Bob Iger's Acquisition Endeavors: From Pixar to James Bond and Twitter
Bob Iger, the former Disney CEO, shared in an interview with Financial Times that he had attempted to acquire the James Bond franchise for Disney. This endeavor was part of a series of acquisitions that included Pixar, Marvel, and "Star Wars." Pixar was a top priority for Iger, and the acquisition of the studio in 2006 for $7.4 billion marked a significant milestone for Disney's growth and success.
Despite his efforts, the James Bond franchise ultimately ended up with Amazon as its current owner. Iger also revealed that he had come close to purchasing Twitter from Jack Dorsey at an appealing price. The plan was to leverage Twitter as a global distribution platform for Disney, but Iger ultimately decided against the deal, fearing it would be too distracting.
Additionally, Disney explored the possibility of merging with Apple, a move that Iger believed could have been transformative for both companies. While discussions did take place internally and with Apple, the merger never materialized due to a lack of interest from Apple. Iger's tenure as Disney CEO came to an end in March, with Josh D'Amaro taking over the role.
Following his departure from Disney, Iger took on a new role as an adviser to venture-capital firm Thrive Capital, founded by Josh Kushner. In September 2022, Iger joined Thrive Capital as a venture partner, expanding his involvement in the world of venture capital and investment.