UPDATE on the Walt Disney Company's Search for New CEO

The 2025 numbers are in, and it seems that Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger‘s salary increased pretty drastically from 2024 to 2025.

Additionally, we’ve got an update on the company’s search for Iger’s successor, expected to happen sometime early in 2026. Let’s break down everything we know.

According to Deadline, Bob Iger’s 2025 fiscal year salary saw a 12% raise from 2024, bringing it to $45.8 million. Broken down, that’s made up of a $1 million base salary, stock awards worth $21 million, option awards worth $14 million, non-equity incentive plan compensation (similar to a cash bonus) of $7.25 million, and “other” comp, including security and personal air travel of $2.59 million. In 2024, his salary was $41.1 million, so that’s a pretty big increase.

In a recent letter to shareholders of the Walt Disney Company, chairman James Gorman restated the board’s mission to find a successor in early 2026, which is coming up quite fast. The annual shareholders’ meeting will take place virtually on March 16th, 2026 — could this be when we’ll all hear the news about this successor? We’ll have to wait and see. Currently, Josh D’Amaro, the chairman of Disney Experiences, and Dana Walden, the co-chair of Disney Entertainment, are expected to be the top contenders.

In his letter, Gorman mentions that, “all directors have actively participated in a rigorous and ongoing evaluation of potential successor candidates, including direct engagement, performance assessment, and consideration of leadership capabilities aligned with the Company’s long-term strategy.” He continued to say that the decision on who the new CEO will be will be made by the entire board.

Iger himself also weighed in on the news, stating that he is “inspired and energized” at the opportunities ahead. He continued on to say, “Through our strategic vision and unmatched collection of businesses, we continue to tell great stories that are reaching more people, in more places, in more ways than ever before. I am grateful to our leadership team for their dedication and vision during this transformative period, and I’m grateful to you, our shareholders, for your continued support of this remarkable company.”