Bob Iger
Former Disney CEO who shaped the studio era of streaming and the Marvel and Lucasfilm acquisitions.
Last refreshed: 10 May 2026
What was Bob Iger's role in Disney's abandoned OpenAI partnership?
Timeline for Bob Iger
- What did Bob Iger do at Disney?
- Bob Iger served as Disney CEO from 2005 to 2020 and again from late 2022 to early 2026. During his tenure he acquired Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and 21st Century Fox, and launched Disney+, transforming Disney into a major streaming competitor.Source: Public record / Disney filings
- Why did Disney cancel its OpenAI investment?
- Disney had planned a $1 billion investment in OpenAI, but cancelled it after OpenAI shut down Sora, its consumer video product, in April 2026. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told Bloomberg he 'felt terrible' telling Disney that OpenAI was reallocating Sora resources to robotics. The cancellation was confirmed by Iger's successor, Josh D'Amaro, on Disney's May 2026 earnings call.Source: Disney Q2 FY26 earnings, 6 May 2026
- When did Bob Iger leave Disney for the second time?
- Bob Iger's second stint as Disney CEO ended in early 2026, when he was succeeded by Josh D'Amaro. Iger had returned in November 2022 after the board dismissed his predecessor Bob Chapek.Source: Public record
- What acquisitions did Bob Iger make at Disney?
- Under Iger, Disney acquired Pixar for $7.4 billion in 2006, Marvel for $4 billion in 2009, Lucasfilm for $4 billion in 2012, and the entertainment assets of 21st Century Fox for $71.3 billion in 2019. He also launched Disney+ in November 2019.Source: Disney public filings
Background
Robert Allen Iger served as CEO of The Walt Disney Company from 2005 to 2020 and then returned to the role from November 2022 following the board's dismissal of his successor Bob Chapek. During his combined tenure he oversaw some of the most consequential acquisitions in entertainment history: Pixar ($7.4 billion, 2006), Marvel Entertainment ($4 billion, 2009), Lucasfilm ($4 billion, 2012), and 21st Century Fox's entertainment assets ($71.3 billion, 2019). He also launched Disney+ in November 2019, transforming Disney from a studio-and-parks conglomerate into a streaming competitor.
Iger retired for a second time in early 2026, succeeded by Josh D'Amaro, whose first earnings call in May 2026 confirmed Disney would not proceed with a previously planned $1 billion investment in OpenAI after OpenAI shut down its Sora consumer video product. The Sora partnership had been a high-profile initiative during Iger's second tenure; his departure means the AI strategy inherited by D'Amaro is now being substantially redrawn.
Iger's broader significance spans three decades of US media consolidation. He is widely credited with restoring Disney's creative reputation after the Eisner era, building the conditions for the Marvel Cinematic Universe's dominance, and creating the streaming infrastructure that rivals Netflix. His decisions on IP acquisition, franchise management, and platform architecture continue to shape the entertainment industry's response to AI, as successor leadership navigates the same questions of content value and technological change that defined his era.