History of Bob Iger in Timeline
"Robert Allen Iger, a prominent figure in the American media landscape, served as the CEO of The Walt Disney Company. His tenure, spanning from 2005 to 2020, followed a series of leadership roles within ABC and Capital Cities/ABC. Iger's influence extended beyond his time as CEO, acting as Executive Chairman until his retirement in 2021 and subsequently as an advisor to the company."
1926: Birth of Arthur L. Iger
Arthur L. Iger, Bob Iger's father, was born in 1926.
1927: Birth of Miriam "Mimi" Tunick
Bob Iger's mother, Miriam "Mimi" (née Tunick), was born in 1927.
February 10, 1951: Birth of Robert Allen Iger
On February 10, 1951, Robert Allen Iger, the future media mogul, was born in New York City.
1969: Graduation from Oceanside High School
Iger graduated from Oceanside High School in 1969.
1972: Start of Media Career
Iger began his career in media in 1972 as the host of "Campus Probe," an Ithaca College television show.
1973: Graduation from Ithaca College
Iger earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Television and Radio from Ithaca College in 1973, graduating magna cum laude.
1974: Joining ABC
Robert Iger joined the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in 1974, initially working behind the scenes on television sets.
1988: Senior Program Executive for Calgary Winter Olympics
In 1988, Iger's role as senior program executive for the Calgary Winter Olympics brought him recognition for his handling of challenging weather conditions and his focus on human interest stories.
1989: Head of ABC Entertainment
Iger's keen eye for programming was evident when he became Head of ABC Entertainment in 1989, greenlighting shows like "Twin Peaks" and "America's Funniest Home Videos."
January 1993: President of ABC Network Television Group
Iger's ascent at ABC continued as he became President of the ABC Network Television Group in January 1993.
March 1993: Senior Vice President of Capital Cities/ABC
Iger's responsibilities grew further in March 1993 when he was appointed Senior Vice President of Capital Cities/ABC.
July 1993: Executive Vice President of Capital Cities/ABC
Iger's rise within Capital Cities/ABC continued with his promotion to Executive Vice President in July 1993.
1993: Beginning of Weinstein's Tenure at Miramax
Harvey Weinstein's time at Miramax, during which the alleged misconduct took place, began in 1993.
1994: President and COO of Capital Cities/ABC
Iger's leadership qualities led to his appointment as President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Capital Cities/ABC in 1994.
1994: President and COO of Capital Cities/ABC
In 1994, Iger was appointed President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Capital Cities/ABC, the parent company of ABC.
1995: Marriage to Willow Bay
Bob Iger married journalist Willow Bay in 1995 in Bridgehampton, New York.
1995: Capital Cities/ABC Acquired by Disney
Disney acquired Capital Cities/ABC in 1995, and Iger remained Chairman of the renamed ABC, Inc.
1995: Disney's Acquisition of Capital Cities/ABC
Following Disney's purchase of Capital Cities/ABC in 1995, the company was renamed ABC, Inc., with Iger as its chairman.
1996: Acquisition of Capital Cities/ABC by Disney
In 1996, Disney's acquisition of Capital Cities/ABC, where Iger served as President and COO, marked a turning point in Iger's career.
1997: Departure of Michael Ovitz
The departure of Disney's president, Michael Ovitz, in 1997 after a brief tenure left a void that Iger would eventually fill.
February 25, 1999: President of Walt Disney International
On February 25, 1999, Iger took on the role of President of Walt Disney International, expanding his responsibilities to Disney's global operations.
1999: Chairman of ABC Group
Iger served as Chairman of the ABC Group until 1999, overseeing the network's operations.
January 24, 2000: President and COO of Disney
Iger's appointment as President and COO of Disney on January 24, 2000, solidified his position as the company's second-in-command under CEO Michael Eisner.
2000: President and COO of Disney
Iger was named President and COO of Disney in 2000, solidifying his position as the likely successor to CEO Michael Eisner.
March 13, 2005: Announcement as Eisner's Successor
On March 13, 2005, Disney announced Iger as the successor to CEO Michael Eisner, marking a significant transition for the company.
July 2005: End of "Save Disney" Campaign
The "Save Disney" campaign, initiated by board members Roy E. Disney and Stanley Gold against Eisner, ended in July 2005 with an agreement to support Iger's leadership.
September 30, 2005: Eisner's Resignation as CEO
Michael Eisner resigned as CEO of Disney on September 30, 2005, officially paving the way for Iger's tenure as CEO.
2005: End of Weinstein's Tenure at Miramax
Harvey Weinstein's tenure at Miramax ended in 2005, marking the period during which the alleged misconduct took place.
2005: CEO of Disney
Iger succeeded Michael Eisner as CEO of Disney in 2005, marking the beginning of his successful tenure.
January 24, 2006: Acquisition of Pixar and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Rights
January 24, 2006, marked significant acquisitions for Disney under Iger: the purchase of Pixar and the reacquisition of the rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit from NBCUniversal.
2006: Acquisition of Pixar
In 2006, under Iger's leadership, Disney acquired the acclaimed animation studio Pixar for $7.4 billion.
August 2009: Acquisition of Marvel Entertainment
Iger's strategic acquisition of Marvel Entertainment in August 2009 proved highly lucrative, with Marvel movies generating over $4 billion at the box office by 2014.
2009: Acquisition of Marvel Entertainment
Iger orchestrated Disney's acquisition of Marvel Entertainment for $4 billion in 2009, a move that significantly expanded Disney's intellectual property portfolio.
2010: Death of Arthur L. Iger
Arthur L. Iger, Bob Iger's father, passed away in 2010.
2010: Oscar Party Incident
In 2010, John Lasseter, then Pixar chief, was reportedly seen behaving inappropriately with a junior staffer at an Oscar party, an incident that Bob Iger was allegedly aware of.
October 7, 2011: Announced as Future Chairman of the Board
Disney announced on October 7, 2011, that Iger would succeed John Pepper as Chairman of the Board.
November 15, 2011: Appointment to Apple's Board
On November 15, 2011, Bob Iger was appointed to Apple's board of directors by then-CEO Tim Cook.
March 2012: Assumption of Chairman Role
Iger assumed the role of Chairman of the Board in March 2012, following John Pepper's retirement.
October 2012: Acquisition of Lucasfilm
Iger secured the rights to the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises through the $4 billion acquisition of Lucasfilm in October 2012.
2012: Acquisition of Lucasfilm
In 2012, Iger led the acquisition of Lucasfilm, the studio behind Star Wars and Indiana Jones, for $4.06 billion.
2013: Death of Miriam "Mimi" Iger
Miriam "Mimi" Iger, Bob Iger's mother, passed away in 2013.
2014: Marvel Movies' Box Office Success
By 2014, Disney's Marvel movies had generated substantial revenue, surpassing the $4 billion acquisition cost of Marvel Entertainment.
March 2016: Announcement of Shanghai Disney Resort Opening
Iger announced in March 2016 that the Shanghai Disney Resort, a $5.5 billion project, would open later that year.
May 2016: Disney Resort Wage Dispute
In May 2016, Bob Iger engaged in a public disagreement regarding low wages at Disney Resort, particularly targeting Senator Bernie Sanders' criticism. Disney later settled with the Department of Labor, agreeing to pay back wages.
August 22, 2016: Fundraiser for Hillary Clinton
Bob Iger co-chaired a fundraising event for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign on August 22, 2016.
December 2, 2016: Appointment to Trump's Strategic and Policy Forum
Bob Iger was appointed to President-elect Donald Trump's Strategic and Policy Forum on December 2, 2016.
2016: Consideration of Presidential Run
Bob Iger contemplated running for president as a Democrat before and after the 2016 election but ultimately chose not to pursue it.
2016: Political Affiliation Change
Bob Iger switched his political party registration from Democrat to independent in 2016.
2016: Opening of Shanghai Disney Resort
The Shanghai Disney Resort, a major expansion of Disney's theme park presence in Asia, opened in 2016 under Iger's leadership.
March 2017: First Contract Extension Announcement
Disney's first extension of Iger's contract was announced in March 2017.
June 1, 2017: Resignation from Trump's Forum
On June 1, 2017, Bob Iger resigned from President Trump's Strategic and Policy Forum in protest of the decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement.
November 2017: Allegations Regarding John Lasseter
In November 2017, Variety reported that Bob Iger was aware of a 2010 incident involving John Lasseter, then Pixar chief, engaging in inappropriate behavior with a junior staffer at an Oscar party. This report suggested that company leadership had knowledge of Lasseter's misconduct.
December 2017: Second Contract Extension
Iger's contract was further extended in December 2017, securing his leadership through 2021.
June 30, 2018: Initial Contract End Date
Iger's contract as CEO was initially set to expire on June 30, 2018, before extensions.
July 2018: Shareholder Approval for Fox Acquisition
Shareholders of Disney and 21st Century Fox approved the acquisition of Fox assets in July 2018.
March 2019: Finalization of Fox Acquisition
The landmark deal for Disney to acquire assets from 21st Century Fox was finalized in March 2019.
April 2019: Departure Announcement
In April 2019, Bob Iger announced his plan to step down as CEO and chairman of Disney when his contract expired in 2021.
July 2, 2019: First Contract Extension
Disney extended Iger's contract as CEO until July 2, 2019, with plans for him to serve as a consultant for three years after.
August 2019: Paz de la Huerta Lawsuit
Actress Paz de la Huerta added Bob Iger to her lawsuit against Harvey Weinstein in August 2019, alleging that Iger and former CEO Michael Eisner were aware of and enabled Weinstein's misconduct. Disney denied any knowledge of such actions.
September 10, 2019: Resignation from Apple's Board
On September 10, 2019, Bob Iger resigned from his position on Apple's board of directors to avoid a conflict of interest as Disney and Apple prepared to launch their respective streaming services, Disney+ and Apple TV+.
September 2019: Release of "The Ride of a Lifetime"
In September 2019, Bob Iger released his memoir titled "The Ride of a Lifetime".
September 2019: Resignation from Apple's Board
Bob Iger resigned from his position on Apple's board in September 2019, following the announcement of Apple TV+, a direct competitor to Disney+.
December 2019: Time's Businessperson of the Year
Bob Iger was recognized as Time magazine's Businessperson of the Year in December 2019.
2019: Net Worth Estimation
In 2019, Forbes estimated Bob Iger's net worth to be approximately $690 million.
2019: Acquisition of 21st Century Fox Assets
Disney completed the acquisition of 21st Century Fox's entertainment assets in 2019 for $71.3 billion, a massive deal spearheaded by Iger.
October 2020: Director at Perfect Day
In October 2020, Bob Iger became a director of Perfect Day, a startup specializing in dairy alternatives.
2020: Contract Expiration as CEO
Iger's contract as CEO of Disney expired in 2020, after which he served as Executive Chairman until his retirement.
2020: Retirement Announcement and CEO Transition
In 2020, Bob Iger announced his intention to retire, and Bob Chapek was named the new CEO of Disney. However, the COVID-19 pandemic led to an extension of Iger's term.
2020: Induction into Television Hall of Fame
In 2020, Bob Iger was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame.
November 2021: Launch of Apple TV+
Apple TV+, a subscription streaming service that would compete with Disney+, was launched in November 2021.
December 31, 2021: Retirement from Disney
Robert Iger formally retired from The Walt Disney Company on December 31, 2021, after serving as CEO and Executive Chairman.
2021: End of Second Contract Extension
Iger's second contract extension was set to expire in 2021, after which he initially retired.
March 2022: Board Member at Genies, Inc.
Bob Iger joined the board of Genies, Inc., a company focused on avatar technology, in March 2022.
September 2022: Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Queen Elizabeth II appointed Bob Iger as an Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in September 2022, recognizing his contributions to UK/US relations.
November 20, 2022: Reinstatement as Disney CEO
Following the ousting of Bob Chapek, Bob Iger was reinstated as CEO of Disney on November 20, 2022, after a period of retirement.
2022: Return as CEO
In 2022, Robert Iger returned to Disney as CEO at the request of the board, replacing Bob Chapek.
July 12, 2023: Contract Extension
On July 12, 2023, Bob Iger and Disney agreed to extend his contract as CEO until the end of 2026, prolonging his leadership tenure.
July 2023: Criticism of WGA and SAG-AFTRA Strikes
During a CNBC interview in July 2023, Bob Iger drew criticism for his comments labeling the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes as "not realistic" and "disruptive." His remarks were widely perceived as out of touch, especially considering his substantial salary.
July 2023: Contract Renewal until 2026
In July 2023, Disney renewed Iger's contract as CEO, extending his tenure until 2026.
2026: Expected End of CEO Term
As of July 12, 2023, Bob Iger's contract with Disney is set to end in 2026.
2026: Expected End of Current Term
As of July 2023, Iger's contract with Disney is set to run until 2026.