41 Facts About Robert Iger

Robert Allen Iger is an American media business executive who currently serves as the chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Company.

Robert Iger then served as executive chairman until his retirement from the company on December 31,2021.

At the request of Disney's board of directors, Robert Iger returned to Disney as CEO on November 20,2022, following the unscheduled and immediate dismissal of his appointed successor, Bob Chapek.

Robert Iger led the major acquisitions of Pixar in 2006 for $7.4 billion, Marvel Entertainment in 2009 for $4 billion, Lucasfilm in 2012 for $4.06 billion, and the entertainment assets of 21st Century Fox in 2019 for $71.3 billion.

Robert Iger expanded the company's theme park resorts presence in East Asia, with the introduction of Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and Shanghai Disney Resort in 2005 and 2016, respectively.

Robert Iger was born to a Jewish family in New York City.

Robert Iger is the oldest son of Mimi and Arthur L Iger.

Robert Iger's father was a World War II Navy veteran who served as the executive vice president and general manager of the Greenvale Marketing Corporation, and was a professor of advertising and public relations; he played the trumpet and had bipolar disorder.

Robert Iger's mother worked at Boardman Junior High School in Oceanside, New York.

Robert Iger was raised in Oceanside, where he attended the Fulton Avenue School and graduated from Oceanside High School in 1969.

Robert Iger began his media career in 1972 as the host of Campus Probe, an Ithaca College television show.

Robert Iger dreamed of becoming a news anchor while he worked as a weatherman in Ithaca for five months, before shifting his career goals.

In 1988, Robert Iger served as the senior program executive for the Calgary Winter Olympics.

The event was marred by disruptive weather and delayed events, and to fill the broadcast schedule Robert Iger's team focused on human interest stories such as those of the Jamaican bobsled team and Eddie the Eagle.

On March 13,2005, Disney announced that Robert Iger would succeed Michael Eisner as CEO, and Robert Iger was placed in charge of day-to-day operations, though Eisner held the title of CEO until he resigned on September 30,2005.

On October 7,2011, Disney announced that Robert Iger would become chairman of the board, following John Pepper's retirement from the board in March 2012.

Robert Iger was responsible for making Steve Jobs Disney's largest shareholder by its acquisition of Pixar.

In October 2012, Robert Iger signed a deal with filmmaker George Lucas to purchase Lucasfilm for $4 billion following several months of negotiations.

In March 2016, Robert Iger announced that the $5.5 billion Shanghai Disney Resort would open its doors on June 16,2016.

In May 2016, Robert Iger wrote in a Facebook post claiming that Disney has hired 11,000 new employees in the past decade at Disneyland, and 18,000 in the past 5 years in the US Robert Iger specifically targeted Vermont Senator, Bernie Sanders, asking him how much he has contributed to job growth.

In November 2017, Variety reported that Robert Iger knew about a 2010 Oscar party where Pixar chief John Lasseter was seen "making out with a junior staffer", seeming to confirm anonymous allegations that Lasseter's inappropriate interactions with young women had been known to company leadership since the 1990s.

Robert Iger resigned from Apple's board of directors on September 10,2019, in order to avoid a conflict of interest as Disney and Apple prepared to launch competing streaming services Disney+ and Apple TV+.

In September 2019, Robert Iger released his New York Times Best Seller, The Ride of a Lifetime, which includes Robert Iger's years-long efforts to open Shanghai Disneyland Park; he traveled to China 40 times over 18 years for the project.

On December 31,2021, Robert Iger stepped down completely and was succeeded by Susan Arnold as chair of the board.

However, on November 20,2022, Robert Iger replaced Chapek, reprising as the CEO.

Robert Iger agreed to hold the post for two years while looking for a successor that will lead the company.

Robert Iger joined the board of Genies, Inc in March 2022.

In 1995, Robert Iger married journalist Willow Bay in an interfaith Jewish and Roman Catholic service in Bridgehampton, New York.

Robert Iger has been noted for his kindness by David Geffen, who said: "I have never heard one person say a bad thing about him and I have never seen him be mean".

Robert Iger has described himself as a political centrist, while he has publicly identified with the Democratic Party.

Robert Iger co-chaired a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign on August 22,2016.

Robert Iger was named to President-elect Trump's Strategic and Policy Forum on December 2,2016.

Robert Iger resigned from the Forum on June 1,2017 out of protest after President Trump withdrew the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement.

In 2016, Robert Iger switched his party registration from Democratic to independent.

Robert Iger serves as an advisor on the COVID-19 Technology Task Force, a technology industry coalition founded in March 2020 collaborating on solutions to respond to and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Robert Iger considered running for president as a Democrat in the 2020 election, however ultimately decided against running.

Robert Iger was recognized for his support of the institute's work, his longtime philanthropy, and his leadership role in corporate citizenship.

Robert Iger was presented with The Milestone Award from the Producers Guild of America in 2014.

Robert Iger was selected by members of TIA in recognition of his contributions to the industry, and the impact his work has had on the lives of children worldwide.

In December 2019, Robert Iger was named by Time as their Businessperson of the Year.

In May 2021, Robert Iger delivered the commencement address at The University of Texas at Austin.