the cost curve. So that means as subscribers are growing, the holy grail is that your cost structure is kind of flattening out.”
Episodes